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Toll processing remains an integral part of the metals supply chain. Processors, companies that perform a service without taking ownership of the metal, were once primarily used by the steel producers. Moreover, at one point the processing community was prominently tied to the automotive supply chain. Both of those dynamics have evolved over time.
Today, the processing community works with both mill and service center customers, continuing to perform its function without buying and selling the material. And while the automotive sector continues to rely on the processing sector to operate, many more end-use sectors have come to count on tolling as part of their metals supply chain.
Processors typically break down into two distinct camps. Some are 100 percent toll processors, developing a business model where steel or aluminum or stainless is never owned by the company.
But through the years, many service centers have also dabbled in toll processing to maximize the return on their investments into expensive processing equipment. How much they rely on processing to supplement their core business varies from one distributor to the next.
Each February, we present
Metal Center News’ Directory of Toll Processors, the most comprehensive listing of North America’s toll processing community. Updated throughout the year, the directory includes listings for 180 companies. This year’s directory is streamlined, placing all companies alphabetically, with descriptions of the markets and geographies they serve within.
Processors engage in a variety of services, frequently involving flat-rolled steel. Slitting, cut-to-length, blanking, leveling, shearing and edge conditioning are among the most common work done. Still others offer warehousing, transportation and coating for the metals supply chain.
MCN’s Directory of Toll Processors is designed as easy-to-use resource to help any type of metals company locate a provider that can meet its needs. Each listing includes contact information and a summary of the services offered, its capacity for handling specific types and forms of metal products, and its geographic reach.