Working with Stainless Steel Plate Suppliers: What to Look For

Stainless steel plate is used for a variety of applications in which durability, strength, low maintenance, and corrosion resistance are important. It’s used in the construction industry to support building foundations, as well as for the auto manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, petrochemical, transport and aviation industries. Stainless steel plate is also used to provide structural support for railways, ships, military vehicles, and trucks, making it a vital component in heavy industry. Because of its importance, those tasked with sourcing stainless steel plate suppliers should carefully consider a number of factors before making that choice.

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Factors to Consider for Stainless Steel Plate Suppliers

There are numerous industries and applications for stainless steel plates, with suppliers of the material tending to concentrate on either a domestic or global market. Steel service centers source domestically, providing steel goods that have been already formed and which can be used for steel goods like steel roofing or appliance housings; these will most likely supply standard forms such as stainless steel plate. Suppliers that operate globally tend to be publicly traded steel manufacturers with their main output in the form of ingots, along with semi-finished produces like slabs, billets, and blooms, though some will also fabricate standardized stainless steel plate.

Types of stainless steel plate suppliers fall into these general categories: 

• Manufacturers: Those purchasing stainless steel plate normally buy through company salespeople or independent representatives that source from multiple manufacturers. In most cases, prices from these suppliers tend to be the lowest, unless the buyer is located in a remote locale to which transport costs are higher. However, some stainless steel plate manufacturers won’t fill smaller orders.
• Distributors: These are alternatively known as brokers, jobbers, or wholesalers, who buy directly from several manufacturers, purchasing and warehousing large quantities of stainless steel. Suppliers that distribute for manufacturers tend to charge higher prices, though they’re capable of delivering smaller orders too. Sometimes distributors will be able to provide stainless steel plate at a lower overall cost, as their shipping charges are normally much less while their delivery time will be quicker.
• Independent suppliers: These are smaller shops and other entities that concentrate on making specialty products for specific purposes, normally selling through sales representatives. Prices through these craftspeople are higher, though the stainless steel plate and other products they produce tend to be of higher quality.
• Importers: These stainless steel plate suppliers operate much like a domestic distributor, though they market and sell globally. Depending on the source, they may even sell directly to those who travel to the importer’s warehouse overseas.

Due to its chromium content, stainless steel plate surfaces don’t rust easily, so stainless steel is often referred to as “corrosion-resistant steel.” It’s vital for making numerous products, including for making chemical or fuel tankers and in petrochemical plants. Stainless steel plate is also used in the chemical manufacturing, construction, food processing, and pharmaceutical industries.

What Makes a Good Supplier?

Buyers often focus on a single issue when sourcing stainless steel: the supplier’s pricing. Though it’s an important consideration, other aspects of a buyer-supplier relationship are also as, if not more, important. Stainless steel plate suppliers need to make money to stay in the business, so will often try to sell themselves as more than just providing the cheapest price.

Reliability plays a huge role when sourcing stainless steel. Suppliers should provide products on time and in good condition. Even though stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, it can still rust if not stored or handled properly. Larger suppliers aren’t automatically more reliable either. A customer of a small supplier who places large orders will likely receive more reliable service than a small customer of a larger stainless steel plate supplier. It may even make sense to use two smaller suppliers to have a backup supply than to use a single large supplier.

Another key and related factor is stability. A supplier with a solid reputation among its customers, a stable workforce, and a long history of working with stainless steel will inevitably offer a more stable source and stable businesses tend also to be more reliable. There may be certain signs too that a supplier isn’t in a stable financial position. For example, if shipments arrive earlier than requested it can mean that the supplier has a shortage of orders and is trying to speed up its cash flow.

Another factor involves location, as shipping charges are usually higher when ordering from a greater distance. Internationally-sourced stainless steel may actually end up being priced higher due to import taxes. Products ordered from a distant supplier will also take longer to arrive, especially those not near a major logistical hub. The time it takes for materials to reach the customer will inevitably also affect the output of end products. Additionally, when ordering it’s best for businesses to look into whether there’s a discount, or even free shipping, for ordering in quantity.

Other advantageous traits relate to a supplier’s capabilities. This includes offering attractive business terms, advanced technical know-how, well-trained employees, and a desire to serve their customers competently.

Project Considerations

Another consideration should be the project for which a customer is using stainless steel plate. Suppliers should be selected with care to ensure they can provide the best price and product for the project.

• Budget: Accurate quotes are sometimes hard to come by. It’s important that both the customer and the stainless steel plate provider know the budget. This makes reaching a fair deal easier. Having solid budgetary limits also allows customers to eliminate some suppliers based on cost.
• Scale: Often the best vendor depends on the size of a project. Some stainless steel plate suppliers can meet largescale demand better than others, able to supply large orders of stainless steel plate without much notice.
• Timeline: It’s important that when ordering stainless steel plate, suppliers know how much and when a customer needs it. This can be done by having teams set up realistic completion dates and providing these to the supplier. This will help ensure projects are completed on schedule.

Contact the Stainless Steel Plate Suppliers at Atlantic Stainless

Atlantic Stainless supplies a selection of stainless steel plate, available in most grades and typically galvanized. We additionally offer finishing from polished standard #4 to mirrored polished #8, normally also coated with removable vinyl. Atlantic’s stainless steel plate is sold in hot rolled annealed and pickled (HRAP) condition.

The grades and services for stainless steel plate that Atlantic Stainless offers include:

• 15-5, 17-4, 17-7, 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 301, 309, 301QH, 301HH, 301FH, 321, 330, 347, 409, 410, 430, 625 and 718
• 8 to 26 gauge plate sheets of varying widths
• Cuts stainless steel plate to size
• Cutting services that include shear cutting up to 3/8 inch thick, along with high definition plasma cutting and waterjet cutting up to a half-foot of thickness
• Finishes from 2B to polished plate
• Polishing services

Stainless steel is one of the most versatile types of materials, valued across industries for its many different functions and benefits. But despite its ubiquitous nature, many people still don’t know all that much about the properties, uses, and specifications of different kinds of stainless steel. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the gauge and grade of stainless steel, or how to choose the best type for your application? This guide will teach you everything you need to know about stainless steel .

What Is Stainless Steel?

First things first—what is stainless steel? Like regular steel, stainless steel is an iron alloy, but unlike other steel, stainless steel contains at least 10.5% chromium and sometimes smaller amounts of other elements like nickel, manganese, silicon, nitrogen, and carbon. The addition of chromium to stainless steel is very important, as chromium is what give stainless steel its rust-resistant quality—chromium forms a protective barrier on the surface of the steel, protecting it from elements like oxygen that would cause it to rust.

Properties of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is known for being very strong, lightweight, and resistant to rust. Certain types of stainless steel are resistant to high temperatures and fire and can maintain their forms even in environments where high temperatures are required. It’s also non-porous, making it an easy-to-clean, hygienic material. Stainless steel can easily be welded into a variety of different shapes and objects to fit the needs of the various industries in which it’s used.

Types of Stainless Steel

Because stainless steel is an alloy, there are numerous types. A type of stainless steel’s classification depends upon what percentage of each element comprises the stainless steel. Stainless steel is first classified into one of five family groups, then further classified within each family group by grade. Below, we’ll explain the five stainless steel families.

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Families

Austenitic

Austenitic stainless steel is the most used type. There are two main types of austenitic stainless steel: 200 series and 300 series. 200 Series austenitic stainless steel is composed of chromium, carbon, manganese, and nickel. 300 series austenitic stainless steel is made of chromium, nickel, and iron. Both varieties are very hard, durable, and corrosion resistant due to the higher percentage of chromium in the alloy.

Martensitic

Martensitic stainless steel is extremely strong and very machinable, but not as resistant to corrosion as other varieties. It contains carbon, chromium, and iron and is harder to form than other types of stainless steel.

Ferritic

Ferritic stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant, but less hard and durable than other types of stainless steel. It contains a high amount of chromium and very little nickel or carbon. It’s easier to engineer than other types of stainless steel and has magnetic qualities.

Duplex

Duplex stainless steel is a 50/50 mixture of austenitic and ferritic stainless steel. It has the strength of austenitic stainless steel and the higher corrosion resistance and malleability of ferritic stainless steel.

Precipitation Hardening

Precipitation hardening is a technique used to harden stainless steel to make it stronger and more resistant to corrosion. It’s typically an alloy of chromium and nickel.

Grades

Within each family category of stainless steel, different types of stainless steel are classified by grade. Depending on how tough, malleable, magnetic, or corrosion-resistant you want your stainless steel to be, you’ll need to choose between different grades with different compositions and qualities. Stainless steel grades typically fall into the 200, 300, or 400 series categories. The most used grade of stainless steel is 304, which is made of chromium and nickel and used in many industries, including industrial, medical, food, and just about any other industry. The second most common type, 316, is similar to 304 but has added molybdenum, which increases the metal’s resistance to corrosion.

Gauges

In addition to the many different grades of stainless steel, there are many different gauges. Stainless steel gauge is the thickness of the metal. On the scale of measurement for gauges, a higher number means a thinner sheet of metal, while a lower number indicates a thicker sheet. Due to the differing functions of stainless-steel products and tools, a buyer might need to purchase different gauges of stainless steel for different applications.

Finishes

If you take a look at the stainless steel around you, you’ll probably notice that it doesn’t all look exactly the same. This is because stainless comes in different finishes which impact the smoothness, shininess, grain, and appearance of the surface. Some popular stainless-steel finishes include:

• 2B – A cold rolled finish, often referred to as “Mill,” with a matte, slightly reflective surface. Often used in applications where appearance is not the top priority.
• No. 3 – A lightly polished surface with a clear, visible grain running in one direction.
• No. 4 – A brushed finish with a visible grain resulting in a slightly reflective surface. Easy to maintain and often used in kitchen, medical, and architectural applications.
• No. 8 – A highly polished, mirror-like surface resulting from polishing with fine abrasives. No grain is visible and it’s typically used for cosmetic purposes.

Uses of Stainless Steel

The possible uses of stainless steel are basically endless! Many industries have the need for a strong, corrosion-resistant material that is also attractive in appearance. Here’s a look at some of the industries in which stainless steel is popular.

Kitchen, Food, and Beverage Industries

In kitchen, food, and beverage related industries, it’s important for equipment to be kept clean and sterile. Stainless steel allows for easy cleaning and sanitization as well as durability in regularly used equipment.

Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries

Like food related industries, medical and pharmaceutical industries prioritize sterile environments. The non-porous nature of stainless steel and its resistance to rust allows members of these industries to sterilize equipment easily, keeping patients and clients healthy.

Automotive Industry

Stainless steel is often used in the construction of cars and other vehicles. A vehicle’s parts must be able to withstand climate, weather, and high temperatures without becoming damaged. Because it’s sturdy and can handle all three, stainless steel is a good material choice in this industry.

Architectural Industry

Stainless steel is also used in the architectural industry for both structural and decorative elements. Stainless steel beams, pipes, handrails, and other architectural materials are readily available from stainless steel fabricators.

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