Metal is a popular building material for those with an eye on sustainability. This is due to the fact that many types of metal can easily be recycled and re-used.
Numerous industries make use of metals, from transportation to telecommunications and virtually everything in between. In fact, the transportation industry relies heavily on metal, not only in automobile manufacturing, but in building roads and highways that are driven on each and every day.
In the following infographic, Industrial Metal Supply shows how how metal unknowingly effects our everyday lives.
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A DAILY DOSE OF METAL
How Metal Gets You Through the Day
Since the Middle Ages, our capabilities and uses of metal have greatly expanded and diversified. It’s become an essential element woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Let’s take a look at some fun facts and applications below.
TRANSPORTATION
SHIPS
- Withstand severe weather on ocean journeys
- 20 million shipping containers travel overseas daily
TRAINS
- Rolled steel tracks withstand heavy wear-and-tear
- NYC subway tracks laid end-to-end would reach Chicago
AIRPLANES
- Passenger airplanes are made of aluminum
- Steel planes would be too heavy to take off
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
- Steel and concrete is foundation for highway overpasses
- Steel girders: 130 feet long & 54 tons
CARS
- Average car 2,400 pounds of steel
- 80% of your car weight
- Ford is using aluminum body panels on the 2015 F-150 truck – cuts 700 lbs. of weight
SHELTER
ARCHITECTURE
- Modern skyscrapers started in 1885 with introduction of steel frames
- Willis Tower: 1,451-foot & 76,000 tons
INTERIOR DESIGN
- Industrial design showcases metal – stainless steel furniture, exposed pipes & I-beams
- Aluminum – lightweight and flexible – also popular in design
COPPER
- Used in 85% of U.S. homes
- Copper piping dates back 5,000 years to ancient Egypt
ENERGY & COMMUNICATION
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
- Metals have made digital devices lighter and sleeker
- First commercial cell phone: 1984 2lbs. $3,995
SOLAR PANELS
- Usage has increased by 68% in the last 2.5 years
- Aluminum frames and PV cells are completely recyclable
- Saves homeowners $20,000 over 20 years
HEALTH & SECURITY
MEDICAL DEVICES
- Titanium pacemakers reduce the risk of death by up to 40% in patients
- 3 million people worldwide use pacemakers
- Knee and hip implants: 1.05 million surgeries are performed annually
- Generally made of titanium alloys
- Strong enough to support weigh, flexible to allow fluid joint motion
LOCKS
- Steel locks are more secure than brass locks, which can be sawed through
- Deadbolts should withstand 300 pounds inches of torque
SAFES
- Gun and fire safes: 12–18 gauge steel
- Burglary safes: 4” thick steel plates
- Fire-proof safes withstand 1,200 degree fires for one hour
FOOD
APPLIANCES
- Stainless steel appliances are standard for modern kitchens
- Non-porous surfaces prevents bacteria growth
- Long lifespan holds up to kitchen wear-and-tear
BAR TOPS
- Copper countertops are popular for unique look and properties
- Antimicrobial copper kills bacteria
ART & ENTERTAINMENT
SCULPTURE
Two of the most iconic public metal sculptures—the Daley Plaza Picasso and Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”) both reside in Chicago.
- Cloud Gate – 110 tons: Exterior is 168 polished stainless steel panels
- The Picasso – 160 tons: Made of corrosion-resistant steel, 50 feet tall & 160 tons
MONUMENTS
- Eiffel Tower -1,063 feet: Tallest structure in the world for 41 years until construction of the Chrysler Building
- St. Louis Arch – 17,246 tons: Made of corrosion-resistant steel, 50 feet tall & 160 tons
- Statue of Liberty – Originally had a shiny copper color but turned green as metal oxidized
JEWELRY
- Titanium rates 6 on metal hardness scale – stronger than gold or silver
- Lightweight & hypoallergenic, makes great wedding band
While wood, plastic, and glass definitely have their place, metal provides strength and durability that can’t be matched. No matter what industry you’re in, metal plays a pivotal role in shaping your world.