SIC 3315 Steel Wiredrawing and Steel Nails and Spikes

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT.
• ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE.
• BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT.
• CURRENT CONDITIONS.
• INDUSTRY LEADERS.
• WORKFORCE.
• RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY.
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 3315

This category covers establishments primarily engaged in drawing wire from purchased iron or steel rods, bars, or wire, as well as those which may be engaged in the further manufacture of products made from wire. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing steel nails and spikes from purchased materials are also included in this industry. Rolling mills engaged in the production of ferrous wire from wire rods or hot-rolled bars produced in the same establishment are classified under SIC 3312: Blast Furnaces and Steel Mills. Establishments primarily engaged in drawing nonferrous wire are classified in other industry categories.

NAICS CODE(S)

331222

Steel Wire Drawing

332618

Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

Steel wiredrawing plants manufacture a wide variety of products including barbed and twisted wire, steel baskets, brads, cable, chain link fencing, fence gates, posts and fittings, form ties, horseshoe nails, steel nails, paper clips, spikes, staples, wire cages, tacks, tie wires, wire fabric, wire carts, wire cloth, and wire garment hangers.

The steadily growing U.S. economy helped steel wiredrawing manufacturers continue the industry's expansion through 1998. Demand for steel wire was fueled by a significant increase in highway construction, residential housing construction, and the continued strength of the automotive industry. In spite of these positive factors, U.S. steel wire drawing industries faced growing competition from imports in the late 1990s. As a result, the value of industry shipments declined from $5.01 billion in 1998 to $4.76 billion in 1999 and to $4.58 billion in 2000. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the trend continued in 2002, when shipments dropped to $3.8 billion.

In 2004, the total number of wiredrawing plants stood at 889, up from 337 in 2002. Total value of shipments climbed to $4.35 billion, with Texas and California capturing the majority of market share. There were a total of 24,751 steel wiredrawing workers employed in the industry. The average firm employed 31 workers who shipped about $6.80 million steel wire and related products. Steel wire and related products represented the largest sector within the industry controlling about 26 percent of the market. Wire and fabricated wire products represented 18.9 percent, steel fence gates, posts and fittings held 11.1 percent; insulated or armored wire steel was 11.1 percent; and insulated or armored cable steel with 5.6 percent.

While demand for steel wiredrawing products was on the rise, competitive pressures continued to plague the domestic market from imports. In the meantime, the Bush Administration, as well as the U.S. Commerce Department were working closely to set in place legislation to include particular wiredrawing products that were not included in the original Section 201 steel import monitoring program.

ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

In 1997, 273 companies produced steel wire and related products, down from 350 in 1995. The vast majority of establishments in this industry were larger companies employing 20 or more employees. Of all steel wire manufacturers, only 76 employed 20 or less in 1997. The largest concentration of firms by shipment value were in the Great Lakes region of the United States, with the southeast and New England regions ranking second and third, respectively. The largest producing states in descending order of shipments were...