Selecting the Right Supplier for Bridge Steel

By Jeff Weigang

Types of Steel

Various types of bridge still are used in the construction of a bridge. What you need will depend heavily on the design of the bridge as well as the amount of traffic that will be going over the bridge. For example, if you are creating a residential walking bridge versus a commercial traffic bridge, the type of steel you need is going to vary.

Additionally, you might need different types of steel in order to complete the bridge project. A supplier needs to be able to provide you with all of the different types of steel that you need. If you have to work with multiple suppliers, it is going to become an overwhelming process to order what you need. It might also take longer to get the supplies and cost you more money.

Inventory

It is important to look at the deadlines you have in place for your project. The supplier you choose may or may not have the inventory that you require for your project. As such, it may require them ordering additional inventory in stock. If this takes several weeks, he can throw off your entire deadline.

You should contact several suppliers to find out what their inventory is and the timeframe it would take in order to deliver the quantity of steel you are looking at purchasing. If it will take too long, it might be worth spending a little bit more to go with a supplier who has a larger inventory of steel on-hand.

Reputation

The reputation of a bridge steel supplier is vital. You don't want to run into a situation where you going to business with a company that is unreliable. Although you will sign contracts with all of your suppliers, you want to make sure that they offer competitive pricing and deliver materials when they say they are going to deliver them.

If their reputation is not well known within the area, you will want to rely on online reviews to tell you everything that you need to know. You should also plan on calling a supplier to ask questions.

Costs

Finally, you need to talk about pricing with a supplier. You should focus on getting quotes from at least two or three suppliers so that you can make comparisons. Otherwise, you could end up spending more on bridge steel than what is necessary. If you are purchasing a large amount of steel or plan on placing several orders throughout the year, negotiate.

It's worth taking a little bit of extra time to explore the different aspects of a supplier. It will ensure you know exactly what you are getting into so that there are no surprises later on.

Ranger Steel has always strived to form personal relationships with customers in a wide variety of industries. The industries we serve are as follows: ship building, oil and gas, mining, light and heavy commercial and industrial construction; service centers; as well as fabricators for heavy plate, vessel and heat exchangers, storage tanks, bridges, electrical transmission, and railcars.