NPI and NPU are the types of steel profiles preferred in the productions using iron and steel. There are some differences between NPU and NPI iron, although both are used to make various machine parts.

If you have questions about steel profiles, you can find the answer here. If you want, let's start by giving the answer to the question of what is a steel profile.
What is Steel Profile?

In areas where heavy steels must be used, various problems may arise due to the tonnage of the material. In addition, since the weight of the steel affects the cost, it can cause large amounts of money to be spent during manufacturing. Instead, you can gain various advantages by using steel profiles that are 35-40% lighter but with the same durability level.

First of all, since the weight of the material will be reduced, it will be much easier to process and transport. However, cost savings can be achieved during manufacturing. There are many different types of steel profile such as NPU iron and NPI iron.
Steel Profile Types

Steel profile types are separated from each other according to their properties and each is named with different letters. For example, abbreviations such as NPU, NPI iron, which we will focus on in our article, are used. Commonly used steel profile types can be listed as follows:

   1. UAC Steel Profile
   2. HEA Steel Profile
   3. IPE Steel Profile
   4. UPN Steel Profile
   5. IPN Steel Profile
   6. NPU Steel Profile
   7. NPI Steel Profile

There are also steel types such as rectangular, square/box and oval profile. Now that we have a general knowledge of steel profiles, we can move on to explain the NPI and NPU iron types and the differences between these two.
NPU Iron

NPU iron is one of the prominent materials among steel profiles with its wide usage area. Since such steel profiles are generally used in the steel construction of buildings, they are very important for the construction industry. It is also increasingly preferred in the spare parts sector.
What are the Properties of NPU Iron?

The NPU bar has a rectangular appearance with an open end. NPU iron is divided into different types according to their weight and size. The number following the NPU abbreviation determines the geometric dimensions of the steel profile. For example, 120 mm NPU iron is called "NPU 120". They stand out with their durability and quality.
NPI Iron

NPI do a great job of supporting iron structures. They are resistant to bending, bending and breaking. Therefore, they are used in heavy structures. Such steel profiles can also be referred to as "beams".

Apart from supporting weights, they are preferred in automotive, civil engineering and heavy machinery. They are usually used vertically (column).
What are the Properties of NPI Iron?

The shape of these steel profiles is similar to the letter H. NPI iron also has varieties that differ in size and weight, just like NPU iron. They are named according to their size. For example, the size of the iron called "100 NPI" is 100x50.
What is the Difference Between NPU AND NPI Iron?

Although both stand out with their wide range of uses, there are some differences between NPI and NPU iron types:

   1. The difference in appearance between the two profiles is obvious at first glance. NPU irons are close to rectangular profile shape and have an open end. They remind of the letter U. In addition, the NPI iron profile is known for its similarity to the letter H. There are also varieties with a longer middle, resembling the letter "I".
   2. The second important difference arises in the field of use. Although the usage areas are similar in general, NPU iron is more suitable for use in industrial areas. NPU steel is often used in the automotive industry, especially in the manufacture of trucks and trailers. On the other hand, since NPI iron is produced to support heavy materials, they are more preferred in the construction industry.