Carbon in Context
Carbon steel, one of the most widely used metals in the world, has been part of our story since day one. It’s the metal behind the cars we drive, the buildings we enter and the Company we are today.
Carbon steel is an alloy made mostly of iron and carbon—a simple combination that yields strength, versatility and value. It comes in many forms, from thin sheet to heavy plate, and each grade offers a different balance of strength, durability and flexibility. It’s also easy to recycle and cost-effective, making it a go-to for industries that build, move and power the world.
You may not see the material itself, but carbon is all around us. It’s the unexposed strength and structure built into the framework of the things we rely on every day, from bridges and buildings to cars, tractors and appliances—the very structures and products our customers help bring to life.
Before carbon takes its place in the world, it often takes shape in ours. That process starts when the material arrives at our facilities, most often in coil form directly from domestic mills, often weighing up to 40,000 pounds. From there, our teams cut, slit, level, form and fabricate the material into the shapes, sizes and finished parts our customers need. That includes processing sheet, plate and coil (hot rolled, cold rolled, and coated) at divisions in Bartlett, IL; Bettendorf, IA; Chambersburg, PA; Cleveland, OH; Mount Sterling, KY; and Winder, GA, using equipment like temper mills, cut-to-length lines, stamping presses, laser cutters and automated welding systems.
Once processed, the material moves on to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and infrastructure partners—the makers and builders behind vehicles, machinery, products and structures. Carbon processed and distributed by Olympic Steel supports some of the world’s most recognized names: Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz; John Deere and Caterpillar; Toro lawn products; and Link-Belt, JLG and Valtir safety systems. It also finds purpose closer to home, shaping the end-use products built by our own Family of Brands—from hoppers to dump inserts, ductwork and more. And while much of the carbon that leaves our facilities isn’t visible as a finished product, it plays a vital role in powering industries, including our own.
The same material that helps build skylines and support highways has also shaped Olympic Steel. It’s been the foundation of our business since 1954, when we started as a single facility with no major processing equipment. What began as our core line of work has grown into today’s Carbon & Coated Flat Products segment, representing about 57 percent of our revenue, and even more by volume. Nearly all of our facilities handle some form of carbon, and together we ship nearly a million tons every year—and that number continues to grow as we expand our reach and capabilities.
Ongoing investments in automation, new processing lines and fabrication technology, including a new cut-to-length line coming to our Minneapolis, MN Coil facility later this year, ensure our carbon operations stay strong, efficient and ready for what’s next.
Keep growing with us! Learn more about our processes, products, services and Family of Brands through Olympic Steel Academy!
