We Are Replacing 29 Gauge (Black Plate) Steel with 28 Gauge (Cold Rolled) Steel

Starting sometime in Q2 2023, we will begin using 28 gauge (Cold Rolled) steel to replace our 29 gauge (Black Plate) non-regulated steel pails and covers.

An exact date will be based on the inventory of black plate, which will ultimately determine when we permanently roll out the change (likely towards the end of Q2 or the start of Q3). 

This means 29 gauge (Black Plate) pails and covers will be replaced with 28 gauge (Cold Rolled) steel pails and covers moving forward.

There are three main reasons for this steel change:

1. 28 gauge (Cold Rolled) steel is domestically more available to source than black plate steel
2. Cold-rolled steel has significantly come down in price, while some mills have resisted any price decreases for black plate steel
3. Cold rolled steel is priced quarterly versus some mills pricing black plate and tin plate annually

We feel that in 2023, using 28 gauge (Cold Rolled) steel will be more cost-effective, more efficient, and easier to source than black plate. Your pail will look exactly alike; however, the overall pail will weigh around 0.4 pounds more than before.

Here are some quick updates on events happening throughout the steel industry right now. 

1. HIGHER COSTS, LOWER DEMAND FLATTEN US LONGS PRICES
   • Steel users continue to work through inventories
2. WEEKLY RAW STEEL PRODUCTION EDGED BACK DOWN
   • Domestic raw steel production continued its 4th straight week of increases
3. SMU PRICE RANGES: ANOTHER WEEK OF GAINS AS Q1 RALLY CONTINUES
   • Prices for sheet metal and HRC climbed in the past week