Steel Heavy Beams
Rolled steel can be provided in hot rolled and cold drawn options, and steel heavy beams are found crafted in both methods. However, it is only hot rolled steel that can be found as carbon steel rather than stainless or aluminum. Found in a huge array of shapes and sizes, most of the commonly used designs will look like a Roman letter “H” or “I” (capitalized) and are typically put to use in building and construction, the construction of heavy machinery and trucks, and civil engineering projects. Seen as some of the heaviest duty materials, they will be highly resistant to any sort of bending.
Any steel heavy beams are going to be measured by height, flange width and flange thickness, as well as web thickness. Flange indicates the area which extends beyond the single vertical or horizontal center. They might also be measured by their overall height and the pounds in weight per foot of length.
Typically, buyers will first find them as Junior beams, standard I-beams, and H or Wide Flange beams, but there are also:
- Universal Beams and Columns – This is a primarily, UK designation and will be specified by their codes that include the depth, flange width and kilograms per meter. The measurement of the depth is done by measuring from the outer side of the flange to the outer side of its opposite. A code will typically end with UB or UC and all are done in metric.
- Parallel Flanged Channels -Again, this is a UK term for steel channel beams. They will meet ASTM A36 grade and can be called structural channel or C-channel accordingly. They are measured in the US and Canada using inches and weight and in the UK, are measured as Universal Beams.
- Heavy Angles – Structural angle is an L-shaped metal that takes a 90-degree angle and is intended for repairs and fabrication. The legs can be evenly sized or different lengths (resulting in the names equal angle and unequal angle. Their sizes are taken by measuring flanges and the thickness, with UK and EU in metric and US in inches.
- Steel Circular Hollow Section – Noted as an essential in construction, it is also used for auto manufacturing, enclosures, fences and more. The sizes and gauges vary widely and measurements are done by exterior dimensions and wall thickness.
- Rolled Steel Joists – Also called an I-beam, H-beam or Universal Beam (see description above)
- Steel Box Sections – Steel hollow sections is a term used mostly in the United States and often summed as HSS, though other locations may not use this descriptor. They are typically for structural and mechanical application and can be produced in both hot and cold processes and to an enormous range of sizes. These are a hot rolled product that will have to conform to ASTM A53 standards, it is used for building scaffolding and industrial projects. It is the end result of hot rolling processes and will be in a range of grades from 201,202,304,316,321,303,316L, 310S, 2205, to 904L. It can be found in 5.5mm to 500mm sizes and meet AISI, DIN, EN and other standards.
- Reversing Mill Plates – This product is used primarily in offshore and marine settings. It is abrasion resistant and available in several grades, including EN10025 variants.
Gemina offers a full range of steel heavy beams and can export various lengths ranging from off-cuts up to 18.3 meter lengths. Additional, there are many steel light section services available including full cutting and profiling, certifications and more.
