In today’s manufacturing landscape, predictability is the new competitive advantage. The most efficient OEMs know that it’s not just about building a fantastic product—success comes from strategic planning. From supply chain disruptions to unpredictable lead times, even the most minor delays can throw off production schedules and eat into margins.
At Unistrut Service Company (USC), we help OEMs remove uncertainty from the equation. Through our proven sourcing programs, we ensure a predictable supply of Unistrut metal framing—so your production teams stay focused on what they do best: designing and assembling the products that keep your business moving.
The Problem: Uncertainty in the Metal Framing Supply Chain
Even with domestic sourcing, today’s market is challenging. Recent tariffs and the reshoring of manufacturing have created new demand pressures that ripple through the supply chain.
Although the steel used to produce genuine Unistrut channel is domestic, many mills are now operating at tighter capacity due to increased coil demand from manufacturers re-shoring production back to U.S. soil. This shift has created scarcity of raw coils, extended lead times, and pricing volatility across the industry.
For OEMs relying on Unistrut metal framing for enclosures, conveyors, renewable energy systems, and other critical assemblies, these factors can quickly turn into unexpected downtime, delayed shipments, and costly workarounds.
USC recognized this long before it became headline news—and we built our OEM supply strategy to prevent these surprises.
The USC Approach: The Power of Blanket Purchase Orders
When our team identifies an OEM partner during the sales process, we immediately begin planning. Rather than reacting to each purchase order, we work with our upstream manufacturing mill to establish blanket purchase orders for the Unistrut channel and fittings we’ll need to support your account throughout the year.
That means the material you’ll need in March is already in motion in January. Your production ramp-ups in Q3 won’t experience delays because the mill is running behind in Q2.
By forecasting your demand and aligning our own material purchases accordingly, a partnership with USC delivers two critical outcomes for your business:
1. Predictable lead times. Your shop floor never waits for framing materials. We eliminate the uncertainty that plagues most just-in-time buyers.
2. Predictable pricing. By securing coil and mill allocations in advance, we shield your costs from market fluctuations—ensuring your BOM stays accurate and your project margins stay healthy.
This proactive approach doesn’t just make sense—it saves money, time, and stress. It’s how we help you keep your customer commitments.
Real-World Results: Predictability Across Key OEM Markets
Our OEM partners span a variety of industries, but they share a common pain point—the need for a reliable, repeatable partner dedicated to delivering metal framing products on time.
Whether you’re an engineer designing electrical enclosures, a purchasing manager supporting conveyor system builds, or a production leader in renewable energy or material handling, USC’s OEM program delivers measurable benefits:
- For electrical enclosure manufacturers: Pre-cut and deburred Unistrut channel arrives ready to assemble, eliminating bottlenecks in production.
- For conveyor and material handling OEMs: Blanket orders guarantee the fittings and channel sizes you need are always on hand, keeping your production lines moving without rush orders or expedited freight.
- For renewable energy manufacturers: Predictable supply helps you plan installations with confidence—no waiting on late deliveries or substitute parts that don’t meet spec.
Across these markets and more, OEMs trust USC to deliver consistency. It’s one of the biggest reasons we’ve become the preferred Unistrut partner for repeat production programs nationwide.
Reducing Stress, Eliminating Surprises
OEM operations are complicated enough without worrying about the status of your framing materials. That’s why USC’s team works as an extension of yours—bridging the gap between mill production and your shop floor.
Our proactive forecasting and blanket order strategies mean:
- You don’t get caught by mill shortages.
- You don’t lose days to freight delays.
- You don’t have to explain “bad news” to your customers.
Instead, you gain predictability, stability, and peace of mind—allowing your team to focus on design, assembly, and innovation, not expediting.
That’s the USC difference. It’s how we help OEMs eliminate stress, reduce administrative overhead, and stay ahead of an unpredictable steel market.
Partner with USC for Predictable Unistrut Metal Framing Supply
Predictability doesn’t happen by chance—we build it into the process. At USC, we combine strategic sourcing, real-time forecasting, and a commitment to partnership to ensure our OEM customers never have to wonder where their Unistrut order stands.
If your team is ready to simplify planning, secure stable pricing, and guarantee reliable product availability year-round, talk to USC about a predictable supply chain solution.
Let’s work together to keep your production schedule on track, because the Most Important Part is Your Custom Part. To learn more about how we deliver value to companies just like yours, visit our OEM solutions page or contact the team at USC and we'll be glad to lend a hand.