Central Tube and Bar

What Central Tube and Bar does

Central Tube and Bar (CTB) is a US-based precision metal processor specializing in the fabrication of tube and bar components for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Founded in 1996 in Conway, Arkansas as Ward Enterprises and renamed Central Tube and Bar in 1997, the company has grown over three decades from a single bandsaw operation into a multi-facility, full-service metal processor serving customers across transportation, industrial equipment, commercial furniture, and retail fixtures.

Its core service portfolio spans six interconnected capabilities: 3D laser tube cutting (seven 3D tube lasers from BLM and Mazak, capable of round tubes from 0.50" to 16" diameter and wall thickness up to 0.875" in carbon steel), CNC bending (four 3D tube benders up to 6-axis with 18" max centerline bend radius), robotic welding (claimed 3-5x conventional welding rates with zero-defect assemblies), CNC sawing (band saws up to 24" diameter and 48' length plus cold saws), fabrication and assembly (end forming, powder coating, flow drilling, zinc plating), and JIT/Kanban-based delivery. ISO 9001:2015 certified and operating from three facilities in Conway AR (headquarters), Tulsa OK, and Waco TX, the company delivers both processed components and raw tube and bar materials (carbon, alloy, aluminum, stainless). Named enterprise customers include Navistar (founding customer since 1996), a global transportation company (10+ year relationship with zero line shutdowns), UPS (sortation equipment), a large automotive service equipment provider (2021 Supplier Excellence Award recipient), and unnamed major retailers for electric shopping cart and shelving components.

The business model is transaction-fee based on quote-driven, custom pricing tied to material type, dimensions, complexity, and volume, augmented by material sales through a vendor network of 50+ suppliers and the North American Steel Alliance co-op. The go-to-market is sales-led with a dedicated team of seven account managers and a Sales Director targeting OEMs and fabricators via website quote requests, phone sales, and direct relationship management — with no channel partners or resellers. In 2023 CTB was acquired by Olympic Steel, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZEUS), a publicly traded metals service center, becoming part of that company's family of subsidiaries and operating under its strategic platform.

Name

Central Tube and Bar

Legal name

Central Tube and Bar

Website

https://centraltubeandbar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Central Tube and Bar is a US precision metal processor specializing in 3D laser tube cutting, CNC bending, robotic welding, sawing, and fabrication services. It serves OEMs across transportation, industrial equipment, commercial furniture, and retail fixtures from three mid-south facilities, now operating as a subsidiary of Olympic Steel, Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metal Fabrication Services

NAICS

Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332996), Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (33121), Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (331210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Tube laser cutting
• Metal fabrication services
• CNC tube bending
• Robotic welding services
• Precision metal processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Conway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metal Processing Services: Precision tube and bar processing including laser cutting, CNC bending, robotic welding, sawing, and fabrication/assembly. Revenue generated through processing fees based on material type, complexity, volume, and specifications. Just-in-time delivery and value-added services included.
2. Material Sales: Sale of prime tube and bar products including carbon, alloy, aluminum, and stainless steel. Access to 50 vendors and North American Steel Alliance co-op for sourcing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Central Tube and Bar is a precision metal processor and fabricator providing 3D laser tube cutting, CNC tube bending, robotic welding, sawing, fabrication and assembly, and just-in-time delivery services to OEMs and fabricators. The company also supplies prime carbon, alloy, aluminum, and stainless steel tube and bar products sourced through 50+ vendors and the North American Steel Alliance co-op. Operating across three U.S. facilities (Conway AR, Tulsa OK, Waco TX), the company delivers finished components and assemblies for transportation, industrial equipment, commercial furniture, and retail fixtures customers.

Product overview

Central Tube and Bar offers a comprehensive suite of metal processing services built around precision tube and bar fabrication. Their core service portfolio includes six interconnected capabilities: 3D Laser Tube Cutting (featuring seven 3D tube lasers and one 2D flat laser), CNC Bending & Tube Bending (four 3D tube benders), Robotic Welding, Sawing (CNC band saws and cold saws), Fab and Assembly, and JIT and Delivery. These services are designed to provide end-to-end solutions from raw stock to finished delivered products. The company also supplies three material product categories: Carbon & Alloy Tube, Aluminum & Stainless Steel Tube, and Carbon & Alloy Bar. With three facilities across Arkansas and Oklahoma, they serve OEMs and fabricators across transportation, industrial equipment, commercial furniture, retail fixtures, aerospace, manufacturing, and energy industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3D Laser Tube Cutting Precision tube laser cutting using seven 3D tube lasers (BLM LT Fiber, BLM Adige LT5/LT7/LT8, Mazak Fabrigear 400, and Hans 10") plus a flat Mitsubishi laser for OEMs requiring high-volume, high-tolerance components in round (.50" to 16"), square (.50" to 12"), and rectangular tubes up to 12" square equivalent, with wall thickness up to .875" carbon steel, .250" stainless, and .1875" aluminum. Supports advanced features including 3 and 6 axis cutting, twist and center control, in-line tapping to .50", weld seam orientation, tab/slot/notch/fold features, and file import for .x_t, .iges, .step, .dwg, and .dxf formats.
• CNC Tube Bending Multi-axis CNC tube bending services using four 3D tube benders (BLM Adige E-Turn 40, two Horn 50TNCB units, Ercolina Rotary Draw, and BLM Adige Elect150) with up to 6-axis bending, left and right hand bending, full mandrel bending, push or roll bending, and maximum centerline bend radius up to 18". Provides repeatable, high-tolerance bends for OEM and fabricator customers.
• Robotic Welding Robotic welding services using industry-leading robotic welding arms that weld assemblies at 3-5 times the rate of conventional welding, combined with laser-cut components cut to +/- .010" tolerance. Delivers zero defective assemblies through accurate programming and state-of-the-art fixturing for OEM and fabricator customers requiring consistent welded assemblies.
• Sawing CNC band sawing and cold sawing services for tubes and bars. Equipment includes three HYD-MECH M-20A CNC band saws, HYD-MECH Dual Column, HEM Vertical band saws (up to 24" diameter, 48' length), and two TSUNE cold saws (0.60 to 4" diameter, 10' to 20' length) for precision cuts.
• Fab and Assembly Full fabrication and assembly services including end forming (swaging, chamfering, beveling, flaring, flanging), flow drilling and tapping, powder coating, deburring, turn-key assemblies, and zinc plating for OEM and fabricator customers needing finished components.
• JIT and Delivery Just-in-time delivery services with integrated stock systems, electronic Kanban management, same-day delivery capability, and lean manufacturing expertise tailored to individual OEM and fabricator client needs across the United States and Mexico.
• Carbon & Alloy Tube Prime tube sourced from North American steel partners through 50+ vendors and the North American Steel Alliance co-op, including welded and seamless products and high-strength, low-weight alloys for OEM and fabricator customers.
• Aluminum & Stainless Steel Tube

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero customer line shutdowns in over 10 years for transportation customer
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/olysteel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olympic-steel
• Instagraminstagram.com/olysteel
• Facebookfacebook.com/centraltubeandbar

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Central Tube and Bar