Discrete or Plate from Coil
Steel Plate
Steel plate is offered cut from coil up to 1” thick or as discrete plate, giving flexibility across a wide range of fabrication and design requirements. The classification between steel plate, steel sheet, and discrete plate is determined by mill production method and the specification standards used for certification. Although steel plate has traditionally been 3/16” and thicker, plate standards do not have minimum thickness requirements, so it’s increasingly common to find plates offered in thinner sizes.
Wide-Range Capabilities
Available as plate from coil up to 1″ thick or as discrete plate to meet a full range of size, strength, and fabrication requirements.
High Strength Experts
Decades of experience processing high-strength steel for demanding and tough applications.
Supply Reliability
With 18 strategic locations, an affiliated brand network, and strong mill relationships, we help you plan ahead and stay on schedule no matter how the market shifts.
Plate from Coil vs. Discrete Plate
Discrete Plate
Hot rolled discrete plate is produced at the steel mill on a reversing mill to its final length and width. The slab is passed back and forth through the mill to attain the desired thickness. It is never wound into coil form, preserving its flatness and structural integrity. This approach can achieve widths up to 120”, but its shape may be compromised in lighter thicknesses.
Plate Cut from Coil
Hot rolled coils are made at steel mills from cast slab produced on tandem mills where it is rolled continuously without reversing the direction. The coils are then either slit for stamping lines or can be cut to specific lengths (plates or sheets). This approach can typically achieve widths up to 96”. Coils typically offer improved surfaces and better shape.
Benefits of Steel Plate Cut from Coil
If your application doesn’t require the larger widths available with discrete plate, plate from coil could be an alternative option for you. At Steel Warehouse, we can cut steel plate from coil in customized lengths and widths up to 1” thick. The benefits of this plate from coil approach as compared to discrete plate are:
- Eliminate Waste — Custom lengths allow you to maximize yield and reduce scrap
- Improve Surface Finish — Plate from coil has a smoother finish with less mill scale
- Lower Costs — Plate from coil typically offers a price advantage
- Reduce Inventory — Our warehouse capability helps eliminate inventory issues
The Right Plate Solutions
From thin gauge to heavy plate, our steel sheet options cover many grades and standards to meet the strength and performance your applications demand.
Testimonial: Plate from Coil
Plate vs. Sheet
Whether steel qualifies as plate or sheet depends on the specification used for certification. There is a large overlap in popular thicknesses between plate and sheet, but steel plates are offered in a much broader range of sizes.
Commonly used plate specifications include:
- ASTM A36: a very popular structural steel specification.
- ASTM A572 and A656: these specifications define HSLA (high-strength low-alloy) grades.
Commonly used sheet specifications are broken down by sizing, including:
- Thinner than 0.230″
- A1011 (coils and cut-to-length products)
- Thicker than 0.230″
- A1018 (coils only)
There are also specifications written for specific applications such as weathering grades (A588, A606) for atmospheric corrosion resistance, floor plate steel (A786), and steel produced for bridge applications (A709).
Plate specifications are not limited to ASTM; other governing bodies and OEMs write specifications for steel plate.
All projects are unique, which is why our technical team at Steel Warehouse welcomes specialty requests to make a custom steel plate to fit your specific applications.
Our Capabilities
Whether you need standard hot rolled, HRPO, or high-strength grades, our team ensures every order meets the dimensional and mechanical requirements your operation depends on.
