'Drumming up' business in industrial container market
08.19.2016
ArcelorMittal USA is well positioned to grow its business with industrial container manufacturers. Currently this market is serviced by companies including Greif, Mauser Group, Berenfield (recently acquired by Mauser), Meyer Steel Drum and Schuetz.
North American industrial packaging includes foodservice and bulk packaging, among others. According to Packaging Digest, North American industrial packaging took a steep decline in recent years. But now, this market segment is recovering and is expected to experience a growth rate close to that of consumer packaging in coming years.
Two major container products are cold-rolled for 55 gallon drums and hot-dip galvanized for intermediate bulk containers (IBC). These products are made at all ArcelorMittal USA tandem rolling locations, including Burns Harbor, AM/NS Calvert, Cleveland, Indiana Harbor and I/N Tek.
“Some applications for cold-rolled product are being redesigned as light hot-rolled or coated product,” said Shelby Pixley, director of OEM sales, ArcelorMittal USA. “It’s critical that we maintain our market share goals of cold-rolled. While the drum market is a mature market, ArcelorMittal USA’s broad geographical footprint maps up well with these customers. Some of the drum plants require dry cold-rolled product. Rust is a constant challenge, but our facilities work hard to minimize these issues.”
For example, Greif, based in Delaware, Ohio, manufactures standard and specialty steel drums in a range of sizes and thicknesses with a choice of linings, configurations and covers to transport materials for the chemical, paint and coatings, food, pharmaceutical and hazardous waste industries. They also manufacture intermediate bulk containers or IBCs, primarily serving the pharmaceutical, food, lubricant and chemical industries. The frame and base pan are made of hot-dipped galvanized steel.
Another customer, Schuetz, is a global company headquartered in Selters, Germany. Its U.S. operations are among the nation’s largest IBC producers. Their IBCs are also made for ex-zones for the safe storage and transport of potentially explosive materials. Also, ArcelorMittal is working with Schuetz to supply cold-rolled product from AM/NS Calvert for their new drum facility outside of Houston.
Pixley said ArcelorMittal has had a long standing relationship with Meyer Steel Drum in Chicago, supplying cold-rolled product from I/N Tek. ArcelorMittal is the sole steel supplier for Meyer and the customer counts on us to deliver a quality product on-time.
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