The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) consists of 39 North American companies that operate 125 steel plants and employ approximately 40,000 people. The SMA also has six international steel company members in countries outside of North America, comprising a total membership of 45 steel companies, worldwide.
The North American member companies of the SMA are widely dispersed geographically with 33 located in the United States, three companies in Canada, and three in Mexico. The US companies are represented in the United States Congress by 122 Congressional Districts within 37 states.
The SMA is the primary trade association for scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers. In 2003, EAF’s produced 47.8 million tons, or 51%, of the total steel produced in the US. According to the U.S. Geological Survey in February 2005, estimated EAF production in 2004 again surpassed Integrated production, with EAF production at 53%, or 51.0 million tons.
The SMA has 107 Associate Member companies operating worldwide that supply goods and services to the steel industry.
Recycled scrap constitutes almost 100% of the materials input of electric furnace steel producers. Last year the entire US steel industry recycled approximately 75 million tons of ferrous scrap with over 80% consumed in EAF’s!
The recycling of steel scrap plays an important role in the conservation of energy because steel produced from melted scrap requires much less energy than the production of steel products from iron ore. In addition, the recycling of iron and steel scrap reduces the burden on landfill disposal facilities and prevents the accumulation of abandoned steel products in the environment.
The SMA Board of Directors establishes SMA policies and oversees their implementation.
Reflecting the operational mode of its member companies, the SMA is committed to maintaining a low cost operation to achieve maximum impact on the issues of highest priority to its members in areas such as international trade, innovative products and technology, environmental control, energy policy, and workforce matters. As the growth and performance of the EAF sector of the steel industry has increased, the SMA has experienced significant growth in the tonnage represented.
The SMA accomplishes much of its work through the support of four standing committees, in addition to several ad-hoc task groups, subcommittees, and participation in outside coalitions which address specific issues of importance to the membership.
A principal activity of the SMA is the work of its Plant Operations Division, which meets regularly to discuss management developments, equipment technology and performance, operational problems, and workforce motivation.
SMA Environment Committee members work together on common environmental issues and on development of positions that promote effective environmental public policies.
The SMA Human Resources Committee members exchange information on workforce practices designed to increase productivity, improve worker health and safety, and maximize worker satisfaction.
The SMA Safety Committee members share a wealth of knowledge to prevent incidents, reduce injuries and near misses, and improve overall safety.
The SMA’s committee and subcommittee structure permits a rapid response to questions from steel company members, government agencies, Congressional offices, and the general public. It also facilitates grass-roots involvement with the federal government on issues of importance to the SMA membership. Members collaboratively learn from each other.
The SMA publishes an annual Membership Directory which provides member company information including addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers, product lines, facilities, key personnel, and Web Addresses. The directory also provides similar information for SMA’s 104 Associate Members who supply materials, equipment and services to the steel industry.
An SMA film, The Refrigerator Door, approximately eleven minutes in length, demonstrates the steel production process in an EAF, beginning with the processing of scrap and ending with use of final products made of recycled steel. The video highlights the environmental and economic contributions of the EAF steel industry.
The SMA’s presence on the Internet at www.steelnet.org provides up-to-date SMA announcements, including published articles written by the SMA, links to its member and associate companies, the public policy book online, links to other steel-related sites, and a general directory of suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the steel industry.