What to Know About Low-Carbon Steel

When it comes to designing custom retail displays and fixtures, there’s more to consider than just how something will look. You have to factor in durability, affordability, and, perhaps now more than ever, sustainability. 

A recent survey found that 84% of customers say that poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand or company, and 50% of global consumers say that environmental factors — such as using recycled materials or reducing plastic waste in its products and reducing carbon emissions — will often or always influence their decision to trust a brand.

Choosing more eco-friendly retail displays or point-of-purchase signage can be a good first step in aligning with this emerging consumer sentiment, and low-carbon steel can be a valuable asset in creating reliable, sustainable displays. Here, we’ll look at what low-carbon steel actually is, how it’s produced, and what makes it a sustainable and affordable option for manufacturing custom retail displays and fixtures. 

What is low-carbon steel?

Also called “mild steel,” low-carbon steel is exactly what it sounds like — a type of carbon steel with a relatively low amount of carbon, usually between 0.05% and 0.25%. Because it contains less carbon, the physical properties of the steel itself make it attractive for those looking to fabricate retail displays. Some of those properties include:  

• Strength and ductility. The low carbon composition creates a product with high ductility, which means it can be molded and formed without snapping or losing strength.
• Weldability.  Low-carbon steel contains a lower percentage of carbon within steel, this making it more malleable and easier to form and weld. .
• Affordability. Because low-carbon steel doesn’t require large amounts of resources like other construction materials, it’s also a cost-effective choice for brands looking to make the most of their display dollars.

The enhanced workability and versatility of low-carbon steel make it an ideal construction material for creating indoor displays that require a high level of machining in order to achieve specific shapes or contours. 

How is low-carbon steel made? 

Compared to conventional production, low-carbon steel produces significantly lower emissions due to different technologies and practices. The primary raw materials used are iron ore, coal, and limestone, along with scrap steel metal, which is often melted down with the iron ore to create a product that combines the new and the recycled. 

The manufacturing process involves melting the raw materials in a blast furnace and then blowing oxygen into the molten metal to reduce the carbon content. Next the mixture is transferred to a different furnace to remove impurities and make adjustments to the chemical composition of the low-carbon steel. The steel is then poured into a mold, left to solidify, and then formed and shaped into everything from sheets and rods to rails and beams. 

How sustainable is low-carbon steel?

Just like stainless steel, low-carbon steel in general is 100% recyclable. The process of manufacturing low-carbon steel produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production of other materials used in retail display fabrication, and recycling low-carbon steel can save up to 20 times the energy that would be needed to create a new product from scratch. 

The U.S. is the world leader with the lowest CO2 emissions per ton of steel produced, and it’s predicted that advances in steel production technology will continue to focus on energy efficiency, recycling, and overall sustainability.  

As for the low-carbon steel itself, not only is it highly recyclable, but it’s endlessly recyclable. This means it can be used multiple times without losing its strength and durability and without increasing its environmental footprint. 

Why you should use low-carbon steel for custom retail displays 

The composition of low-carbon steel makes it ideal for retail displays and fixtures when precision is required, as it’s easy to create holes, cutouts, and shapes that are often included in custom projects. It’s also highly flexible and malleable, making it easier to form, contour, and shape the steel into a variety of display structures. 

Low-carbon steel can be treated to withstand rust and corrosion, and it won’t crack, warp, rot, or split — even when exposed to the elements and high-traffic spaces for long periods of time. This helps to extend the life of your retail displays and fixtures, saving you from costly replacements and minimizing your environmental impact. 

At Franklin Display Group, our focus is on operations that emphasize not only your return on investment, but also your investment in the environment. We take pride in fabricating high-quality, custom point-of-purchase displays and fixtures made of sustainable materials. Our custom retail display fabrication services prioritize the use of 70% recycled steel, and we also partner with local steel producers that adhere to strict emissions regulations. 

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you create durable retail displays made from recycled steel and sustainable materials.