Scope of this guide. Published costs, savings and schedules are indicative examples, not a project quotation or guarantee. Compare the same location, specification and scope. Structural supply, civil works, building services, finishes and logistics must be confirmed separately; permit and engineering requirements depend on the site.
In short
- NewCon Steel® manufactures bolted structural steel in cold-formed steel, with every hole and connection made by CNC in the plant to a ±0.5 mm tolerance and no field welding.
- Field welding destroys the metallic coating in the heat-affected zone, and a zinc-rich paint repair does not reproduce the factory coating.
- A bolted connection removes the dependency on certified welders, welding equipment, and field weld inspection, which matters most on Caribbean islands and remote sites.
- A connection's capacity is set by its calculations under AISI S100-16 (R2020), not by whether it is bolted or welded.
- Hot-rolled steel structures (AISC 360) are designed by PEB Corp engineering; NewCon Steel® manufactures the bolted cold-formed steel (AISI S100).
NewCon Steel® manufactures bolted structural steel in cold-formed steel (CFS), also called light-gauge steel (LGS). The members are roll-formed from Zn-Al-Mg 275 g/m² steel (ZM275 to EN 10346 / ZMM275 to ASTM A1046), 275 g/m² total across both faces (0.90 oz/ft²). Every hole and connection is made by CNC in the plant to a ±0.5 mm (±0.02 in) tolerance, and the frame bolts together on site. Compared with field welding, a bolted connection keeps the coating intact at the joint, does not depend on certified welders, and repeats identically at every node.
This guide explains why field welding is the weak point of a coated steel structure, compares the two approaches in one table, walks through how a bolted structure is erected, and shows where it fits and where it does not. It closes with the applicable standards and the information to send with your quote request.
Why field welding is the weak link
Field welding introduces three risks that a bolted connection avoids by design. The first is the coating. Welding coated steel destroys the metallic coating in the heat-affected zone, and the field repair uses zinc-rich paint, which does not reproduce the factory coating. The building's most vulnerable point ends up at the structural connection.
The second is labor. Structural welding requires certified welders and weld inspection. On a Caribbean island or a remote site, finding and qualifying that crew is a schedule risk that is rarely priced up front.
The third is variability. A bolted connection with a CNC-punched hole repeats identically at every joint, while a field weld depends on the day, the weather, and the welder. Structural welding codes such as AWS D1.1 also do not permit welding when surfaces are wet or exposed to rain or high wind, a common condition during the tropical rainy season.
Bolted vs. field-welded: side-by-side comparison
The table compares a cold-formed steel structure with bolted connections punched in the plant against a structure with connections welded in the field. It is a qualitative comparison; the schedule and cost of each project are confirmed in the quote.
| Criterion | Bolted (cold-formed, CNC-punched) | Field-welded |
|---|---|---|
| Coating at the joint | The Zn-Al-Mg 275 g/m² coating applied to the coil reaches the connection intact | Welding destroys the coating in the heat-affected zone; it is repaired with zinc-rich paint |
| Dimensional control | Holes CNC-punched from the model to a ±0.5 mm tolerance; no hole layout in the field | Joint position and quality depend on field layout, the weather, and the welder |
| Inspection | Checking each piece's mark, its alignment, and bolt tightening | Inspection of every field weld by qualified personnel, per the project specification |
| Weather and rain | No welding arc needed; erection follows the site's lifting safety rules | Codes such as AWS D1.1 do not permit welding on wet surfaces or in rain or high wind |
| Erection rhythm | A repetitive positioning-and-torque operation (lift it, align it, torque it) | Welding, inspection, and coating touch-up are interleaved between members |
| Crew and equipment | An erection crew with bolts and torque wrenches | Certified welders, welding equipment, and on-site power generation |
| Work left at the end | No site galvanizing and no coating touch-up | Coating touch-up at every welded joint |
The underlying difference is where the skilled work happens. For a bolted structure, cutting, punching, and dimensional control take place at the plant in Centro Industrial PEB, Las Mañanitas, Panama City. What remains on site is an erection operation that can be planned and measured member by member.
Lift it, align it, torque it: how a bolted structure goes up
A NewCon Steel bolted structure arrives numbered and sequenced. Erection is a positioning-and-torque operation, with no cutting, welding, grinding, or coating touch-up. The on-site sequence usually runs like this:
- Receiving. Each piece is identified by its mark and label, both tied to the erection shop drawing.
- Lifting. Members are lifted in the order of the erection sequence, with the lifting equipment the contractor selects.
- Alignment. The CNC-punched holes set the position of each piece, so there is no hole layout in the field.
- Tightening. Bolts are tightened with torque wrenches to the project specification.
- Checking. The crew checks alignment and tightening before moving to the next member.
That changes the profile of the crew you need on site. Instead of certified welders, welding equipment, and a generator to power it, the job calls for an erection crew. On request, NewCon Steel issues an erection guide covering piece numbering against the model, the erection sequence, and the fastening method; you can request it through technical documentation.
Erection is performed by the buyer's appointed contractor or under a separate construction contract with SmartBrix Construction. Confirm in writing who is responsible for foundations, anchors, unloading, and lifting before you issue the purchase order.
Where bolted wins, and where it does not
Where a bolted structure pays off
- The Caribbean and remote sites. Where there is no qualified welding crew available and no local weld inspection, a bolted structure removes that dependency. The skilled work stays in the Panama plant.
- Coastal, saline, and marine exposure. Because nothing is welded, the 275 g/m² Zn-Al-Mg coating applied to the coil reaches the connection intact, which is where the structure is most exposed.
- Short erection windows. Erection is repetitive and measurable, with no field weld inspection interleaved between members and no coating rework waiting at the end.
When another system is needed
NewCon Steel's bolted structure is cold-formed steel. When the project engineering calls for hot-rolled sections because of spans, heights, or equipment loads, the system moves to a different specification and a different design team. Hot-rolled steel structures (AISC 360) are designed by PEB Corp engineering; NewCon Steel® manufactures the bolted cold-formed steel (AISI S100). In that system, connections can be welded or bolted depending on the design.
A bolted structure also combines with LGS structural kits in hybrid systems: bolted portal frames form the skeleton, and pre-assembled structural panels handle walls, floors, and roof. Everything is manufactured in the same plant, with the same coating and the same tolerance, and ships on a single purchase order.
Bolted structure specification and standards
NewCon Steel's bolted structure is cold-formed from coil coated with Zn-Al-Mg 275 g/m² (ZM275 to EN 10346 / ZMM275 to ASTM A1046), 275 g/m² total across both faces. The base steel conforms to ASTM A1003/A1003M, in sheet thicknesses from 0.85 to 2.5 mm (0.033–0.098 in); the exact thickness for each profile family is confirmed on the data sheet with the quote. Members are designed to AISI S100-16 (R2020) with Supplement 3 (S3-22) and AISI S240-20, with seismic design to AISI S400-20 when the seismic design category requires it and loads per ASCE/SEI 7-22.
On top of those specifications sits the code of the destination country: REP-2021 in Panama, NSR-10 in Colombia, or the IBC in the edition adopted by each Caribbean jurisdiction. The local code defines the design loads and the plan review requirements; the AISI specification defines how the member and its connection are calculated.
Whether a bolted joint is as strong as a welded one is answered by the calculations. Chapter J of AISI S100-16 (R2020), Connections and Joints, sets out design rules for welded, bolted, and screw connections, and each connection is sized for the project's demand. What differs between the two approaches is execution: CNC punching repeats the calculated connection at every node.
The structural calculations are developed by PEB Corp Group engineering and sealed by an engineer licensed in the project's jurisdiction. When the contracted scope is a structural kit, the sealed calculations are included in the supply. The scope of each standard is explained on our engineering and standards page.
How to order a bolted structure
- Send geometry and loads. Drawings or the model, spans, heights, building use, and site. The site drives the wind and seismic loads under ASCE/SEI 7-22 and the destination code.
- Connection design. Members and bolted connections are designed to AISI S100-16 (R2020) w/S3-22 and AISI S240-20, and the holes are generated from the model.
- Formal quote. Within 48 hours, you get a quote with scope, quantities, coating, fabrication time, and shipping terms.
- Fabrication and shipment. CNC roll-forming, cutting, punching, marking, and labeling at the Panama City plant, followed by shipment with the mill certificate (mill test report, MTR) and the Panamanian certificate of origin; import treatment is decided by the destination customs.
Bolted structural steel is quoted per metric ton (1,000 kg) of structure. NewCon Steel publishes no prices. The price depends on section, thickness, quantity, level of pre-assembly, and destination, and it is stated in writing in the quote, together with the lead time for your order.
NewCon Steel's supply does not include foundations, building envelope, MEP systems, finishes, or erection. NewCon Steel supplies the steel; SmartBrix Construction executes the construction; PEB Corp provides the engineering and the institutional relationship. If you need a finished building rather than the structure alone, the turnkey scope belongs to SmartBrix Construction, which publishes its approach to industrial buildings and warehouses. PEB Corp coordinates the engineering of hot-rolled structural steel systems, as the PEB Corp Group page explains.
To get a quote, send quantities (lm, m², or metric tons), profile thickness, and destination country. Quote your bolted structure → Reply within 24 business hours · technical proposal / quote in 48 h.