Atlas Tube partners with Nippon Steel & Sumikin Metal Products to bring Jumbo HSS products to North America

CHICAGO, IL – Atlas Tube, a division of JMC Steel Group, announced today that it has partnered with Nippon Steel & Sumikin Metal Products Co., Ltd. (NSMP) and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. to supply Jumbo Hollow Structural Sections (HSS) to the North American market. The “Jumbo” HSS sizes, which were not originally available in North America, range from 18” square to 22” square & up to .875” wall thickness. Atlas tube will market and distribute these Jumbo HSS products throughout North America. Typically used in vertical column and diagonal bracing applications and as members of large, long-span trusses, these Jumbo HSS sections offer a superior and cost-effective alternative to open sections and built-up, welded box sections used in structures with a high load demand.

“Now structural engineers have a choice. These products offer improved functional performance and flexibility for engineers who design structures of all types and sizes.” says David Seeger, president of JMC Steel Group. An option that was once not available to Structural engineers in North America is now here. “As an engineer, you want all the tools at your disposal to effectively solve design challenges in a cost-effective and timely manner. Readily available Jumbo HSS will be another option for engineers to do just that, especially for structures with large load demands such as ones in high seismic areas.” says Bradlee Fletcher, Structural Engineer for Atlas Tube.

David Seeger indicated that “JMC Steel Group is proud to be working with NSMP to bring these larger HSS sections and NSMP’s technical expertise to North America.”

NSMP says “In Japan, HSS is commonly used for column applications in multistory commercial buildings, as well as, parking garages. Also, HSS is very effective against seismic loads, which was proven during the recent earthquake in Japan earthquake in the spring of 2011.”

These new larger HSS products enhance Atlas Tube’s already extensive size range. The Jumbo sizes will be available to ship from Atlas’ Chicago facility in Q2 of 2012. For more information about the Jumbo HSS product, visit www.atlastube.com/jumbo-hss.