Cold-formed steel framing manufacturers traditionally had a very close working relationship with steelwork contractors as they generally sell their products directly to them. This is because purlins, rails and other cold-formed items are part and parcel of a steelwork contractors’ erection program.
Because of this close working relationship cold-formed steel framing manufacturers know what the market wants and have consequently worked proactively to refine their products.
Cost is always an important issue on construction projects and value engineering is now practiced on a regular basis as a way of saving money. In response to this trend the cold-formed steel sector’s manufacturing processes have become more efficient and streamlined, ready and able to respond to market variations.