If a product isn't made from steel, it was almost certainly manufactured using machinery made of steel. Steel is ubiquitous in our daily lives—from cars, cell phones, and refrigerators to the plastic and glass bottles inside them. These items are either made of steel or produced with steel tools. For instance, plastic automotive parts, glass containers, and computer casings are all shaped using steel molds. It’s clear that steel is indispensable in the modern world.
Application of Steel in the Machinery and Tool Industry
The category "Tools & Machinery" encompasses a broad spectrum of equipment, ranging from small hand tools to large industrial robots and rolling mills. As of 2017, this sector accounted for approximately 15% of global steel consumption. In construction, steel is used in cranes, drilling rigs, bulldozers, scaffolding, and portable, reusable site shelters.
In agriculture, steel is everywhere—from basic implements like hoes, shovels, and forks to advanced equipment such as plows, irrigation systems, and silos. It has revolutionized farming, making it more efficient and productive. Steel is essential at every stage, from soil tilling and sowing to watering, harvesting, storage, and transportation. It also plays a key role in livestock management, supporting housing, feeding, and transport systems. Moreover, machinery involved in food processing is largely made of steel.
Nearly all forms of human communication rely on steel in some way. The printing of newspapers and books depends on steel presses. Computers and pens contain steel and are manufactured using steel-based equipment. Global postal services depend on steel sorting systems and infrastructure to deliver mail and parcels. Even a simple phone call involves steel—radio transmitters, essential to communication networks, are built with steel and are used in devices from mobile phones and toys to radars and satellites. Additionally, the production of vehicles increasingly employs industrial robots made of steel.
What is "Tool Steel"?
The term “tool steel” refers to specialized steels used to manufacture tools, dies, and molds. What sets them apart are properties tailored through specific alloy compositions and microstructures, resulting in high hardness and resistance to heat, wear, and corrosion. These characteristics are essential for mass-producing parts with consistent quality and tight tolerances. A common example is the press used to form automotive body panels—the tool steel must be harder than the sheet metal it shapes and must endure prolonged use without cracking or deforming.
Tool steels are used across various manufacturing processes, including:
Steel is 100% recyclable. When a car is scrapped, its steel can be recycled not only into new vehicles but also into the industrial robots that build them. This circularity conserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces environmental impact.
Benefits of Using Steel in Tools and Machinery
