Structural Carbon Steel
Tubing for Construction
Construction sites and finished buildings need steel parts that won't quit. We've made ERW carbon steel tubing to tight specs from our Niles, Ohio mill since 1985.
Steel That Holds Up
A handrail that gets leaned on a thousand times a day. A scaffold leg that holds up a crew. A conveyor frame that runs sixteen hours a shift. The steel inside has to be ready for real life — not just the spec sheet.
Vanex Tube Corporation makes ERW carbon steel tubing for the construction trades. Our mill in Niles, Ohio has been turning out tube since 1985, back when we operated as Van Huffel Tube. Forty years later, the gear has been upgraded and the lines have been retooled. The focus on tight specs and clean welds is the same.
We supply OEMs, fabricators, and steel service centers nationwide. If your project calls for tube steel that has to look clean, weld well, and hold a load, our products fit the job.
Applications
- Handrails, guardrails, and stair rails
- Scaffolding sections and bracing
- Modular building frames and pre-fab components
- Equipment frames and machinery housings
- Conveyor frames and roller supports
- Industrial racking and pallet rack uprights
- Mezzanine framing and platform supports
- Fencing, gates, and security posts
- Light pole bases and signage supports
- Trailer-mounted equipment frames
Material Specs & Standards
We manufacture to ASTM A-513 Type 1 and Type 2 for mechanical tubing applications. For tube used in general structural applications, we produce to ASTM A-787 Type 2 — the exact spec for corrosion-resistant structural tube when a project demands it.
We work in carbon steel grades from 1008 through 1035, plus HSLA options when your project specs call for optimized strength-to-weight ratios. Available in round, square, rectangular, and specialty profiles. Cut to length on request.
Mechanical Tubing
ASTM A-513 T1 & T2
Structural Tubing
ASTM A-787 Type 2
Carbon Steel Grades
Available Finishes
Every project has a different finishing path. We offer four surface conditions so the tube matches your downstream process — whether you're painting, galvanizing, powder coating, or installing it as-is.
Cold Rolled
Superior surface finish for high-precision applications requiring a tighter tolerance and cleaner appearance.
Hot Rolled Black
For parts that will be painted or thick-coated post-assembly. The standard mill finish for structural work.
Pickled & Oiled
Clean, scale-free surface that is instantly ready to weld or finish — no surface prep step required.
Hot Dipped Pre-Galvanized (G60 / G90)
Maximum corrosion protection from the mill — ideal for outdoor structures, fencing, or wash-down environments.
Why Builders & Fabricators Work With Us
Construction tube has to be predictable. If the profile bows, your fixture work doubles. Most mills accept some give. We don't.
Tighter Shape Control
Our mill runs more forming stands than the standard setup. More stands means square stays square and rectangular stays rectangular. When your shop sets up the saw or the weld jig, the tube fits the first time — no rework, no shimming.
ID Flash Scarfing
On specialty shapes, we clean the inside weld bead so the bore stays smooth. If you're running a rod, cable, or hydraulic line through that tube, that surface matters. Clean bore, no drag, no interference.
Burr-Free Round Ends
Round tubing ships burr-free on the ends as standard. Your weld prep saves a step on every joint. That adds up across a full project run.
Built in America, Shipped on Time
Our mill is in Niles, Ohio. We ship orders out every week to customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky, plus fabricators and steel service centers nationwide.
Construction schedules move. A delay on a critical part can hold up an entire crew. We keep tight control over our lead times so you can keep tight control over yours. Domestic supply means you don't have to wait on a container ship or a tariff ruling.
We're also small enough to pick up the phone. Our sales engineers spec construction tube every week. If you have a drawing, send it. We can recommend a grade and a shape that fits your load and your budget.
Mill Location
Niles, Ohio · Since 1985
Carrying forward the Van Huffel Tube heritage
Quality You Can Hand to the Inspector
- Full MTR (mill test report) with chemistry, mechanical properties, and heat number
- 100% quality inspection before every load ships
- If a length doesn't pass, it doesn't leave the mill
Get a Quote on Your Next Project
Tell us the profile, the wall, the grade, the finish, and the quantity you need. If you have a drawing, send it. Our sales engineers spec construction tube every week.