Steel & The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution ushered in the development of bridges, roadways, machinery and other advances that shaped the United States as we know it.
The Industrial Revolution changed how people worked, traveled and built, and many of those changes still shape our world today. Beginning in Britain in the 18th century and eventually spreading to the United States, this period brought machinery, factories and new transportation systems into the mainstream.
Steel became an important part of that transformation, and industrialization changed the way steel was produced. Those advances helped pave the way for the railroads, bridges, buildings, machinery and infrastructure that would reshape the United States. For Texas Iron & Metal, understanding steel's industrial past also provides useful context for the industry we work in today. Here’s how that industry took shape and how its influence continues.
The First Industrial Revolution Lays the Foundation for Steel
The First Industrial Revolution didn't create the modern steel industry, but it did set the stage. As factories, cities and transportation systems expanded, so did the need for strong industrial materials and more efficient ways to produce them.
Iron, rather than steel, was the primary metal used during this first wave of industrialization. Improvements in iron production made the material more readily available for machinery, tools, bridges and other applications. At the same time, steam power transformed factories and transportation, while expanding rail systems helped move raw materials and finished goods farther and faster.
In the United States, these developments helped drive the transition toward a more industrial economy. Factories grew, transportation networks expanded and demand increased for materials capable of supporting new machinery and infrastructure.
Those changes created an important foundation for what came next. As industrial ambitions grew, so did the need for material that could meet increasingly demanding applications. That helped lay the groundwork for steel's much larger role during the Second Industrial Revolution.
The Second Industrial Revolution Transforms the Steel Industry
The Second Industrial Revolution began in the mid-19th century, ushering in a new era for the steel industry. New processes made steel faster and more economical to manufacture, opening the door to production on a much larger scale.
One of the era's biggest advances was the Bessemer process, which used air to remove impurities from molten iron. Together with other evolving steelmaking methods, it helped make steel more readily available for industrial applications. Greater access to steel helped make increasingly ambitious projects possible.
- Railroads: Steel rails supported expanding networks that moved people, raw materials and finished goods across long distances.
- Bridges: Steel offered the strength engineers needed to take on larger, more demanding bridge designs.
- Buildings: Steel framing helped builders reach new heights and contributed to the changing skylines of growing American cities.
- Machinery: Manufacturers gained durable material for equipment and components used in factories, agriculture and other industries.
- Ships: Steel became increasingly important for vessels supporting commercial and industrial activity.
Steel producers such as Carnegie Steel, US Steel, Republic Steel and Bethlehem Steel were established in the early 1900s to help meet growing material demand.
Image Source: National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum
The Steel Industry in the U.S. Takes Shape
Demand for steel grew rapidly as America's railroads, cities, factories and infrastructure expanded. Large-scale producers emerged to meet that need, helping turn steelmaking into one of the country's defining industries. Several companies played notable roles in that growth and the evolution of American steel production.
- Carnegie Steel: Led by Andrew Carnegie, the company embraced increasingly efficient steelmaking methods and grew into one of the country's leading producers. In 1901, it became a key part of the newly formed U.S. Steel.
- U.S. Steel: Created through the combination of Carnegie Steel and other major producers, U.S. Steel became one of the country's dominant steel producers and a major example of industry consolidation.
- Bethlehem Steel: A major producer during the 20th century, Bethlehem Steel supplied structural material for construction, infrastructure, shipbuilding and other demanding applications.
- Republic Steel: Formed in 1930 through the combination of several steel companies, Republic Steel grew to become the nation's third-largest steelmaker. The company later invested heavily in modernization before merging with Jones & Laughlin Steel in 1984.
Through the decades that followed, American steel supported automobiles, construction, energy infrastructure, manufacturing, wartime production and much more. The industry continued to evolve alongside new technologies, changing markets and growing global competition.
Producing steel is only one part of today's industry. Steel distributors and suppliers also maintain inventory and move material through the supply chain, helping make steel available where and when it's needed.
Texas Iron & Metal got its start selling scrap and steel in the late 1930s before later transitioning to prime and LTP steel.
Houston Steel Becomes Part of a Growing Industrial Economy
The story of Houston steel is closely tied to the city's rise as a transportation, energy and industrial center. A major milestone came in 1914 when the Houston Ship Channel opened, helping position Houston for significant growth in trade and industry.
Steel became part of that story, too. As commerce increased along the waterway, so did opportunities for businesses supporting construction, manufacturing, energy and other industrial work. Steel suppliers in Houston became an important link between available inventory and the businesses that relied on quality material. Today, Port Houston's facilities continue to handle steel, breakbulk and heavy project cargo.
The growth of Houston's industrial economy provides important context for Texas Iron & Metal's beginnings. Our roots date back to 1939, when founder Max Moore began selling scrap and steel from the back of his pickup truck. After nearly a decade of doing business on the road, Moore opened our company’s first Houston location in the 1950s.
Under the next generation of family leadership, our focus shifted from scrap toward surplus steel, helping shape the prime and Less-Than-Prime© (LTP) supplier Texas Iron & Metal is today. More than 85 years later, we're still proud to call Houston home, and to supply steel to the people building, fabricating, repairing and creating what's next.
Steel Distributors Keep Modern Industry Moving
Modern steel distribution has evolved alongside the industries it serves. At Texas Iron & Metal, that starts with more than 12 acres of prime and LTP inventory, giving customers a broad selection of steel and metal, including material that can be difficult to source elsewhere. Our Houston-based inventory serves customers locally and throughout the United States.
Beyond inventory, we provide services that help prepare and transport material for its next application, including the following.
- Saw Cutting: Cutting beams, pipe, angle and other products to better suit project requirements
- Plate Shearing: Cutting flat material to specified dimensions
- Punching: Creating holes for connections and fabrication needs
- Loading & Delivery Support: Helping transport material from our yard to yours
- LTP (Surplus) Purchasing: Buying excess steel inventory from businesses and individuals looking to sell usable material
Much has changed since the Industrial Revolution, from how steel is made to the ways it's processed and used. Steel's role has expanded, too, supporting an increasingly wide range of industries, infrastructure projects and innovations.
Texas Iron & Metal has been part of Houston's industrial story since 1939, but the material that leaves our yard travels much farther. Today, we supply quality steel and metal to customers throughout the United States, helping support projects across construction, fabrication and other industries. It's a modern-day continuation of a story that began generations ago — connecting quality material with the people who put it to work.
You want it, we've got it. That's supply on demand.