Steel Products
August 19, 2013
Ultra Light Gauge Galvanized Foreign Offers
Written by John Packard
Ultra light gauge galvanized (thicknesses less than .015”) have traditionally been associated with foreign steel suppliers as opposed to domestic mills. The U.S. mills have, over time, relegated the ultra light gauge markets as ones of the least interest due to the amount of line time it takes to produce these products versus running a heavier gauge.
In the past we have seen foreign mills take turns in wanting to be the supplier of choice for this product line which is almost all construction products (HVAC furnace pipe & fittings, ceiling grid, corner bead and expanded metal for HVAC filters). At one point in time Japan was a major supplier, then Italy came into vogue and we have seen runs at the product by Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa and others. Now, the biggest market share comes out of India, China and Mexico.
