Wisconsin Steel & Tube

What Wisconsin Steel & Tube does

Wisconsin Steel & Tube Corporation is a privately-held, ISO 9001:2015 certified metal service center founded in 1952 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company fabricates, cuts, and machines ferrous and non-ferrous bar, tube, and pipe products, operating a 116,000-square-foot centralized facility in Milwaukee and a precision machining operation, WST Fab, LLC, in Manitowoc (established 2010), supported by an additional 20,000-square-foot leased warehouse. The combined footprint exceeds 200,000 square feet following the addition of more than 100,000 square feet over a two-year expansion program.

The technical platform centers on advanced capital equipment: Bystronic Smart Factory automation with three lasers (two 15kW, one 20kW) and 11 automation towers storing more than 1.5 million pounds of steel vertically; Bystronic ByStar 6225 12kW and ByStar 4020 15kW fiber lasers; Bystronic ByTube130 and FL300 tube laser systems for round tubes up to 12 inches OD and square tubes up to 10x10 inches; AMOB eMob 150 and eMob 80 all-electric tube benders; Mazak Fabrigear 220 CO2 and Trumpf TruLaser Tube 5000 fiber tube lasers; Bystronic Xpert press brakes (320 and 80 ton); six automatic band saws and two automatic circular cold saws; and Miller PerformArc/Yaskawa Motoman robotic weld cells. A new ERP system was implemented in 2022 to support scaling operations.

The business model combines metal distribution with value-added fabrication and custom supply-chain programs. Revenue is generated from one-time sales of bar, tube, and pipe products; project-based fabrication services (laser cutting, CNC machining, tube bending, press brake forming, welding); and managed-service-style programs (Kan-Ban, JIT delivery, VMI, kitting, customized returnable containers). Pricing is quote-based, typically valid 24 hours due to commodity price volatility, with no public list pricing. The go-to-market is sales-led, with a centralized Milwaukee sales team, a toll-free line, email, and a website quote form, supported by a dedicated truck fleet and three-shift production enabling next-day service. Customers include OEMs in agriculture (notably John Deere, Partner-level supplier and Hall of Fame inductee), heavy equipment, lawn and garden, construction, oil and gas, automotive, military, and mining, plus machine and fabrication job shops served primarily across the U.S. Midwest and nationally.

Name

Wisconsin Steel & Tube

Legal name

Wisconsin Steel & Tube Corporation

Website

https://wisteeltube.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wisconsin Steel & Tube is a privately-held, ISO 9001:2015 certified metal service center in Milwaukee with a fabrication subsidiary in Manitowoc. It fabricates, cuts, and machines ferrous and non-ferrous bar, tube, and pipe for OEMs in agriculture, heavy equipment, lawn and garden, construction, oil and gas, automotive, military, and mining.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Service Center / Steel Fabrication

NAICS

Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (331210), Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332996)

SIC

Wholesale-Metals Service Centers & Offices (5051), Steel Pipe & Tubes (3317)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAKABAL

Steel Service Centers & Processing (Slitting, Cut-to-Length, Blanking, Leveling)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Steel Production & Processing

SECONDARYIMAKABAI

Pipe & Tube Manufacturing (Seamless & Welded OCTG/Line Pipe/Structural Tube)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Steel Production & Processing

Keywords

• Metal service center
• Steel fabrication services
• Tube laser cutting
• CNC precision machining
• Bar and pipe distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Metal Distribution: Distribution of ferrous and non-ferrous bar, tube, and pipe products. Stocks general product lines and custom/engineered materials including intermediate and metric sizes, non-stock grades, and special requirements.
2. Fabrication Services: Custom metal fabrication including tube laser cutting, CNC machining, tube bending, press brake forming, and robotic/manual welding. Production-oriented precision machining of highly engineered parts.
3. Value-Added Services: Customized steel programs including Kan-Ban, Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), and customized returnable containers. Also includes kitting, assembly, and inventory management programs.
4. Precision Cutting Services: On-demand metal and tube cutting services with three-shift production schedule for next-day service capabilities. Includes sawing, chamfering, and deburring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wisconsin Steel & Tube is an ISO 9001:2015 certified metal service center that distributes ferrous and non-ferrous bar, tube, and pipe products and provides precision fabrication services including tube laser cutting, CNC machining, tube bending, press brake forming, and welding. Operating since 1952, the company combines metal distribution and custom fabrication under one roof across facilities in Milwaukee and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, serving OEMs and job shops with customized inventory programs (Kan-Ban, JIT, VMI) and three-shift production for next-day turnaround.

Product overview

Wisconsin Steel & Tube is an ISO 9001:2015 certified metal service center operating since 1952 that offers a unified portfolio of metal bar, tube, and pipe products combined with precision fabrication services. The product line includes Carbon Cold Finished and Hot Rolled bars (rounds, hexagons, squares, flats), Carbon Mechanical and Structural tubing, Stainless tubing, and Carbon and Stainless pipe products. Fabrication capabilities are delivered through two service brands: the Milwaukee headquarters provides tube laser cutting, cutting services (band saw, cold saw), tube bending, and welding, while WST Fab in Manitowoc handles large format laser cutting, press brake forming, CNC machining, and robotic welding. The company also offers Custom Steel Programs (Kan-Ban, JIT, VMI) that integrate with customers' supply chain operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bar Products Distribution of ferrous and non-ferrous metal bar products including cold finished carbon, hot rolled carbon, cold finished alloy, and hot rolled alloy bars in shapes such as rounds, hexagons, squares, and flats. Products include general line and custom/engineered materials with options for intermediate and metric sizes, non-stock grades, and special requirements, supplied to OEMs, machine shops, and fabricators.
• Tube Products Distribution of carbon mechanical tubing, carbon structural tubing, and stainless tubing serving OEMs, machine shops, and fabricators across lawn and garden, agriculture, construction, oil and gas, automotive, military, and mining industries. Tube sizes range from small diameter to large diameter structural tubing.
• Pipe Products Distribution of welded carbon and stainless pipe products stocked in a wide range of industry-standard sizes, including custom and engineered materials such as intermediate and metric sizes, non-stock grades, and special requirements.
• Tube Fabrication Services Custom tube fabrication including high-speed fiber tube laser cutting, heavy structural tube CO2 laser cutting, integrated cutting/drilling/flow-drilling/tapping, and custom shape creation. Capabilities cover tube laser cutting for large structural tubing up to 12 inches OD and 10x10 inch square with 0.375 wall.
• Cutting Services Precision metal and tube cutting services including high-speed tube laser cutting (1/2 to 12 inch OD), automatic circular cold saw cutting (3/8 to 5-3/8 inch), and automatic band saw cutting (1/2 to 16 inch any shape) with miter cutting capabilities up to 60 degrees. Includes sawing, chamfering, and deburring.
• In-House Services Comprehensive metal processing services performed in-house including sawing (six automatic band saws, two automatic circular cold saws, one automatic cut-off machine), CNC turning and milling, drilling, pipe threading, laser cutting, CNC tube bending (AMOB eMob 150 and eMob 80), and manual/robotic welding.
• Custom Steel Programs Inventory management and supply chain programs including Kan-Ban, Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), and customized returnable containers such as bulk containers, hand-held totes, steel racks, and kitting. Designed to reduce customer inventory costs and integrate with customer production.
• WST Fab Precision Machining Services Precision machining and fabrication services delivered from a 47,000+ square foot Manitowoc, WI facility, including CNC milling and turning, large format fiber laser cutting (Bystronic ByStar 6225 12kW), press brake forming, manual and robotic welding, and kitting and assembly services. Operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wisconsin Steel & Tube Corporation.
• Sheet Fabrication & Forming Production large format fiber laser cutting, CNC press brake forming using multiple press brakes (including 350 ton x 20 foot and 80 ton units), and robotic welding using Miller PerformArc PA-350S and Yaskawa Motoman robotic weld cells.

Quantifiable outcome

• Faster delivery with three-shift production schedule enabling next-day service
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Keller, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 August 2019Construction firm engaged for 25,800 square foot building addition at Manitowoc facility. Keller, Inc. is 100% employee-owned with offices in multiple Wisconsin locations. General contractor for the expansion project.
• John DeereflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018WST Fab is a supplier of highly engineered machined components to John Deere's US operations. Earned Partner-level supplier status (highest rating) and Hall of Fame induction in John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. Suppliers are evaluated annually on quality, cost management, delivery, technical support, and responsiveness.
• OnPoint SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationOnPoint Solutions assisted in procurement of Bystronic FL300 tube laser system. Represented Bystronic equipment to meet WST's needs for large diameter and heavy wall tubing capabilities.
• North American Steel AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership for steel service centers and fabricators.
• Metals Service Center InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership for metals service centers providing networking and industry resources.
• Association of Women in the Metal IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership supporting women in the metal manufacturing sector.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• OnlineMetals: Online-focused small-quantity metals distributor with cutting services; overlapping product category but operating at significantly smaller scale and without the heavy fabrication/contract manufacturing focus.

Direct peers

• TW Metals: Specialty tube and pipe service center with extensive cutting, machining, and fabrication capabilities serving aerospace, industrial, and energy customers — closely mirrors Wisconsin Steel & Tube's tube-and-pipe distribution plus fabrication focus.
• Kloeckner Metals: Global multi-metal service center with significant US footprint offering steel, stainless, and aluminum products alongside laser cutting, machining, and fabrication; comparable product breadth and value-added services.
• O'Neal Steel: Privately-held metal service center offering carbon, stainless, and aluminum products with cutting, machining, and fabrication services across multiple US locations — comparable mid-size service center model.
• Olympic Steel: Metal service center with flat-rolled, pipe, tube, and value-added fabrication operations serving similar OEM and industrial customers across multiple US regions; comparable business model and customer overlap.
• Marmon/Keystone: Specialty pipe, tube, and bar distributor with extensive value-added services including cutting, threading, and fabrication — directly comparable tube-and-pipe distribution plus processing business.
• Ryerson Holding: Public metal service center distributing and processing carbon, stainless, and aluminum flat-rolled, bar, tube, and plate products with extensive value-added fabrication — directly comparable mix of metal distribution plus contract manufacturing.
• EMJ (Earle M. Jorgensen): Metal service center distributing bar, tube, plate, and sheet products with value-added processing; comparable customer base in industrial, OEM, and energy markets.

Regional players

• Webco Industries: Manufacturer and distributor of carbon and stainless steel tubing serving similar industrial and energy end markets; comparable tube-centric product focus, though with manufacturing rather than pure service-center economics.

Broad incumbents

• Reliance Steel & Aluminum: Largest metals service center company in North America with a very broad product mix and extensive value-added processing; overlapping customers and capabilities but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wstcorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wstcorporation
• Facebookfacebook.com/WSTCorporation

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Steel & Tube