Back in 1933, the United States Steel Corporation (USS) patented atmospheric corrosion-resistant steel under the trade name Cor-Ten®. The name is a combination of its two main features: "cor-rosion resistance" and "ten-sile strength." Cor-Ten® was and is still designed to be used where higher strength and longer life cycle material is desired.
Corten steel in the railroad and shipping industry
In its early days, corten steel was used to construct hopper cars, passenger rail cars and shipping containers. Its strong, weather-resistant qualities were ideal for these applications. It wasn't until the 1960s that architects began discovering ways to use corten steel.
Corten steel in architecture
Architect Eero Saarinen was commissioned by William Hewitt, the President of John Deere, to design a distinctive building for their new headquarters in Illinois. Hewitt requested a down-to-earth, rustic and practical building that would reflect the company's clients and their business as an agriculture equipment manufacturer. Corten steel was the obvious material choice, and John Deere's headquarters still stands today flaunting a patina that is aged to perfection.
Another notable architectural project using corten steel was for the inventor of the material. U.S. Steel constructed their office building to showcase the properties of corten steel to the architectural community. The construction of the U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was completed in 1971, and today it stands 64 stories tall as a beacon in the Pittsburgh skyline. Just last month, the tower celebrated 50 years as Pittsburgh's tallest building.
As Cor-Ten® became more and more popular, producing mills began to develop their own atmospheric corrosion resistant steel. ASTM stepped in and created what are considered equivalent specifications to Cor-Ten® in most applications. Today, nearly a hundred years later, corten steel can be spotted around the world.
Company profile
Founded in 2008, Gnee (Tianjin) Supply Chain Group Co., Ltd. specializes in the global trade and processing of Corten steel products.
• We handle all kinds of Corten engineering projects, such as bridges, gardens, hotels, and facade systems.
• Compliant with ASTM, EN, and other international standards; third-party inspection supported.
• Exported to over 200 countries and regions worldwide.
• 8 subsidiaries across China and overseas, ensuring global service coverage.
Application Fields: Architecture, landscaping, gardening, cladding, and urban infrastructure.
