The announcement was made during a meeting of the Institute's HSS Committee. Both companies have also become members of that committee, which promotes the growth of structural steel tubing (HSS).
William A. Wolfe, executive director of STINA, welcomed both members, emphasizing the role the STI plays in the industry: "The Steel Tube Institute is the only organization that's specifically focused on the unique needs and interests of the steel tube and pipe industry in North America," he said. "We serve as the only voice of the industry."
David Seeger, president of John Maneely Company (JMC), explained that Atlas Tube, a division of JMC, has always been a strong advocate of a combined effort to promote the benefits and uses of HSS. "We believe that the united efforts of the major producers is the best way to grow the entire market. The HSS Committee has been successful at working together to do just that over the years," he said.
The unified efforts of STINA's product committees was also one of the reasons that Leavitt Tube joined the organization. "As a group of producers, we have many common goals," said T. Konishi, Leavitt Tube's chairman, president and CEO. "When we work together to grow the markets and uses for our products, every individual company benefits."
The HSS Committee is working on a series of programs designed to assure compliance with the industry's high quality standards, and to provide a steady flow of information about the benefits and uses of HSS.
These new initiatives will be discussed with STINA's full membership at the Institute's Annual Meeting, which will be held in Chicago, November 3-4.
Atlas Tube was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Chicago. It operates five manufacturing facilities in Canada and the US and is the market share leader in the HSS industry.
Leavitt Tube, founded in 1956, producers mechanical and structural (HSS) steel tubing and Hi-Y50 pipe. It operates 10 tubing mills at facilities in Chicago and Jackson, MS.
The Steel Tube Institute was founded in 1930. It sponsors cooperative efforts to improve manufacturing techniques, safety and best business practices in the welded steel tubing and pipe industries and informs customers and fabricators about the utility and versatility of steel pipe and tubing products. It is headquartered in Glenview, IL.