Ferrous metals are alloys of iron such as mild steel, high speed steel, cast iron. Mild steel in the form of sheet metal is often used in electrical and electronic equipment. It is usually electro-galvanised with a zinc plating. Less common is bars and tin plated thin sheet metal.
Ferrous metals are easily recycled and there is a local and global trade in it. There are scrap metal merchants in cities and larger towns throughout New Zealand. New Zealand Steel, at the Glenbrook Steel Mill, use 5% scrap metal in there steelmaking process. The Pacific Steel mill, owned by Fletcher Building, used scrap metal for its furnaces but the plant is now closed.
Most of the scrap ferrous metal in New Zealand is exported.
Further information
- Ferrous metals at the London Metal Exchange
- Ferrous metals at Wikipedia
News
Investment secures steel industry | Stuff9 March 2014
A once-in-a-generation deal for New Zealand’s steel industry will cut production but make it more viable.