Nippon Steel introduces new beam into the U.S.

By Tom Stundza -- Purchasing, 4/16/2008 11:29:00 AM

Nippon Steel of Japan is marketing a new type of wide-flange beam it is making available in the U.S. which it hopes will prove popular in the competitive North American steel-sections market.

The Hyper Beam--whose flange thickness extends downward, rather than upward, and offers a higher flange-to-web thickness ratio—was unveiled to potential U.S. buyers at the recent North American Steel Construction Conference in Nashville, Tenn. Nippon and two other mills currently sell about 500,000 metric tons/year of this type of structural section in the Japanese market.

The downward flange design enables beams with varying flange thicknesses and weight-supporting capabilities to maintain a uniform surface level or outer dimension. It is yet to be determined what lengths and widths will be available in the domestic market, a representative of Marubeni-Itochu Steel America, a Nippon-authorized distributor.