Sheets differ from one another in various ways. The first thing that comes to mind, of course, is the numerous alloys, some of which we have already presented here. But there are further distinguishing features - one of them is the division into heavy plate and thin sheet.
Today we want to look at heavy plate and tell you everything worth knowing about it in this article. It is a particularly frequently used type of sheet, which is why many of our customers order stainless steel heavy plate from us. How that works, you will learn at the end of the article.
What is heavy plate?
For once, we do not need to concern ourselves with the chemical composition of steel - it plays no role at all in distinguishing heavy plate from thin sheet. The only difference is thickness: all sheets with a thickness of at least 3 mm are called heavy plate; sheets less than 3 mm thick are called thin sheets.
There is also a difference in production: thin sheet is cold-rolled, heavy plate is hot-rolled. Both types are produced as sheet and as strip. Owing to its thickness of more than 3 mm, however, heavy plate cannot be wound into a coil.
Heavy plate is resilient
The material thickness of heavy plate means it is far more resilient than thin sheet - which is why it has become indispensable in many areas. Wherever sheets perform a structural function for a building or vehicle, heavy plates are used almost exclusively. Modern shipping would be inconceivable without the heavy plates from which hulls are built.
The same applies to many industries that use stainless steel transport containers. These are made from heavy plate so that they can withstand the pressure, temperature and weight of the load. When choosing the steel grade, the material properties of the alloy must of course also be considered so that they suit the place of use - in many places, non-rusting steel is required, or particularly heat-resistant steel.
Important fields of use of heavy plate
Structures made of steel or stainless steel are almost always heavy plate. The numerous bridges we drive and walk across are invariably made of heavy plate. The towers of wind turbines must also withstand great loads and therefore cannot be made of thin sheet.
All tanks for liquids and gases - apart from vehicle fuel tanks - are likewise produced from sheet with a wall thickness of more than 3 mm, so that they are also protected from external damage.
Heavy plate too can be worked in many ways
For a layperson, thin sheets are naturally much easier to work - sometimes decent tin snips are enough for cutting. But heavy plates too can be cut into any shape with the right tools. For forming, it is advisable to use professional machines for heavy plate so that bending produces a straight edge.
The surface of stainless steel can also be treated, regardless of whether it is heavy plate or thin sheet. Common processes include polishing as well as foil protection or painting. What is important for you to know: choosing heavy plate does not restrict your design options in any way.
Where can you buy heavy plates?
Unfortunately, this is not common merchandise - which may seem surprising, given that heavy plate is used almost as often as wood. The main reason is probably that sheets are not so easy for hobbyists to work: apart from routine, the right tools may also be lacking. That quickly makes cutting a single sheet yourself uneconomical if you first have to buy tools for it.
Locally, if you need special sheets, you should approach a metalworking company. As a private customer, however, you are probably rather the exception there, and that can be reflected in the quotation and the production time. Either way, you should definitely compare heavy plate prices - unfortunately, that is not so easy via a price search engine, so you will in any case have to obtain two quotations.
If you compare several heavy plate prices, you must consider further factors alongside the price: how long will you have to wait for your made-to-measure plate? Will it be delivered to your home, or must you collect it from the producer? All of that can justify a somewhat higher price - but the decision is ultimately yours in each individual case.
We too offer you heavy plates
Since we have specialised in producing individual sheets to customer order, we naturally offer heavy plates. For that, we have professional machines with which we can cut with computer-aided millimetre precision - so we can keep to your dimensions in every case, and you receive a fitting plate.
For forming, too, we have the right equipment: our powerful press brakes can produce L-profiles or tray profiles in your desired dimensions, for example. And if you have a special wish for your plate's surface, our surface treatment department can probably fulfil it - various processes for grinding, pickling and foil protection are available.
We advise you without obligation
So that you make the right heavy plate decision in every case, we advise you free of charge and without obligation - that is a prerequisite for ordering a sheet from us. We know very well that details sometimes matter: various alloys can react quite differently with their environment, and we want to ensure you choose the right alloy.
In a short phone call, our experts can tell you which alloy is optimal for your project - and of course you will also learn the price for a plate in your desired dimensions immediately. Should you then decide to order, your plate goes straight into production.
We deliver quickly and reliably
Our production time from order to dispatch is almost always under 48 hours - the goal we have set ourselves. This speed is possible because we have automated our production workflows as far as possible. Including shipping, you only have to wait a few days for the plate we make for you.
The pace has no effect on quality, because we hold ourselves to the highest standards. That is also why we package all our products securely for transport, so that you can put them to use straight out of the packaging.
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