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    331491 - Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding

    In the vast world of manufacturing, specific industries are categorized using NAICS codes for precise identification and regulatory purposes. One such crucial category is NAICS code 331491, which pertains to Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding. This blog post delves deep into what this code represents, its business implications, the manufacturing sector it belongs to, and the typical activities carried out under this classification.


    What Is NAICS Code 331491?

    NAICS code 331491 covers establishments primarily engaged in rolling, drawing, and extruding nonferrous metals, explicitly excluding copper and aluminum. These processes aim to transform raw metals into commercially usable finished products such as sheets, bars, rods, tubes, and wires. The metals handled often include nickel, zinc, titanium, lead, tin, and precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, among others.


    Sector Focus: Manufacturing

    NAICS 331491 is part of the Manufacturing sector, which involves converting raw materials into finished goods. This particular industry segment is essential to many downstream industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, and construction, given the specific properties nonferrous metals offer—like corrosion resistance, lightweight, and superior conductivity.

    Typical Business Activities

    Businesses under this NAICS code primarily perform activities such as:

    • Rolling and shaping nonferrous metal bars, rods, and sheets
    • Drawing wires and cables from purchased nonferrous metals
    • Extruding metal shapes and tubes from purchased metals or scrap
    • Producing specialized metal foil (e.g., gold, silver, nickel foil)
    • Manufacturing metal products used in aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries
    • Secondary smelting combined with metal forming processes like wire drawing and rolling

    Size Standards for NAICS Code 331491

    For government contracting and other official purposes, eligibility under NAICS 331491 often depends on a business size standard. Currently, the size standard for this industry is:

    • Maximum of 900 employees

    Companies with 900 or fewer employees generally qualify as small businesses under this NAICS classification.


    Examples of Businesses Under NAICS 331491

    Some typical business types and activities classified under this NAICS code include:

    • Nickel rolling and drawing plants
    • Zinc extrusion facilities
    • Titanium bar manufacturing operations

    These businesses focus on producing high-precision metal components used across highly specialized applications.


    Detailed Code Activities Table for NAICS 331491

    Product or Activity Description Details
    Aircraft and automotive wire & cable (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Made from purchased nonferrous metals in wire drawing plants
    Apparatus wire and cord (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Made in wire drawing plants from purchased metals
    Bar, nonferrous metals (except Al, Cu) Produced by drawing, rolling, or extruding from purchased metals/scrap
    Coaxial cable (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Manufactured in wire drawing plants from nonferrous metals
    Communications wire or cable (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Wire drawing from purchased metals
    Cord sets, flexible (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Made in wire drawing plants
    Energy wire or cable (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Produced from purchased metals in wire drawing plants
    Foil (gold, nickel, silver) Rolled from purchased metals or scrap
    Gold bar, sheet, strip, tubing Made from purchased metals or scrap
    Iridium bar, rod, sheet, strip, tubing From purchased metals or scrap
    Lead and lead alloy products Bars, pipes, rods, sheets produced from purchased metals or scrap
    Magnesium products Bars, rods, sheets, strips, tubing, or foil made from scrap or purchased metals
    Molybdenum products Bar, plate, pipe, rod, sheet, tubing, wire from purchased metals or scrap
    Nails (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Made in wire drawing plants from purchased metals
    Nickel alloys Pipes, plates, sheets, strips, tubing from purchased metals or scrap
    Nonferrous metal shapes Rolled, drawn, or extruded in various integrated mills
    Nonferrous wire Made in wire drawing plants and integrated secondary smelting mills
    Pipe (nonferrous metals except Al, Cu) Made from purchased metals or scrap
    Plate (nonferrous metals except Al, Cu) Made from purchased metals or scrap
    Platinum and platinum alloys Rolled, drawn, or extruded from purchased metals or scrap
    Precious metal bars and shapes From purchased metals or scrap
    Rods, strips, tubing (various nonferrous metals except Al, Cu) Shaped by rolling, drawing, extruding
    Selenium products Bars, rods, sheets, strips, tubing
    Silver and silver alloys Rolled, drawn, extruded or made into foil
    Solder wire (nonferrous except Al, Cu) Made from purchased metals or scrap
    Tin and tin alloys Bars, pipes, rods, sheets, strips, tubing made from purchased metals or scrap
    Titanium products Bars, billets, rods, sheets, strips, tubing from metals or scrap
    Tubing (nonferrous metals except Al, Cu) Made from purchased metals or scrap
    Tungsten products Bars, rods, sheets, strips, tubing from purchased metals or scrap
    Welding rods (uncoated, nonferrous except Al, Cu) Made from purchased metals
    Wire cloth and screening Made from purchased nonferrous metals in wire drawing plants
    Zinc and zinc alloys Bars, plates, pipes, rods, sheets, tubing, wire from metals or scrap
    Zirconium and zirconium alloys Bars, rods, billets, sheets, strips, tubing from metals or scrap

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What types of metals are included in NAICS 331491?

    This code includes nonferrous metals such as nickel, zinc, titanium, lead, tin, precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), molybdenum, selenium, tungsten, and others—excluding copper and aluminum.

    What manufacturing processes does this NAICS code cover?

    It covers rolling, drawing, and extruding of nonferrous metals to create finished products like wires, rods, sheets, bars, tubes, foils, and mesh.

    Which industries rely on products from NAICS 331491 companies?

    Key industries include aerospace, automotive, electronics, construction, and specialized manufacturing requiring corrosion-resistant or lightweight metals.

    What is the maximum number of employees for a small business under this NAICS code?

    The size standard is 900 employees; businesses with fewer employees are typically considered small businesses for contracting and regulatory purposes.

    Can companies involved in copper or aluminum rolling or drawing use this code?

    No, copper and aluminum processing is classified under separate NAICS codes. NAICS 331491 specifically excludes those metals.


    Conclusion

    NAICS code 331491 plays a vital role in the manufacturing sector by encompassing businesses that roll, draw, and extrude a diverse range of nonferrous metals except copper and aluminum. From producing specialty wires to creating precision metal shapes for complex applications, companies operating under this classification contribute significantly to multiple high-tech and industrial markets. Understanding the specifications and scope of NAICS 331491 is essential for businesses, contractors, and government agencies working within or alongside the nonferrous metal manufacturing industry.


    Keywords: NAICS 331491, Nonferrous Metal Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, Nonferrous Metal Manufacturing, Nonferrous Metal Industry, Nickel Rolling, Zinc Extrusion, Titanium Bar Manufacturing, Nonferrous Wire Drawing, Metal Fabrication, Industrial Metal Processing.