Independent Steel Alliance

Purchasing Cooperative for Independent Rebar Fabricators

Purchasing Cooperative for Independent Rebar Fabricators

Blog

Spiders produce “bionic webbing” after being fed nanotubes

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“Super silk.” “Bionic webbing”… “capable of holding a human.” Pretty scary stuff, right?

Scientists in Italy and the UK have been feeding spiders a solution of graphene carbon-nanotubes, and the spiders are spinning Kevlar-class spider webs.

Although these kinds of science-meets-nature stores that involve any kinds of reinforcement angle (fabrics, materials, even construction product application), always draw my attention. Imagine future concrete fibers as long strands of spider “super silk.”

Aside from the sheer creepiness of this story, it’s a fascinating look at the imagination of scientific researchers around the globe.

Click Here for the full article.

Nucor to build new rebar micro-mill in MO

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According to a Nov-19 press statement, Nucor will build a $250 million rebar micro-mill in Sedalia, Missouri (near Kansas City). The press release does not specify the initial capacity, only that 225 full-time jobs will be created. But for the same price tag, CMC’s forthcoming mill in Durant, OK should have annual capacity of 350,000 tons. Nucor has also confirmed a second micro-mill, to be situated in the southeastern U.S.. However the exact location of the second mill has not yet been disclosed.

Click Here for the full article on American Metal Market (subscription required).

How does ISA Work?

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How Does ISA Work?

ISA pairs independent rebar fabricators with selected suppliers in a purchasing cooperative (“co-op”) environment. ISA member fabricators can earn rebates when they support our co-op suppliers. Click to read more!

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Spending on US non-residential building is expected to slow in 2018

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ModernMetals.com reported today that the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast “expects the industry to experience slower growth, at a rate ranging from 3.5 percent to 4 percent, for the remainder of 2017 and through 2018.” Following two years of solid growth, 2017 has not displayed the same promising growth as previously hoped. Economists cite as possible reasons for the slowdown as sluggish U.S. economic growth, general uncertainty and concerns among construction industry professionals, and certain vulnerable construction sectors (e.g. retail, industrial, healthcare and education).

However, it should be noted that while the rate of growth has pulled back somewhat, there is still growth, as evidenced by the continued and “steady pace of construction starts across the country,” according to Attilio Rivetti, Preconstruction and Procurement for Turner Construction Co, and author of the Turner Building Cost Index.

PCA forecasts more moderate cement consumption in 2018

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The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has updated its annual forecast of cement consumption to show 2.8 percent growth in 2018. This number is down from the projections released earlier in the year, and are based on poor weather and lower anticipated public sector budgets. However, PCA notes that a strong federal infrastructure bill could have a positive impact on cement consumption.

Historically, rebar consumption has followed cement consumption with nearly perfect correlation.

Full Story from PCA.

Commerce 232 resolution “coming soon”

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According to a recent article in American Metal Market (click here; subscription required), the Trump administration is expecting to get results of the Sec. 232 investigations into aluminum and steel imports sometime before the January deadline. Steel industry leaders have urged for immediate action, citing a surge in imports following previous missed deadlines in 2017.

US Long imports drop for second consecutive month in Sept.

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According to import licenses, U.S. long product imports fell 3% in September. This is after a larger 18% drop month-over-month in August. Cumulatively for the first 9 months of 2017, overall long products imports  have fallen 6% over the same period last year. This drop is “driven entirely by lower rebar imports,” according to our friends at Nerds of Steel.