PLATE
Discover TW’s range of Plate
Providing the basis for many finished products, our range of multi-purpose, quality plate is used in a variety of fields including Oil & Gas, aerospace, space exploration, automotive, defence, and commercial. With many of our grades featuring benefits including favourable strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance or an enhanced appearance, you’ll find the ideal plate for any project application. Whether you’re looking for thick or thin plate, our stocked inventory, across our 30+ global locations, ranges from 0.125” (3.25mm) up to 4” (101.6mm) thick.Hot rolled vs Cold rolled
Stocking both hot and cold rolled grades across our facilities, we’re often asked about the difference between the two. Characterising several differences between hot rolled and cold rolled plates, they mainly relate to how the metals are processed at the mill. Here’s what you need to know:Hot rolled
Commonly used when precise shapes and tolerances are not essential, a hot rolled plate is easier to make, shape and form. It originally starts as a still billet which is heated up and then rolled through the mill into a particular shape. All processed at high temperatures, the metal is allowed to cool at room temperature and is free from internal stresses which can arise from quenching or work-hardening processes. The hot rolled plate can however have dimensional imperfections from the metal expanding during heating, and then shrinking during cooling – it also features a rough texture on the surface of the plate. This processed plate is a cheaper option compared to a cold-rolled plate.
Cold rolled
Whilst hot rolled is heated and then cooled, cold-rolled plate features an extra step of processing – it is heated, cooled, and then rolled through the mill again, undergoing compression between rollers after the metal has cooled. It provides a much more accurate shape and the product features a smoother and shinier surface with well-defined edges and corners.
How do I differentiate between the two visually?
Hot rolled plate features a scaly, non-oily surface with slightly rounded edges and corners, whereas a cold-rolled plate has an oily finish with a very smooth surface and sharp edges.
Available plate grades and processing
No matter the variety of metal, grade, shape, or specification plate you need, our inventories throughout the UK, Europe, SEA, and the USA stock a plethora of grades and processing capabilities. With the ability to provide cut-to-size programs of plate, we can process your metal using our quality laser, waterjet, or shearing machines.Grades stocked and ready-to-go include:
Aluminium: 2024, 2124, 3003, 5083, 5086, 6061, 7050, 7075, 7475, Casting Tooling Plate and Tread Plate.
Stainless Steel: 17-4, 17-7, 2205, 2304, 2507, 304/304L, 310, 316/316L, 317, 321, 347, 410 and 904L
Nickel Alloys: 200, 201, 400, 600, 625, 718, 800, 825, and C276
Alloy Steel: 4130 and 4340
Titanium: Gr2 and GAL4V
Material specifications include, but are not limited to, ASTM, AMS, ASME and QQ-A.
Regular Specs/Grades
| MATERIAL | GRADE | SPECIFICATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium Plate | 7050 T7451 | AMS4050 |
| Aluminium Plate | 7040 T7451 | BAMS516-021 |
| Aluminium Plate | 7175 T7351 | ASNA3050 |
| Aluminium Plate | 6061 T651 | AMS4027 |
| Aluminium Plate | 7050 T7451 | BMS 7-323 |
| Aluminium Plate | 2024 T351 | CR11058 |
| Aluminium Plate | 7075 T7351 | AMSQQA250/12 |
| Nickel Alloy Plate | 800H/HT | ASTM B409, ASME SB409 |
| Aluminium Plate | 6082 T651 | EN485, EN573-3 |
| Titanium Plate | 6AL-4V | ABS5125A |
| Nickel Alloy Plate | 400 | ASTM B127, ASME SB127, AMS4544 |
| Nickel Alloy Plate | 625 | ASTM B443, ASME SB443, AMS5599 |
| Stainless Steel Plate | 321 | AMS5510 |
| Nickel Alloy Plate | 600 | ASTM B168, ASME SB168 |
| Nickel Alloy Plate | 330 | ASTM B536, ASME SB536 |
| Aluminium Plate | 7475 T7351 | ABS5052A, AIMS 03-02-009 |
| Nickel Alloy Plate | 601 | ASTM B168, ASME SB168 |
| Nickel Alloy Plate | 718 | AMS5596 |