As a consumable product in any type of low-powered electric arc furnace (EAF) or for use in ladle furnaces and foundries, graphite electrodes are continually required.
While there are many companies across the United States that offer these products in their online listing, ordering and taking delivery is not as easy as picking up the phone and placing the order. Many of these graphite electrode suppliers don’t carry a significant inventory or only carry specific grades of graphite electrodes as inventory. Everything else is available by special order, which can have a significant lead time if it needs to be ordered from overseas.
To avoid these issues with graphite electrode suppliers, take the time to ask about three simple aspects of their business.
Grades of Electrodes
Verify that the supplier regularly keeps the grade or grades of electrodes you require in stock. This will include HD, HP, SHP and perhaps even UHP grades based on your particular needs.
The supplier should be able to provide you with the typical inventory levels and ensure that they can meet your orders placed on the schedule that works best for your furnace.
Just-In-Time Delivery
One advantage to using the same supplier is the ability to set up scheduled deliveries. With these Just-In-Time or JIT deliveries, you can order the graphite electrodes you need without having to stockpile inventory that takes up space and can lead to degradation of the electrodes under some storage conditions.
Finding graphite electrode suppliers that can assure delivery of the grade and volume required is critical.
Competitiveness in Pricing
The best suppliers will only bring in quality graphite electrodes. This means that they may be slightly higher priced than some of the other options on the web, but there will always be an assurance of quality and a consistent supply to ensure your order is filled as needed.