From Ore to I-Beam

From Ore to I-Beam

1. Mine. Iron ore is blasted, hauled and crushed; taconite is pelletized.
2. Furnace. A blast furnace turns ore, coke and limestone into molten iron. Most new structural steel in the U.S. now comes from electric arc furnaces melting scrap.
3. Mill. Hot steel is cast and rolled through stands of rollers into the wide-flange shape: the I-beam.
4. Fabricator. Detailers draw every piece; fitters and welders cut, drill and weld connection plates; each piece gets a mark number.
5. Truck. A CDL driver delivers pieces in erection order, just in time, because the site has no room to store them.
6. Crane. The operator lifts; connectors bolt the piece in the air.
7. Bolt-up and weld. Ironworkers tighten, field welders finish, inspectors test.
8. Fireproofing. Spray-on insulation keeps steel strong in a fire.

A beam in a tower has passed through about a dozen trades before anyone stands on it.

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