Although the automotive industry shapes people's perception of U.S. manufacturing, and metal manufacturing in particular, it isn't the nation's largest consumer of metal- not by a long shot. It's commercial construction. To lower cost, builders have relied on design techniques to reduce the amount of steel a structure needs, as well as to reduce on-site erection time. One design avenue that has become significantly more popular within the past two decades has been to use alternatives to the standard wide-flange beam.
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