Industries Served

Primary Metals

The primary metals industry includes businesses that produce metal products musing metal ore or scrap metal. Metal plants refine products, cast metal into different shapes and produce metal for either refining or casting. This industry uses both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, produces metal products and alloys, and creates both end products and stock for other companies and industries. Primary metals industries include steel works, furnaces, foundry operations, smelting and refining. Some companies work to produce metals for other companies, while other businesses operate to produce metal products for their own use or sales.

Ferrous metals have iron components, while non-ferrous metals do not contain iron. Ferrous metals are usually magnetic and can either be pure iron or just contain iron. Every form of steel is also considered a ferrous metal. Ferrous metals have an extremely broad range of use in the primary metals industry and other industries as well. This product is used in everything from kitchenware to support beams for buildings. Iron is extremely strong and hard, making it a prime metal in this industry. Many basic metal products that are made from primary metals include sheets, strips, bars, wire, rods and castings. Base metal elements that many businesses and industries use include zinc, lead, nickel and tin. A base metal is one that oxidizes when air gets to it.

The difference between primary metals and secondary metals is that primary metals are obtained from a natural source while secondary metals are obtained from waste and scrap. A major issue with the primary metals industry is pollution. The type of pollution that’s caused by metal production depends on the specific process that’s being used. Every plant should have waste and pollution operations that they abide by in order to keep the work environment healthy and safe.