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While your steel supplier may be very knowledgeable on the variety and types of steel grades, you are ultimately responsible for defining the steel grade, size and quantity needed. This first step is critical to receiving an accurate and thorough quote from a steel supplier.
There are several categories of steel plate products, but the most common include:
Each category of steel contains grades suited for applications in different environments. These differences are often documented with composition, hardness, ductility and strength tests.
Also See: Exploring Structural Steel
Engineers are ultimately responsible for determining which type and grade of steel are best suited to the project at hand, which is why the steel grade needed must be communicated to your steel supplier.
Some projects require very specific grades of steel. However, some projects have greater flexibility in the steel grade.
For example, if you need abrasion resistant steel with a hardness of 480 bhn, both AR 450 and AR 500 grades could be options for this project.
Knowing if alternative grades are acceptable for your specific project could give you more buying power in terms of pricing and availability, which we&#;ll touch on later in this article.
Determine if Prime Materials are Needed
Once you decide which steel plate grade is needed for your project, it is important to determine whether prime steel plate is required, or if secondary steel plate is an option.
Prime steel plate meets regulatory or mill proprietary standards, such as ASTM specifications, for chemical composition and physical properties. Prime plate is required in highly-regulated industries where it is crucial for materials to adhere to standardized properties, such as infrastructure, road plate and construction.
Secondary steel plate &#; also known as sub-prime steel plate &#; does not meet regulatory or mill standards due to small imperfections, such as not meeting a specified flatness or missing a mill test report. Secondary plate is typically used in non-structural applications where these imperfections do not impact the functionality of a material, such as trash containers, roll-off containers or secondary pipe rollers.
Examining your project requirements and knowing whether secondary steel plate can be considered could provide more buying options and flexibility.
Next to knowing a project&#;s required grade(s), knowing the size of your steel plate needs is one of the most basic pieces of information steel suppliers need to quote an order.
Steel plate is purchased in units of Thickness x Width x Length. Steel plate, by definition, has a minimum thickness of 0.&#; - 0.24&#;. Although width and length can vary greatly, steel plate&#;s most common dimensions are around 8ft wide by 12ft or 20ft long.
Cutting tables allow many steel plate suppliers to sell steel plate customized to unique length and width dimensions. Thickness, however, cannot be modified.
While there may be small differences, the weight of a plate of steel is generally about the same, regardless of the grade. To calculate the estimated weight of your steel plate order, multiply the quantity of plate by volume and density:
Weight = {[Thickness (mm) x Width (mm) x Length (mm)] x 0. kg/mm3} x Plate Qty
Or, in pounds and inches:
Weight = {[Thickness (in) x Width (in) x Length (in)] x 0. in/lb3 } x Plate Quantity
Weight = {[0.5 in x 96 in x 240 in] x 0. in/lb3} x 15 plates
= {[11,520] x 0.} x 15
= {3,267.072} x 15
= 49,006.08 lbs
The density of steel (0. in/lb3) can range anywhere between 0.28-0.291 lb/in3. The above formula provides a good weight estimate, but your final material weight may vary slightly.
The price per unit of steel plate decreases when purchasing steel plate in bulk. The term &#;bulk&#; means at least enough steel for one truckload, which is typically around 21 tons (42,000 lbs).
In the case of a standard 0.5in x 8ft x 20ft steel plate (like in the weight calculation example above), orders of 12 or more would likely be considered bulk.
Bulk steel plate suppliers &#; such as Leeco® Steel &#; pass down cost savings from labor and equipment use efficiencies (it takes time, a human and a magnetic crane to load steel plate) onto the per-unit cost of the steel.
While bulk steel plate suppliers specialize in full and partial truckload orders, these suppliers can often be competitive with small or one-off orders, too. Feel free to reach out to the Leeco Steel team &#; via web form or at (800) 621- &#; for quoting on your next project.
Needing steel this week versus needing steel in three months can greatly impact your steel plate vendor choice and overall price.
Steel plate suppliers have a finite inventory. This inventory could all be housed in one location, or could be spread throughout multiple locations, like we do at Leeco Steel.
If the plate you need is at a location near you, then receiving your steel plate quickly and cost effectively is very doable.
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However, if your steel plate requirements are specific and unique (such as requiring uncommon sizes, rare grades or specific country of origin), steel plate suppliers may need to special order the plate directly from a mill. This process could take months.
When evaluating your steel plate supplier, it is important to ask if the product you need is in inventory, and &#; furthermore &#; where that inventory is in relation to the delivery destination.
Freight is a major factor to the cost and availability of steel plate. Of course, the further the plate needs to travel, the greater the cost and time. Therefore, one of the first freight questions you should ask your steel plate supplier is, "Where is my order coming from?"
Vendors with inventory locations near your final destination may be able to fulfill your order at those locations, thus reducing the time and money spent on transportation. Of course, having a physical inventory location does not always mean the supplier can fulfill the order from that particular location.
The second question you should ask your steel plate supplier is if freight is included in their quote. Leeco Steel, for example, works with a network of freight carriers, and includes the cost of transporting an order domestically in each quote, unless otherwise specified.
If a steel plate supplier does not provide freight solutions, your team will assume responsibilities of coordinating the delivery with a trusted 3PL, so it&#;s important to clarify this during the quoting process.
There are more options for buying steel plate than ever: over the , through or on a website.
Not all steel plate suppliers offer all these options, however, so it is important to clarify which buying methods potential suppliers offer. Leeco Steel gives customers the option to buy steel plate on its ecommerce website, Leeco Pro, or through communication with an experienced sales representative, allowing flexibility in buying options.
After you determine which buying methods a steel plate supplier offers, it is important to evaluate which of these best suits your steel plate needs. Ordering plate online could make buying popular steel plate grades &#; like like A572 or AR500 &#; easier and quicker. However, someone with more specialized plate needs may opt to work with a knowledgeable sales representative on their order to ensure their order requirements are met.
When it comes to supplying steel plate, company longevity, reputation and trust matter. Here are some good trust indicators to use when evaluating steel suppliers:
Much of this information can be found online, but &#; ultimately &#; the relationship you have with your sales representative says a lot about a company. Leeco Steel&#;s sales team prides itself on being more of an extension of your team, rather than a supplier.
Leeco Steel is a leader in supplying steel plate material to companies across the country and around the globe. Browse Leeco Steel&#;s range of steel plate grade offerings and receive a quote on your steel plate order today!
Stainless steel is one of the most widely-used materials in industrial hardware. This metal is used for everything from nuts and bolts to long pieces of wire ropes and chains. There are countless reasons why this material is preferred for industrial applications &#; namely, its strength, durability, and natural corrosion resistance.
Due to the increase in demand for stainless steel hardware, production of this metal has increased by over 10% in the past few years. There are countless stainless-steel hardware suppliers offering these products &#; giving customers lots of options to choose from. However, this type of hardware is often significantly more expensive, so you want to make wise investments.
Here&#;s what to consider when buying industrial stainless-steel hardware:
Although stainless steel has a very high breaking strength and is renowned for its durability, it is not always the best material to use for specific applications. Stainless steel has its limitations. It is considered to be a fairly soft metal, meaning that it can warp under extreme pressure.
Further, stainless steel can negatively react with aluminum due to its positive and negative charges in the metals. If these metals are connected and interact with an electrolyte (such as salt water), it results in galvanic corrosion.
Of course, there are circumstances when stainless steel hardware is the better option. It is certainly the ideal choice for any applications that will be in contact with water or moisture. It is also generally longer-lasting and has a more appealing, shiny finish than other types, such as galvanized steel.
There are various grades of stainless steel with numbers that depict the number of alloys added to the steel. Stainless steel is made of a combination of other metals, including:
Each of these additives provides benefits to the steel. For example, chromium increases its strength while also adding a shiny finish. Varying these alloy compositions can also impact the strength and durability of the stainless steel hardware itself. So, before you buy, pay attention to the grade offered.
For industrial hardware, the most common types of grades you&#;ll find are 304 and 316. The key difference is that grade 316 has molybdenum added, while 304 does not. Grade 304 stainless steel is incredibly common and durable, often used for construction purposes. Its main weakness is that it will corrode if exposed to chloride solutions.
Grade 316 stainless steel is slightly more expensive, but it also has far higher corrosion resistance to chloride and industrial solvents. This type of metal is preferred for industrial equipment, marine equipment, and medical or food production equipment.
If you take a look, you&#;ll find countless stainless steel hardware suppliers from all over the world. So, finding the best distributor can be a challenge, especially if you require large quantities for big projects.
When looking for a stainless steel hardware wholesaler, it&#;s best to partner with one that offers a large variety of sizes, types, and materials. You don&#;t want to have to search around for another supplier if you need to place an order for a different kind of hardware than usual.
Make sure that their inventory offers a full range of stainless steel hardware products that you&#;ll need. This should include bolts, clips, links, nuts, shackles, swivels, thimbles, and turnbuckles all made of varying sizes and grades.
Make sure that you are getting the right equipment for the task at hand based on safety factors and working load limits. The grade and size of the hardware can change the breaking strength of the product.
This is very important for all applications, but especially for rigging and overhead lifting equipment. If these numbers are miscalculated, your hardware could bend or break, resulting in a dangerous situation. Always be sure to double-check the working load limit of every equipment piece you purchase and be sure it matches the expected workload.
Since stainless-steel hardware is more expensive than other types of metal, you want to prolong your investment by taking care of the metal properly. Although stainless steel is pretty good at resisting corrosion on its own, it is always a good idea to keep the hardware as dry as possible.
Cover up any unused hardware in a dry container away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. Avoid harsh cleaning products, as some chemical solutions can damage the metal. Putting a bit of effort into the care of your stainless steel hardware can help to keep it in premier condition for longer, so you don&#;t need to spend as much replacing the products.
Stainless steel hardware can make a big difference in the durability and strength of your final product. While this equipment tends to be a bit pricier than other metals, the durability and corrosion resistance of this material are unmatched.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when purchasing stainless steel hardware is choosing top-quality products for improved performance. You can trust Elite Sales to offer top-rated hardware with customer service that can&#;t be beaten. We also carry a wide variety of sizes, types, and steel grades to match just about any application.
Get in touch with our team today to place an order and learn more about our product lines. If you have any questions, ask directly to our experts on our Google Business Profile.
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