These statistics indicate far more awareness of metrication than even ten years ago. Even if companies are making only soft metric conversions, they're eager to let the world know they're trying to be more aware of metrics. These companies often are suppliers to the automobile industry and are major exporting industries. Although the steel industry has been one of the larger holdouts for English measurements, steel producers are witnessing an invasion of metrics from within. When it comes into the States, most if not all the fastener components are metric.
Equipment breaks down and fasteners wear out.
That means business for suppliers of metric equipment, fasteners, and tools used for maintenance. Demand for these fasteners and tools has spawned a multimillion-dollar industry, Bonich says. His company supplies fasteners to the steel industry in both English and metric measurements. Calumet Distribution relies on Metric Blue of Daylor, Mich., to supply the metric fasteners and to work with customers on keeping their metric materials separate from English materials on the shop floor. U.S. Steel's Gary Works is a Metric Blue customer.