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Buying Steel Plate in Bulk — Four Steps You Should Follow

Author: Steve

Oct. 07, 2024

Buying Steel Plate in Bulk — Four Steps You Should Follow

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Raw materials can considerably impact the cost of a specified project, rendering smart sourcing a key step in the process. While steel is a versatile raw material, the process of locating, purchasing, and transporting this alloy can be somewhat hazy. As a result, Leeco has developed four important steps that must be followed when purchasing a steel plate to make sure that the right steel has been sourced at a fair price for each project.

Step 1: Determine What is Needed

Although a steel supplier may be quite knowledgeable about the types and variety of steel grades, it is the customers who are ultimately responsible for defining the size, grade, and quantity of steel required. This first step is very important for obtaining a thorough and accurate quote from a steel supplier.

While there are a number of categories of steel plate products, the most common include:

  • Military and ballistic steel
  • Structural steel
  • Quenched and tempered steel
  • Abrasion-resistant steel
  • Pressure vessel quality (PVQ) steel
  • Marine and offshore steel

Each steel category contains grades that are appropriate for applications in various environments. These differences are usually documented with ductility, hardness, composition and strength tests.

It is the engineers who are eventually responsible for establishing which grade and type of steel are best suited to the project at hand. This is the reason why the required steel grade has to be communicated to the steel supplier.

Determine if Alternative Grades are an Option

There are certain projects that need highly specific grades of steel. Yet, there are some projects that have greater flexibility in the steel grade. For instance, if an abrasion-resistant steel with 480 BHN hardness is required, both AR 500 and AR 450 grades might be options for this project.

Knowing whether alternative grades of steel are suitable for a specific project could give customers more buying power with regards to availability and pricing, which will be discussed later in this article.

Size and Weight

Aside from knowing the required grade(s) of a project, knowing the size of steel plate required is one of the most rudimentary pieces of information needed by steel suppliers to quote an order.

A steel plate is bought in units of thickness x width x length. By definition, a steel plate has a minimum thickness of 0."&#; 0.24". While length and width can differ considerably, the most common dimensions of the steel plate are approximately 8 feet wide by 12 feet or 20 feet long.

Cutting tables enable the majority of steel plate suppliers to sell steel plates that are tailored to unique width and length dimensions. However, it is not possible to modify the thickness.

Although there may be slight variations, the weight of a steel plate is usually about the same, irrespective of the grade. To determine the estimated weight of a steel plate order, the quantity of plate should be multiplied by volume and density as follows:

Weight = {[Thickness (mm) x Width (mm) x Length (mm)] x 0. kg/mm3} x Plate Qty

Or, in inches and pounds:

Weight = {[Thickness (in) x Width (in) x Length (in)] x 0. lb/in3} x Plate Quantity

Weight = {[0.5 in x 96 in x 240 in] x 0. lb/in3} x 15 plates
     = {[11,520] x 0.} x 15
     = {3,267.072} x 15
     = 49,006.08 lbs

The steel&#;s density (0. lb/in3) can range anywhere between 0.28 and 0.291 lb/in3. While the above formula offers a good weight estimate, the weight of the end material may still differ slightly.

Benefits of Buying in Bulk

When a steel plate is purchased in large quantities, the price per unit of steel will decrease. The word &#;bulk&#; means at least sufficient steel for a single truckload, which is usually around 21 tons (42,000 lbs).

With respect to a standard 0.5 in x 8 feet x 20 feet steel plate (like in the weight calculation example given above), orders of 12 or more may possibly be regarded as bulk.

Suppliers of bulk steel plate &#; such as Leeco Steel&#; pass down cost savings from equipment and labor-use efficiencies (it takes time for a human, as well as a magnetic crane, to load steel plates) onto the per-unit cost of the steel.

Although many steel plate suppliers deal in partial and full truckload orders, they can usually be competitive with one-off or small orders as well.

Step 2: Evaluate the Timeline

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Requiring steel this week versus requiring steel in three months can considerably influence the customers&#; choice of steel plate vendors and the overall price.

Steel plate suppliers typically have a finite inventory, which could all be housed in a single location, or could be spread across various locations, like it is done at Leeco Steel.

If the plate required by customers is available at a location close to them, then receiving the steel plate rapidly and cost-effectively is quite achievable.

Conversely, if the customers&#; steel plate requirements are unique and specific (for example, needing rare grades, uncommon sizes, or specific country of origin), steel plate suppliers may have to exclusively order the plate directly from a mill &#; a process that can take several months.

When assessing a steel plate supplier, customers should ask whether the product they need is in inventory, and where that inventory is with respect to the delivery destination.

Step 3: Pay Attention to Freight

Freight happens to be a key factor to the availability and cost of steel plates. Indeed, time and cost will be greater if the steel plate needs to travel further. Hence, one of the first freight questions customers should ask their steel plate supplier is, &#;Where is the order coming from?&#;

Vendors whose inventory locations are close to the customer&#; final destination may be able to meet their order at those locations, thereby reducing the cost and time spent on transportation. Obviously, having a physical inventory location does not necessarily mean that the supplier will be able to meet the order from that specific location.

The second question customers should ask their steel plate supplier is whether freight is included in their quote. For instance, Leeco Steel operates with a network of freight carriers and includes the expenses of transporting an order domestically in every quote, unless otherwise specified.

If freight solutions are not provided by a steel plate supplier, the team will assume responsibilities of directing the delivery, so it is imperative to clarify this at the time of the quoting process.

Step 4: Partner with Someone Who Can be Trusted

A company&#;s reputation, longevity, and trust play a key role when it comes to delivering steel plates. The following are some good trust indicators to use when assessing steel suppliers:

  • Does the supplier possess ISO certification for quality management?
  • Firms that have this certification have a set internal quality management system, which guarantees that customers receive their preferred product when they need it, and with the quality they expect.
  • How many years has the supplier been in business?
  • The best suppliers are those that have developed strong relationships with mills. While these associations take time, they give selected suppliers better rates and access to products.
  • How many customers does the supplier have?
  • If this number of customers is low, there could be a reason for this, but it could also mean that the supplier deals in particular industries. It is recommended to ask for customer references if their customer base is low.
  • Where is the supplier based? In case the supplier has other locations, how many and where are they?
  • Locations not only affect the speed of delivery and inventory quantity, but they also indicate the longevity of a company. Fly-by-night suppliers may not have multiple locations.
  • Does the supplier have a purchasing team?
  • Purchasing teams are specialists at sourcing steel, purchasing, and documenting paperwork as well as identifying the best rates and/or fastest deliverability. Since sourcing steel takes an organized team effort, understanding if the supplier has an experienced, dedicated team plays a major role in the quantities and grades of steel available to customers.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Leeco Steel, LLC.

For more information on this source, please visit Leeco Steel, LLC.

Everything You Need to Know About: Steel

Believe it or not, the expression &#;stronger than steel&#; did not become a common phrase simply because it rolls off the tongue nicely. Rather, whatever it is you are comparing to this metal alloy is probably pretty darn tough.

Made from the combination of iron and carbon, and other elements, steel is one of the world&#;s most utilized materials. From our simplest tools to our most complex structures, it is everywhere around the globe - surrounding and impacting us daily.

For more information, please visit Steelhighsen.

Yet, for playing such an important role in our society, knowledge about this common material is pretty uncommon.

So, exactly what is steel? And why is it so important? 

What is Steel? 

Metals, steels, they&#;re all the same, right? Well, not quite.

To be accurate, metals are natural elements found within the Earth&#;s crust. Think way back to high school chemistry and the metals on the periodic table, such as copper, zinc, and iron. If you remember, steel was not included.

This is because steel classifies as a variation of metal. Specifically, it is known as an alloy of iron. This means that its chemical makeup is actually a mixture that is part metal (iron) and part nonmetal (carbon). 

At its core, you can think of steel as a purified form of iron. It retains iron&#;s metal characteristics but has a carbon content that ranges anywhere between 0.02% to 1.7%. Additionally, metal and non-metal elements are often added during the production process.

The addition of specified amounts of carbon and other alloying elements increases the physical-chemical properties such as strength, resistance, and variability. These drastic improvements make steel one of the most widely used materials in the world. 

How is Steel Made? 

Okay, so steel is basically iron with carbon and some other elements sprinkled in&#; great. But how in the world do we go from a rock in the ground to the finished product?

Well, today there are two primary ways steel is produced: the BOS (Basic Oxygen Furnace) method or the EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) method. 

The BOS method stems from the original Bessemer Process (the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass production of steel) and uses raw material inputs to create steel. 

In the BOS method, iron is smelted from its ore in a blast furnace and is reprocessed by blowing oxygen through the heated iron. The oxygen lowers the carbon content and reduces impurities within the iron, converting it into molten steel.

Unlike the BOS method, the EAF method takes a more modern approach and operates using recycled scrap steel--steel already produced and ready to be recycled. Rather than using raw materials like iron ore, recycled steel is fed through high-power electric arcs and melted into high-quality steel. 

Initially, the BOS and EAF methods differ, but both produce the same end result: molten steel.

Once the molten steel is produced, it must be treated with a secondary steelmaking process that adjusts the steel's composition. This involves adding or removing certain elements and/or tweaking the temperature and production environment. 

Once the final composition is chosen, it is time for the manufacturing, fabrication, and finishing stages. This involves techniques such as cold rolling, coating (galvanizing), or heat treatment (tempering) that give the steel its final shape and properties. 

Types of Steel

There's a reason Superman was nicknamed the "Man of Steel" - steel is strong. But aside from its immense strength, steel's second greatest quality is versatility. 

During the production process, different types of steel are created and categorized by their physical, chemical, and environmental properties. These properties include the amount of carbon, the level of impurities, and the addition of other alloying elements. 

Each type of steel allows for different uses and applications and is broken down into four different groups by the chemical structures and physical properties:

1. Carbon Steel 

Carbon steels contain trace amounts of alloying elements such as manganese, silicon, and copper.  They are often dull and matte in appearance and account for 90% of total steel production. There are three sub-groups that categorize carbon steels based on their carbon content:

  • Low Carbon Steel: contains less than .3% carbon and is the most common carbon steel. 
  • Medium Carbon Steel: contains between .3%-.6% carbon and often has manganese added. 
  • High Carbon Steel: contains 1.5% carbon and is the strongest of the carbon steels. 

2. Alloy Steel

Alloy steels contain varying amounts of alloying elements (e.g., aluminum, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, silicon and titanium). These additional elements change the steel's properties. Some examples of these properties include corrosion resistance, strength, or ductility. These steels tend to be cheaper and are often used in auto parts, mechanical work, power generators, and pipelines. 

3. Stainless Steel

Stainless steels have a low carbon content and typically contain between 10%-20% chromium. They are commonly found in home appliances, food processing equipment, and kitchen utensils because of their strength and resistance to both corrosion and high temperatures. 

4. Tool Steel

Tool steels contain varying amounts of cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium which make them extremely hard, durable, and heat resistant. These steels are ideal for making metal tools (hence their name) and are ideal for drilling, cutting, and stamping. 

Why use Steel? 

By now, you should have a solid idea of what steel is and how it's made, but here comes the big question: why do we use it?

Steel is a strong, durable, and versatile material, but it also has another key trait: sustainability. 

Steel is the most recycled material on earth and can be recycled an indefinite amount. This is because it does not lose any of its attributes during the recycling process.

Combining its sustainability with its strength and versatility makes steel not only one the most valuable resources in the world, but also the most utilized across countless industries.

From the construction of buildings, stadiums, and bridges to our automobiles, pipelines, farm equipment, and tools, steel is everywhere and contributes to both the development of our society and the betterment of our lives.

The steel industry in the US is an ever-evolving sector of the economy, with steel being a key component in many industrial products. From automobiles to bridges and buildings, it is an important part of the US steel industry. Industrial steel, in particular, is used in a wide variety of industries and applications due to its strength and durability. Its versatility makes it a popular choice for many projects, from construction and engineering to agricultural applications. The steel market is an integral part of the US economy and is here to stay.

If it turns out that this wasn't everything you wanted to know and more, check out our FREE resource: 12 Fact About Steel by clicking on the image below.

 

For more Tin Mill Steelinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

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