What Imel does

IMEL (Imel Spa) is a Chilean steel manufacturer founded in 1946 and headquartered in San Bernardo, Santiago. The company produces a diversified portfolio of steel products including tubes, profiles, conduits, roofing and cladding panels, dry construction systems, and specialized underground mining hardware. Operations are organized across multiple branded product lines: Tubos y Perfiles (structural and industrial tubes and profiles under ASTM 500), Mekanocon (dry construction system using galvanized steel profiles joined by self-drilling screws for partitions, ceilings, and structural applications), Tubox (closed rectangular structural profiles with proprietary geometry), Pannel (roofing, cladding, and insulated panels including Imelpol and Cover IM-POL/PUR variants), Electric (IEC 61386-compliant rigid electrical conduits and ISO R65 pipes), and Mining Rock (friction bolts, helical bars, cable bolts, self-drilling bolts, plates, frames, umbrella tubes, and galvanized meshes for underground mining). Manufacturing operates under ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and conforms to international ASTM and ISO standards.

The company generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of manufactured steel products, complemented by technical advisory services that customers cite as a key value-add. Distribution combines a national distributor network covering Chile from Arica to Punta Arenas, exclusive retail distribution through Sodimac (the largest home improvement chain in Chile) via subsidiary TWH, and direct export operations to 12 countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Spain, USA, South Africa, Guatemala, Uruguay, Mexico, and Peru. Customer segments span three primary verticals: construction (residential, commercial, industrial buildings), mining (underground operations primarily in Chile), and electrical infrastructure (conduit installations). Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly listed, and the company emphasizes reliability of delivery, technical advisory capability, and after-sales support as core commercial differentiators. Named enterprise customers including RGM Mallas de Alambre and Equipment S.A. describe IMEL as a critical long-term supplier with 30+ year relationships.

Name

Imel

Legal name

Imel Spa

Website

https://imel-steel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Imel is a Chilean steel manufacturer founded in 1946 producing tubes, profiles, panels, dry construction systems, and underground mining hardware for construction, mining, and electrical infrastructure customers across Chile and 12 export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Steel Products Manufacturing

NAICS

Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331), Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131)

SIC

Steel Pipe & Tubes (3317), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Underground Mining Equipment (Loaders/LHDs, Continuous Miners, Longwall Systems) (IMAKANAB)

Keywords

• Steel manufacturing
• Steel tubes profiles
• Drywall steel framing
• Mining steel products
• Electrical steel conduits

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Steel Products Sales: IMEL generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of steel products including tubes, profiles, conduits, panels, and mining hardware. Products are sold through a network of national distributors in Chile and exported to multiple countries in Latin America, North America, and Africa.
2. Technical Advisory Services: The company provides technical advice and consulting alongside product sales, which is cited as a key value-add that makes IMEL a critical supplier to major customers like RGM Mallas de Alambre.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Imel is a Chilean steel manufacturer that produces and sells steel tubes, profiles (Tubos y Perfiles), drywall steel framing systems (Mekanocon), panels (Panel), electrical conduits (Electric), structural tubing (Tubox), and specialized mining support products (Mining Rock and TWH). Its offerings serve construction, mining, and electrical infrastructure customers in Chile and 12 export markets.

Product overview

Imel is a Chilean steel company and a pioneer in the steel market since 1946, operating as a diversified manufacturer and supplier of steel products for construction and industrial applications. The company operates multiple distinct product lines: (1) Tubos y Perfiles offers tubes and closed/open steel profiles including round, rectangular, square, and large dimension profiles (ASTM 500) for structural and industrial use; (2) Mekanocon provides a dry construction system using galvanized steel profiles joined by self-drilling screws, divided into TABIQUES (partition walls), CIELO (ceiling), and ESTRUCTURAL (structural) categories; (3) Panel manufactures roofing, cladding, and insulated panels including steel roof tiles (Teja Recta), Super Techo, Imeldeck, and insulated options (Imelpol, Cover IM-POL, Cover IM-PUR); (4) Electric produces electrical conduits including rigid electrical conduits, tubes, and ISO R65 pipes; (5) Tubox creates closed rectangular profiles with central folds offering structural stability for construction; and (6) Mining Rock supplies specialized mining support products including friction bolts, helical bars, cable bolts, frames, and rock support systems. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and manufactures to international ASTM and ISO standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mekanocon: Dry construction system using low-thickness galvanized steel profiles and profiles. An articulated system where pieces are fixed to each other by self-drilling screws. Divided into: TABIQUES (partition walls), CIELO (ceiling) and ESTRUCTURAL (structural).
• Tubox
• Mining Rock
• Pannel
• TWH

Products and services

• Tubos y Perfiles

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SodimaccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTHW, an Imel Steel group company, has exclusive distribution reach throughout Chile through Sodimac retail stores, providing products to individual consumers and SMB customers for construction needs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Epiroc: Swedish mining and infrastructure equipment manufacturer with a strong rock reinforcement and underground mining consumables portfolio. Epiroc's rock support products overlap with Imel's Mining Rock line (bolts, meshes, frames).
• Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Global supplier of underground mining equipment and rock support solutions. Sandvik competes with Imel's Mining Rock division in providing consumables and equipment for underground mining operations, albeit at a much larger scale and with a broader product range.

Broad incumbents

• Gerdau: Brazilian-based global long steel producer serving construction, industrial, and mining markets across the Americas. Gerdau's broad Latin American footprint and steel product portfolio overlap with Imel's construction and mining supply offerings.
• Tenaris: Global manufacturer of steel pipes and tubes for energy, industrial, and construction applications. While Tenaris focuses more on seamless OCTG pipes, its broader steel pipe business overlaps with Imel's tube product line.
• CAP Acero (Compañía Siderúrgica Huachipato): Chile's largest integrated steel producer, operating the Huachipato steelworks. CAP Acero produces a wider range of steel products than Imel and is a broad incumbent in the Chilean steel market, directly competing with Imel in commodity and construction-grade steel.
• Ternium: Latin American flat and long steel producer with operations across Mexico, Argentina, and other regional markets. Ternium is a broad incumbent competing with Imel in construction and industrial steel products across the region.

Regional players

• Industrias CH: Mexican steel producer with operations across Latin America producing special bar quality steel, structural steel, and steel products. Comparable to Imel as a regional Latin American steel manufacturer serving construction and industrial customers.
• Metalúrgica Dedini: Brazilian industrial group with mining and metallurgy operations, including supply of equipment and components to mining and heavy industries. Comparable to Imel as a Latin American industrial manufacturer with mining-sector exposure.

Direct peers

• CINTAC: Chilean steel manufacturer producing tubes, profiles, and structural products for construction and industrial applications. CINTAC is Imel's closest direct competitor in Chile, with overlapping product categories (steel tubes, profiles) and shared end-markets in construction and mining.
• Aceros AZA: Chilean steel company manufacturing long products, tubes, and structural steel for construction and industrial use. Comparable to Imel in scale and product overlap, serving similar customer verticals across Chile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imel-ltda.
• Instagraminstagram.com/imel.ltda

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Imel