Any type of facility in the metallurgy industry with a need for graphite rods has typically had experiences of working with suppliers offering top quality rods and those that tended to have shorter life cycles and lower offer performance and quality.
In the steel and iron industries, trying to cut corners and buying cheap quality rods is never a good decision. However, it can be challenging to predict the quality of rods you will receive if you are not working with a reputable, dependable and consistent supplier.
Niche Suppliers
There is an increasing number of suppliers of graphite rods. Not all of these suppliers are niche companies, which means they may offer different options in materials, parts, component, and supplies to a variety of different industries.
By choosing a company that specializes in graphite and carbon rods, blocks and specialty graphites, a company can rest assured they are working with specialists that build their reputation on customer service and quality products.
These niche suppliers work directly with the manufacturers and choose only those manufacturers that meet or exceed industry standards in production methods for their graphite and carbon products.
Availability of Rods
Managers of steel melting facilities know their requirements for graphite rods as well as the order frequency they require. This may include HP, SHP or UHP types of rods, or perhaps a combination of different furnaces.
When choosing a supplier to work with on an ongoing basis for rods and other materials, be sure to discuss your order schedule and your order requirements. Verify the supplier can meet your ongoing order requirements as this will allow you to then use strategic delivery methods or Just-In-Time delivery.
This delivery option for your carbon and graphite electrodes and blocks prevents the need for large amounts of on-site storage and also helps to spread out purchase over the production.