Author: Imperial Steel

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

Canadian Agriculture – More Important than Ever

Here on the Prairies, we take agriculture for granted. The silos and other farm structures we drive past regularly blend into the landscape. They’re nearly as plentiful as people out here under the wide-open skies.

harvested-field-revised

Farming, particularly the kind that we excel at here in the West is extremely important to the Canadian economy, and the Canadian farmer punches well above his or her weight on the world stage. Here are some facts about Canadian agriculture that you might not know:

  • 1 in 8 Canadian jobs are in Agriculture and Agri-Food Processing.
  • Canada is the 5th largest exporter of Agriculture and Agri-Food products. In 2013, this amounted to more than $50 billion in sales.
  • Food and beverage processing is Canada’s largest manufacturing industry, with $93.7 billion dollars in shipments annually.
  • The beef industry alone contributes $25 billion to the Canadian economy each year.
  • Canada is the number one producer of Canola in the world.
  • The world will need 60% more food by the year 2050. Canada is poised to be a big player in supplying agricultural products to the world.

Farming is a big part of our young people’s future. In 2013, there were 56,000 career opportunities available in the Agricultural industry in North America. This number is expected to climb as production increases over the coming decades.

At Imperial Steel Ltd., we understand the importance of Agriculture to Canadians in general, and the West in particular. The products we sell help build better farms, like ZAM® coated tubing, and we’re proud to be able to contribute to one of Canada’s largest and healthiest industries.

To find out more about Imperial Steel and the corrosion-resistant steel products that we provide to the agricultural industry, sign up for our emails, or request a quote online. You can also speak to a representative directly by calling us at (866) 791-2179

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

Where is Imperial Steel?

Where-is-Imperial-SteelSteel is essentially used in the manufacturing of major structures. Steel is used in the automotive, agriculture and the real estate industry. So, it is safe to say that you will be seeing a lot of steel tubing components that have been manufactured by Imperial on a daily basis. Nothing is more important than selecting the right kind of steel products, especially when it comes to quality and quantity.

The Automotive and Agricultural Industry
There is no question that Imperial Steel is used extensively in the automotive industry. Using Imperial Steel’s cold rolled and aluminized exhaust tubing in the manufacturing of vehicle components provides long term strength and durability, enabling them to withstand harsh conditions. Similarly, our hot rolled and galvanized steel tubing provides reliability and durability to much of the agricultural machinery, tools and components that you see every day in our fields. Plus, high quality steel tubing is typically easier to maintain throughout its lifespan.

End Users
Imperial Steel’s products are hence much better, more reliable and safer when it comes to the manufacture of farming equipment, cars, big rigs and a plethora of different things that we see in our everyday lives. How about that spiral staircase you’ve been considering for your home? Yep, we can provide tubing for home projects too!

Consumers today look for products that can give them a good value for their money. At Imperial Steel you don’t have to worry about getting something flimsy and unreliable. We provide our customers with economical products made with high grade steel that lasts longer.

Moreover, our products are passed through a strict quality check before being used in construction of cars, tractors, trucks and other applications.

For more information about our steel tubing products, contact us or request an estimate today!

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

ZAM® Galvanized – The New Steel on the Block

TubesZAMWith advancements in science and technology, humans are able to develop stronger metals by combining the good qualities of different metals and ZAM® steel stands at its forefront. To better understand what ZAM® is and why it is better than traditional steel, we have to take a deeper look at ZAM®.

What is ZAM®?
ZAM® is an alloy of Zinc, Aluminum and magnesium coated steel sheet – hence ZAM® – and is excellent at fighting corrosion. In addition to its corrosion resistance properties, it possesses scratch resistance properties too. The 5-layer architecture of ZAM® coated steel gives it an edge over traditional steel when it comes to durability.

The ZAM® Revolution
The biggest problem faced by steel is that it starts to show signs of wear and tear relatively quickly, often depending on the quality of production. Moreover, it is very hard to protect steel from corrosion, often financially unfeasible once done. That’s where ZAM® excels. It lays all your corrosion concerns to rest, and lasts significantly longer than traditional steel.

Welcome to the era of ZAM® coated steel!

What makes ZAM® coated steel stand out is its special preparation process, which not only give it more strength, but also makes it corrosion resistant and scratch resistance. ZAM® coated steel combines the benefits of zinc, aluminum and magnesium into a single steel sheet.

The future looks much brighter and many new applications will emerge for ZAM® coated steel. Are you ready to jump on and be at the forefront of its application?

  1. ZAM® is produced according to Designation: A1046/A1046M Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, Zinc-Aluminum-Magnesium Alloy-Coated by the Hot-Dip Process
  2. ZAM® is a registered trademark applied to the hot-dipped zinc-aluminum-magnesium-alloy-coated steel sheets developed by Nisshin Steel Co. Ltd.
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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

Effects of Seasonal Conditions and Exchange Rates on Raw Material Market Pricing

market-volatility-graph

You might have heard many business owners moan about seasonal conditions, fluctuation in currency exchange rates and raw material price fluctuations but did you know that they are right in making all the noise because of the significance of all these elements on steel prices. There are many other aspects, which makes it extremely difficult to predict and prepare for the future.

Currency Rates
Regular volatility of currency rates makes it almost impossible for you to predict the value of steel in the coming years. An abrupt increase or decline in currency rates is nothing new, but that can have negative or positive consequences for steel dealers. Currency volatility directly affects the prices of steel. You must also have sound knowledge about factors that bring about changes in currency rates to better anticipate the future.

Seasonal Conditions
When real estate, automotive and agricultural industries thrive in a particular economy, it will automatically have an impact on the market of steel. More steel will be produced and sold. This will suddenly spark a sharp increase in the demand for steel. You cannot completely neglect the time factor when looking at the demand “pull and push” factors because they also play a pivotal role in the complete cycle. For instance, the demand for umbrellas will always increase in cloudy and rainy seasons, while remaining stagnant in other seasons such as spring and summer. Similarly, in some seasons the demand for steel increases while it remains stable during other seasons.

Here at Imperial Steel, we have remained forward-thinking throughout many decades and will continue to conduct business that way so that our clients can reap the benefits of our knowledge of the changeability of the steel industry. Talk to us about your steel needs.

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

It’s Our Birthday!

On this day, 83 years ago, a tradition of excellence was born. Henry Bobrowski established a reputation of quality and craftsmanship that we are proud to continue to this day.

The success and growth that we have been able to achieve at Imperial Steel would not have been possible without the wonderfully loyal customers with whom we’ve had the pleasure of doing business throughout the years. To our valued customers, we say ‘thank you’.

The world has certainly changed in 83 years but one thing will never change – you can put your trust in Imperial Steel Products because Quality is a Tradition!

Imperial-Steel_83rd-Birthday

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

What Does Your Crystal Ball Say?

crystal-ball-globe-business-manKnowing what the future holds does appeal to many people. And business owners want nothing but to determine the future of their companies and where they will stand in the years to come. However, predicting the future is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding things in the industry. Seeing tomorrow from today’s perspectives and insights, will give you a fighting chance when defending against potential and unforeseeable consequences to a certain degree. And the same thing goes for one of the biggest industries in any country i.e. steel. Mentioned below are some very important factors to consider if you want to predict a big change for your steel business:

Market Conditions
Like other industries and markets, the market for steel is also subject to significant fluctuations as it is a precious commodity. Prices are also influenced by market conditions. For instance, if there is a shortage in the supply of steel in the market and the demand is high, the prices will automatically go up.

Inflation Rate
Another factor that plays its part in the reshaping the future of local steel industry is the inflation rate of the country. Although, some might not link inflation with the price of steel, but it is important to understand that inflation does contribute towards determining the price of steel. Inflation can indirectly affect the sales and disrupt the balance between demand and supply.

Dollar Exchange Rates
Fluctuations in exchange rates of currencies such as the dollar will have an impact on the steel industry. For example, a rise in the value of the dollar will increase the worth of steel while a decrease in exchange rates will result in a devaluation of steel.

To predict the future, experts also use these parameters to forecast the future of the steel industry. Steel businesses keep an eye on many other factors along with the ones mentioned above to better prepare for the future and minimize the risk of losses.

At Imperial Steel, we work hard to stay on top of trends and market conditions so that we can offer the best product at a fair price.

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

Inventory: When is it Too Much?

supply-chain-management-concepRegardless of the industry you belong to, you may have had problems managing your inventory. A majority of automotive and agriculture industries fail to keep track of their inventory. In fact these industries are unable to determine when too much is enough. Having excess inventory is never a good thing and the same can be said about being understocked. This begs the question, how much is exactly enough then? If you wish to find out, read on.

Looking at the Bigger Picture
Even though your business is performing well and the economy is doing better than before, you will need to ask yourself whether you are carrying an optimal amount of inventory. Being over and understocked can have its pros and cons. When you do not have sufficient inventory, you end up missing out on sales. However, if you choose to keep more stock than normal, you risk getting your money tied up in it. There are countless other factors that need to be looked at in order to reach a thorough conclusion.

Keeping Track of Inventory using the Inventory Turnover Rate
One of the best ways of determining optimal levels of inventory is by calculating the inventory turnover rate. This is accomplished by dividing the COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) by the average cost of the inventory, which is currently available.

For example, a company supplying steel iron has COGS of no more than $30,000 in the first year and kept no more than $2000 inventory on hand, after dividing the two it will result in a turnover rate of 15%. This actually means that the stock on hand has been sold 15 times over in the year alone. A lower turnover rate indicates that the business is overstocking, whereas a higher one suggests the contrary.

Estimate Ideal Inventory Levels Using Industry Averages
If a business is still unable to estimate its ideal inventory levels, then they can do so by using industry averages. It is not as complicated as it may seem and can prove to be quite effective in the long run. If for instance, the industry average turnover rate is 20%, then it will be used to divide the steel products supplier’s COGS ($30,000/20), which results in an ideal turnover rate of $1500. This information can be used by the business to optimize its stock to move closer to the $1500 turnover rate the next year.

That being said, now that you know more about the pros and cons of being over and understocked, you will do whatever it takes to ensure you have an optimal levels of inventory on hand. But most importantly, you know now how to calculate the ideal levels of inventory required by your business in order to function flawlessly and without any problems whatsoever.

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

Find Us On the Hotline in 2015!

Imperial Steel is very pleased to announce a new relationship with the Farmers Hotline in 2015. While our customer base in the United States continues to grow and expand, we thought it was high time to partner with a renowned publication that has been providing trusted information to farmers and ranchers nationwide for over 35 years.

Farmers Hotline is published by region and by special edition. Five regional publications and two special editions available both digitally and traditionally are produced throughout the year for the farming and livestock industries.

Featured below is our current listing that appears in the Manufacturers Spotlight special edition. Click here to download the Spring 2015 edition (we’re on page 59), and don’t forget to contact us for all of your steel tubing needs, no matter where you are.

Imperial Steel ad - Farmers Hotline Spring 2015

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

New Welding System at Imperial Steel

Imperial Steel is excited to announce the installation of our newest tubular welding system – a variable high and low frequency electric resistance, solid state welder.

Welder-big-picture

This type of welder produces engineered structural sections at high speeds with unlimited beam profiles and higher structural performance at lighter weights. Solid-state, high-frequency welding requires minimal heat input and provides the ability to control welding parameters such as time and temperature, resulting in improved weld properties in the weld zone.

The importance of this new technology at Imperial Steel is that it expands our capabilities to many other round tubular products and markets. By controlling welding power and frequency, we have been able to expand into the Stainless Steel market. We have started rolling 400 series in some of our sizes and looking at expansion. We soon expect to be running 300 series off our tube lines.

Please be sure to contact us regarding the sizes, gauges and series of stainless steel that you need.

Welder-closeup

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Imperial Steel Winnipeg

Imperial Steel – Dates of Holiday Closure

The Shipping and Receiving departments at Imperial Steel will close on December 22, 2014 at 4:00pm.

All other office and manufacturing services will close on December 23, 2014 at noon so that our staff can enjoy the holiday season with their families.

All services will reopen January 5, 2015 at 7:00am.

Imperial Steel would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Christmas border