Learn About Chicago Tube & Iron
Chicago Tube & Iron, based in Illinois, is a leading distributor of steel tubing, bar, pipe, valves and fittings, and fabricator of value-added parts and components.
HISTORY
Chicago Tube & Iron (CTI) was founded in 1914 by brothers Emory and E. Morrison Peter, originally operating as a distributorship for boiler tubing, sheet and terne plate – containing an alloy of tin and lead. Building on prior experience with distribution in Pittsburgh, they leased 50,000 square feet of warehouse space, added 40 employees and began distributing to the thriving construction industry in Chicago.
CTI established Olympic Steel’s pipe and tube business segment in 2011, increasing our product portfolio and value-added processing capacity. Industries supported by CTI include agriculture, oil and gas, automotive, construction, forestry, military and food processing. Operating with more than 1.2 million square feet across nine locations in the Midwest and Monterrey, Mexico, CTI houses an extensive inventory of over 30,000 line items.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Beginning as a pipe, valve and fitting supply house for boiler assemblies, CTI has diversified over its more than 100-year history. Today, it provides hot bending and production cutting, steel distribution, laser cutting, robotic welding, and other value-added services including engineering, fabrication, machining and assembly.
CTI manufactured goods have extended far and wide over their long history. Some of the larger projects included:
- Thousands of tons of steel in the pylons that support the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California – constructed between 1933 and 1937
- Miles of specialized pipe for Morton Salt Company’s Kleer Mine drilling operation in Texas, during the Korean War in 1952, when steel supplies were extremely limited
- Tubular steel that formed the backbone of skyscrapers in the Chicago skyline such as the John Hancock Building, completed in 1969, and the Willis (Sears) Tower, which opened as the world’s tallest building in 1973
Today, you might run across stainless pipe from CTI in some more familiar places:
- Lamp posts on street corners
- Poles for lighting at a Major League Baseball stadium
- Tables and chairs in lunchrooms and cafeterias
- Posts for basketball hoops
- Hydraulic systems on car carrier trailers
- Safety handrails for stairs, ledges and industrial areas
- Poles supporting commercial ceiling fans in gyms and industrial spaces
- Roll cages on off-road and all-terrain recreational vehicles
- Handles and handrails on riding mowers and tractors
OUTLOOK
The business continues to operate as Chicago Tube & Iron, a subsidiary of Olympic Steel, led by Bill Zielinski, President and Chief Operating Officer. The long-standing experience, exceptional reputation and history of the organization will continue to provide a unique array of value-added fabrication and distribution services that help fuel Olympic Steel’s safe, profitable and sustainable growth.
To learn more about the products and services of Chicago Tube & Iron, visit chicagotube.com.
