Procurement is trickier than ever in 2026. We’ve seen over the last few years how easy it is for supply chains to be disrupted. In fact, look at the problems at the moment because of wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. So, it is more important than ever to specify the right products and work with reliable suppliers. If you need ERW tubes, you can rely on us to supply them from our base in the West Midlands.
A key thing to look at when it comes to procurement decisions is whether to choose ERW or seamless tube. We want to have a closer look here to put you in a better position to specify tubing for different projects in 2026.
Improvements
The most crucial thing to keep in mind is past assumptions about ERW tube no longer apply in many cases. For a long time it was simply the “cheaper” option and only suitable for general applications. However, the gap in quality to seamless tube has closed massively. It’s now a viable choice for lots of projects, offering reliable dimensional accuracy and consistent quality. It also remains more cost effective and typically offers a shorter lead time.
Notably, you can now often specify ERW tubes for projects without increasing the risk. They are useful for non-critical structural parts that don’t have to support heavy loads. Additionally, you can use them for automotive parts, furniture frames, scaffolding, and various pipelines (low to medium pressure).
When to specify seamless?
While ERW tube is better than ever, there are still a number of situations when you should specify seamless. It remains the best choice for high pressure, high temperature applications like chemical and gas pipelines. If the application involves severe cyclical loading, it’s a good idea to choose tubing that doesn’t have a weld seam. This includes industrial boilers and high-pressure hydraulic systems.
In some cases design codes specify you must use seamless tube for safety reasons. As a result, it is mandatory and you shouldn’t waste time considering any other form.
Finally, it’s essential to think about corrosion. It can be the biggest threat to steel tubing in various settings. Seamless tube can have an advantage because it does not have a weld seam. This means there is no discontinuity or differences in the microstructure. However, it is possible to improve corrosion resistance of welded tube with post-weld treatments and refinement. Plus, finishes like galvanisation and powder coating are viable for both ERW and seamless tube.
Make a smart purchase decision if you want ERW tubes
Union Steel Tubes is the ideal supplier if you want ERW tubing. We provide the best standards in every sense, from customer service to product quality. Most importantly for procurement, we keep a large volume of tube in stock. Therefore, we can provide one of the shortest lead times in our industry; it can save you time and money.
So, get in touch today and talk to us about ERW tubes. We’re happy to discuss everything with you.
