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How to Save up to 40%+ On Construction Material

With the new tariffs in the steel industry, the steel market has been extremely volatile. New steel prices have steadily risen over the past several months. This is directly affecting the construction industry, especially on projects that were bid based on pre-tariff steel pricing. We have a solution for you to help get your costs back in line – Eiffel Trading!

Eiffel Trading has an inventory of used steel beams, h-pile, used surplus pipe, plate, sheet pile and trestle (crane access trestle). Over the past several years we have helped contractors save substantially by helping them locate used and surplus steel. Our customers have saved up to 40% or more by buying used and surplus steel through Eiffel Trading, compared to new steel pricing.

We work with contractors throughout the bid process helping them figure out the availability of used and surplus steel, up until the time they submit their bids. By establishing an open communication channel with one of our customer’s chief estimators, we were able to help them win the project with used and surplus steel. In addition, the total project savings was north of $2 million dollars once buy-out was complete. You can read more on this story here.

Our business was founded by a former project manager with the focus on helping project managers. By partnering with Eiffel Trading, we will not only help you win projects and save money, we will help you liquidate your project specific assets – saving you demobilization costs and increasing profits.

To learn more about working with Eiffel Trading, you can visit our website. If you have a specific project you are bidding and would like to work with us to find the best solutions so you can win the bid, email us at sales@eiffeltrading.com. If you want to be the first to know about new Liquidations, you can sign up for the mailing list here!

Cheers,

Andrew

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Difference Between Primary and Secondary (Used, Surplus) Steel Pipe

You may have heard that there is a difference between prime steel and secondary steel. Prime steel is steel that passes all manufacturing inspection tests in manufacturing and is available on the “primary” raw materials market. Anything that doesn’t fall into that category is on the secondary market.

Secondary steel can be classified into two main categories: used and surplus. In this post, we’ll look at the differences between primary and secondary used steel pipe, including surplus steel pipe.

Primary Steel Pipe

Steel mills produce prime steel in the form of sheets, pile, pipe, beams, and more. Primary – prime – steel has been produced from iron ore and passes all manufacturing inspection tests. Primary steel is sold on the “primary” raw materials market and must meet rigorous standards.

Secondary Steel Pipe

Secondary steel is steel that does not meet “prime” standards and can typically be categorized one of two ways: used or surplus. Several states have strict standards on what can be sold as prime steel, so in many cases secondary pipe is simply rejected at the mill because it did not meet primary steel pipe specifications. Some mills also produce secondary steel pipe that is made from recycled or scrap steel.

Used Steel Pipe

Used steel pipe has been used in an actual building project. It could be retired pipeline from oil and gas wells, casing tubing, or building structures. Depending on what the steel was used for and how well it was maintained, it could be in good condition to be reused for another project. Used steel pipe can also be tested for strength and durability and reconditioned to suit your project. Selling your used steel pipe can also help you increase your bottom line on a project by improving overall ROI.

Surplus Steel Pipe

Surplus steel pipe was purchased for a particular project, but never actually put to use. It may have been purchased by a company that canceled the construction project, purchased too much material, or liquidated its inventory. Surplus steel is widely used in the construction industry because it can be found in every grade and type (surplus pipe, used wide-flange, used H-pile, sheet pile, etc.).

Surplus could also refer to pipe directly from a mill that was never sold to a construction company. Steel pipe is sometimes rejected in original manufacturing inspections. This is usually due to minor issues that occur during manufacturing, which could result in the cut of the steel being a few inches too short or the durability being slightly off.

This means that surplus steel can be nearly prime quality and straight from the manufacturer, but it cannot be sold on the primary market. Surplus steel pipe represents a great opportunity for saving money on construction projects, since you can always recut or recondition the steel to match the needs of your construction job.

Uses for Secondary Steel Pipe

Secondary steel pipe – used or surplus – can bought, sold, and used for things like pipelines, used piling and casing strings, as well as in smaller projects like fence posts, poles for signage, or flagpoles. This type of pipe can be welded, painted, or otherwise reconditioned to fit the specifications of your next project.

Secondary steel pipe that is no longer suitable for construction projects can be recycled. It’s estimated that 80% of steel products are recycled in the U.S. alone, and recycled steel can be produced into secondary pipe again and again.

Buy and Sell Used and Surplus Steel Pipe with Eiffel Trading

In addition to a wide variety of used steel pipe for sale our online marketplace also has a large selection of used loaders, used dozers, used sheet pile, used wide flange beams, and much more for sale.

All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, create a wanted listing for free.

Ready to sell your used equipment or material? <a href= "https://www.eiffeltrading.com/login" target="_blank">List your products today</a> for free on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.

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3 Common Applications for Used Steel Pipe

Have you ever considered purchasing steel pipe that has already been used? Some people think steel pipe is worth scrap value after it is used. However, used steel pipe has a great resale value, much higher than scrap. Used steel pipe has an incredible variety of applications, from providing structural support in excavations to foundation casings for drilled shafts. Here are some of the most common applications of used steel pipe:

TEMPORARY PIPE PILING

Steel pipe piling, which is when steel pipes are used in foundations, is one of the most typical applications for used steel pipe. Steel Pipe Piles are driven deep into the ground to provide a stable foundation to build. Steel pipe piling is useful for structures like Crane Access Trestle that are constructed in waterways such as oceans, canals, rivers, and bays.

CASING

Used steel pipe is also useful for creating casings around pipelines in order to keep them secure and to seal in moisture. There are several types of casing applications using used steel pipe. Road bore casings secure pipes located underneath roadways. Steel pipe is also used as casing for drilled shafts, which prevents any soil from caving in during drilling operations. Used steel pipe can also be used as surface casing during oil drilling operations, which helps prevent oil leaks into groundwater.

TRANSPORT

The most common transport application for used steel pipe are culverts and discharge lines from dewatering operations. However, if the used pipe passes durability and pressure tests, it can also be used as pipeline for oil or gas.

These are three of the most common applications of used steel pipe. We have a used and surplus pipe inventory from different manufacturing methods and grades for sale. If you have any used or surplus pipe you are looking to sell, click here to create a free listing, or email the inventory to sales@eiffeltrading.com. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-541-7998.

Cheers,

Andrew

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Wanted Ads for Construction Equipment and Material

If you are browsing on Eiffel Trading and you can’t find exactly what you need – there’s got to be someone that has it, right? That’s where creating a wanted listing comes into play. When you fill out a Wanted Listing on Eiffel Trading’s website you are exposing yourself to thousands of people that may have what you’re looking for.

What can I find using Eiffel Trading’s wanted listings?

Construction Equipment

Construction Material

Marine Equipment

The best part about Eiffel Trading’s wanted listings – they are FREE!

Eiffel Trading wants to help you find the exact asset when and where you need it, at a price you can afford. You can create a wanted listing here. You can also give us a call at 1-800-541-7998 or shoot us an email at sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. Eiffel Trading was founded to help streamline the equipment and material marketplaces.

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Know Your Concrete Formwork

Several years ago, concrete technology did not have all of the wonderful advancements we have today. Today we have high performance concrete that has additives to increase strength and overall performance. Not to mention, the current preferred method of delivery is pumping concrete into place. Back when our Dads were pouring concrete, they didn’t have to worry so much about concrete pressure on their formwork.

If you are a project manager, superintendent or working around concrete formwork you should be aware of these important factors to avoid overloading your concrete forms:

  1. Know the capacity of the concrete formwork system you are using.
  2. Know the capacity of the delivery system you are using – concrete pump, bucket, etc.
  3. Be aware of the additives used in your concrete mix.
  4. Be aware of the concrete mix properties.
  5. Know the temperature of your concrete.
  6. Know the concrete placement rate your formwork is able to withstand.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider. If your placement rate is faster than the formwork is rated, you may want to adjust your concrete temperature, additives or formwork system to ensure your concrete pour is safe. If you have a need for concrete formwork, you can see the available forms we have for sale here. In addition, we’d be happy to help you sell your used concrete formwork here. If you have any questions or would like additional information please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. He has worked on many projects pouring thousands of yards of concrete with EFCO, DOKA and SYMONS concrete formwork.

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Concrete Formwork Care and Maintenance

Would you run your truck without oil? If you don’t clean and oil your formwork after each use, you are going to damage your formwork and eventually render it useless. It’s not a surprise that clean formwork translates into beautiful concrete. Here are some easy formwork maintenance tips to help keep the concrete you’re pouring looking beautiful:

  1. Clean the face of the form after each concrete pour. It sounds simple and it is, but you need to clean the face immediately after removing it from the wall. You can use a burlap bag and water to clean the forms while the concrete is still green.
  2. Oil your formwork! This coincides with the opening statement of this post. By oiling your formwork before and after each use, you are going to keep your formwork looking new for years. The cost of the form oil is a small maintenance cost when compared to buying new forms.
  3. If you have steel formwork, use a passive form oil. Passive form oil, when compared to reactive form oil, will leave less dust on your concrete formwork. It’s important to follow step number 1, whether you are using passive or reactive form oil.
  4. When applying form oil, you want to make sure you only apply a thin layer. Less is more. If you apply too much form oil, you will leave a layer of dust on the forms after the concrete is poured which will increase the amount of formwork cleaning time.

If you regularly maintain your concrete formwork, you will have a revenue producing asset for many years. Whether you own or are renting formwork, you should always make sure the forms are properly cleaned and maintained after each concrete pour. If you are in the market to purchase used concrete formwork, our inventory of concrete formwork can be found here. In addition, you can advertise your concrete formwork for sale by clicking here. Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. He has worked on many projects pouring thousands of yards of concrete with EFCO, DOKA and SYMONS formwork.

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How to use Eiffel Trading Liquidations

For the past 4 years, Eiffel Trading has worked with several notable construction projects to help liquidate unwanted project assets. We have moved several million pounds of steel, cranes, barges, yellow iron, pick-up trucks and the list goes on. Previously, we would send out emails to our subscribers announcing these liquidation sales and provide them with the list of assets our customers were looking to move quickly. We noticed the need to have large lists prominently displayed, so we have created a special section of our marketplace labeled “Liquidations”.

The Liquidations tab is like going to the Bargain Cave at Cabela’s, but for the equipment and material you need!

When you are buying equipment and material for your project, you’d be smart to check out Liquidations on Eiffel Trading before looking anywhere else.

For Buyers:

  • Large inventory of used construction equipment and material readily available
  • Locate the asset you need in your region
  • Huge cost savings

If you have a project winding down (especially a joint venture), closing down your business, or just need to generate some quick cash by selling your used construction assets – Liquidations is for YOU!

For Sellers:

  • Exposure to a global buyer base of fellow contractors
  • Use Smart Demobilization practices and list your assets at projected availability dates
  • Dedicated marketing via print, social and email
  • Manage the salvage value of your assets by controlling the sale price – not an auction

To learn more about getting your assets listed in Liquidations on Eiffel Trading, contact sales@eiffeltrading.com. If you want to be the first to know about new Liquidations, you can sign up for the mailing list here!

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. He has experience in Project Management and Procurement for large federal and municipal construction projects. During his time working in Project Management, he saw the need to help contractors liquidate large projects quickly, efficiently and effectively.

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Steel Pipe Manufacturing Processes

Choosing the correct steel pipe for your project is extremely important. There are several ways pipe can be manufactured and each manufacturing process has limitations. The design engineer will specify pipe that has been manufactured by a specific process. However, you may be able to substitute a pipe that has been manufactured by an alternate process and still achieve the engineer’s intended design capacity – especially if the steel pipe is used for temporary works.

DSAW Steel Pipe

Double Submerged Arc Welded (DSAW) steel pipe is formed from rolling steel plates into a cylindrical shape. The edge of the plate is beveled on both sides which forms V-shape grooves on the interior and exterior surfaces as the steel plates are rolled into a cylinder. The V-Shape groove is then welded on the interior and exterior surfaces simultaneously in a single pass of an arc welder. This produce a full penetration weld along the pipe seam. DSAW Pipe can be manufactured in both spiral and straight seam formats. DSAW steel pipe can be used in high pressure applications, as a structural member and for pipe piling. DSAW steel pipe can be found in sizes from 18 inch to 72 inch OD.

Seamless Steel Pipe

Seamless steel pipe is manufactured by extruding solid round billets to the desired length. Seamless pipe is produced by piercing a solid round billet of deoxidized and conditioned steel that has been heated to the proper temperature. The steel is then processed through a series of mills that finish the pipe to the proper dimensions. For seamless pipes over 14 inches they are usually rotary rolled from 14 inch seamless shells that expand the diameter and reduce the wall until the proper dimensions are achieved. Seamless steel pipe is ideally used in high pressure applications. Seamless steel pipe can be found in sizes from 1/8 inch to 26 inch OD.

ERW Steel Pipe

Electronic Resistance Welded (ERW) steel pipe is formed from a ribbon of steel that is pulled through a series of rollers that form it into a cylinder and is fused together by an electric charge. The seam of an ERW steel pipe is straight. ERW steel pipe is ideally used in low to medium pressure applications. ERW pipe can be found in sizes from 2-3/8 inch to 24 inch OD.

SAW Steel Pipe

Submerged Arc Welded (SAW) steel pipe is formed from hot rolled coil steel by automatic submerged weld under normal atmospheric temperatures. SAW steel pipe has two subcategories Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welded (LSAW) steel pipe or Spiral Submerged Arc Welded (SSAW) steel pipe. SAW steel pipe is ideally used in high pressure applications, as structural members and for pipe piling. LSAW steel pipe can be found in sizes from 16 inch to 60 inch OD. SSAW steel pipe can be found in sizes from 20 inch to 100 inch OD.

These are the most common pipe manufacturing methods. We have a used and surplus pipe inventory from all different manufacturing methods and grades. If you have any used or surplus pipe you are looking to sell, click here to create a free listing or email the inventory to sales@eiffeltrading.com. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-541-7998.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management he worked on projects that used SAW and DSAW steel pipe in foundation and structural applications.

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Eiffel Trading 101: Equipment and Material Valuation Practices

Equipment and material valuation on a construction project is extremely important to the health of the project budget. The budget will typically have two line items, one for purchasing the equipment or material at the beginning of the project and one for the salvage value at the end of the project. In construction finance there are three types of asset valuations: Fair Market Value (FMV), Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV) and Forced Liquidation Value (FLV). The manner in which you dispose of your assets at the end of the project can significantly impact your project’s profitability.

Fair Market Value

Fair Market Value (FMV) is the dollar value of the asset with normal exposure in the marketplace with a perceived fair price to both the buyer and the seller. The FMV does not have any time implications on when the asset would sell at the FMV rate. When selling your asset at the FMV rate, you have time to be a patient seller and need to know your asset will not fly off the shelf. It will take time to find the right person, at the right time, sometimes in the right geographical region, needing your exact asset to purchase it at the FMV rate.

Orderly Liquidation Value

Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV) is the dollar value of an asset at which the asset would change hands between a willing buyer and willing seller, with neither being obligated to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of the asset and market conditions. OLV requires that there is adequate time to find the willing buyer who would agree to purchase the asset at the OLV price. The time implication on OLV is typically 90 days from needing to have the asset sold. At the OLV price, you will need to find the right person, at the right time, somewhat close geographically needing a similar asset to what you are selling.

Forced Liquidation Value

Forced Liquidation Value (FLV) is the dollar value of an asset that can be expected in a transaction with a single seller and multiple potential buyers. The FLV is when the Seller is under a short time constraint and geographical constraints to sell the asset. FLV of an asset is what your asset would fetch at an auction, as opposed to selling on a marketplace.

FMV>OLV>FLV

FMV and OLV will have a higher impact on the salvage value in your project budget than being forced to sell your assets at the FLV at an auction. By taking the time to properly market your assets (Smart Demobilization), you will do your project budget and your company a solid by maximizing the return for the salvaged assets. By liquidating your assets in a timely manner, you will in turn help the contractor who’s project is starting up by helping them procure their project assets at a used FMV or OLV, saving them from purchasing assets that are brand new. It’s a win-win for all parties involved!

Eiffel Trading was founded on the principal of helping the contractor maximize the return on project specific assets (access trestle, sheet pile, pile hammers, cranes, barges and any other construction assets). You can create a free listing and get your assets marketed at future availability dates, today! Click here to create your account or give us a call at 1-800-541-7998. You can also shoot us an email at sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management he noticed the need for a platform designed specifically for contractors needing to sell project specific assets.

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Eiffel Trading 101: Sheet Pile Connectors

Sheet pile is defined as a rolled structural steel section with interlocks on the flange tips that allows the sections to be joined to form a continuous wall. A continuous wall doesn’t necessarily mean a straight wall without corners or angles. When you are driving a cofferdam in the middle of a lake or river, you are going to typically have 4 corners where the sheet pile will need to interlock. How do you keep the wall continuously interlocked – the solution is fabricated sheet pile connectors or extruded sheet pile connectors.

Fabricated Sheet Pile Connectors

Fabricated Sheet Pile Connectors can be purchased from the sheet pile manufacturer. The fabricated sheet pile connector is made of up the interlock flange tips, plates and angles all bolted together. The bolts are spaced approximately on 3” centers. These sheet pile connectors can be arranged in all sorts of configurations from 90 degree corners, crosses, tees and bent corners at various angles. Due to the man power of drilling holes, hardware and bolting the pieces together, these sheet pile connectors can be very expensive. Fabricated Sheet Pile Connectors are made for both Z-Section and Flat sheet pile.

Extruded Sheet Pile Connectors

Extruded Connectors are a sheet pile connector that manufactured at the steel mill in one seamless piece. Due to the one-piece construction, the extruded connectors pose less corrosion risk than a comparable fabricated sheet pile connector. Extruded connectors are much lighter than a fabricated connector, which equates to being easier and more cost effective to transport. Here are some of the configurations you can use an extruded connector for: Colt (45 degree), PZ90 (90 degree), Cobra (135 degree), Tee (PZTEE, Joker, Bullhead, CBF) and many more. The extruded connectors are manufactured for both Z-Section and Flat sheet pile.

Our friends over at PilePro have brought extruded connectors into the 21st Century. In addition to the typical connectors mentioned above, they manufacture connectors for sheet pile with different interlock types. For example, they have a 90 degree connector that will work with any sheet pile interlock type, whether it’s cold-formed, larssen or ball and socket. In addition to the angled connectors, they also offer extruded connectors that allow you to drive a straight wall with different sheet pile interlocks. If you are on a project that has existing sheet pile with larssen interlocks and you need to tie into those sheets with a ball and socket interlocked sheet pile, they have a solution for that.

With multiple solutions to connect your sheet pile, driving sheet pile in different configurations is easier than ever. If you are looking to buy or sell used sheet pile, give us a call at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management he worked on several projects using both extruded and fabricated sheet pile connectors.

P.S. Check out the MarketScale Podcast with Andrew Norman talking about e-commerce in construction.

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