Steel profiles form the structural backbone of modern construction, infrastructure and industrial engineering across Europe. ULAMEX supplies the complete range of hot rolled structural steel sections — including IPE beams, HEB wide-flange beams, HEA light beams, UPN channels, T-sections and angle steel — manufactured from non-alloy carbon steel to the highest European standards. With over 35 years of experience as a structural steel supplier, we maintain extensive stock of steel beam sizes from IPE 80 through IPE 600, HEB 100 through HEB 600 and HEA 100 through HEA 600, ensuring rapid availability for projects of every scale. All our structural steel profiles are available from stock for immediate dispatch across Europe.
Material Grades and Standards for Structural Steel Sections
Our steel profiles are manufactured from non-alloy structural steel in accordance with EN 10025-2, the governing European standard for hot rolled structural steel products. We stock two principal material grades that cover the vast majority of construction and fabrication requirements:
- S235JR (material number 1.0038, formerly St37-2, equivalent to ASTM A36) — the most widely used mild steel grade for general construction. Minimum yield strength of 235 MPa (for thicknesses up to 16 mm), tensile strength of 360–510 MPa and minimum elongation of 26%. The “JR” designation indicates guaranteed impact toughness of 27 J at +20°C, suitable for moderate-climate applications. S235JR steel is the standard choice for secondary steelwork, light framing and general fabrication where high strength is not the primary design criterion.
- S355J2 (material number 1.0577, formerly St52-3, comparable to ASTM A572 Grade 50) — a higher-strength structural steel grade with minimum yield strength of 355 MPa (for thicknesses up to 16 mm), tensile strength of 470–630 MPa and minimum elongation of 22%. The “J2” impact designation guarantees 27 J at -20°C, making S355J2 steel the preferred grade for primary load-bearing structures, heavy-duty columns, bridge components and applications exposed to low-temperature service conditions.
- S275JR (material number 1.0044) is available on request for applications requiring an intermediate strength level between S235JR and S355J2.
Both grades offer excellent weldability without preheating for standard thicknesses, and both comply with the CE marking requirements under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). The carbon equivalent (CEV) values are controlled to ensure reliable weld performance in accordance with EN 1011-2.
Dimensions, Sizes and Specifications of Steel Beams and Sections
All steel sections in our programme are manufactured and dimensioned according to EN 10365, the current European standard defining the designation and dimensions of hot rolled steel channels, I-beams and H-beams. Our stock covers the following profile families and steel beam sizes:
- IPE beams (I-Profile European, narrow flange): IPE 80, IPE 100, IPE 120, IPE 140, IPE 160, IPE 180, IPE 200, IPE 220, IPE 240, IPE 270, IPE 300, IPE 330, IPE 360, IPE 400, IPE 450, IPE 500, IPE 550, IPE 600. Weight per meter ranges from 6.0 kg/m (IPE 80) to 122.4 kg/m (IPE 600).
- HEB beams (wide-flange, standard series, also designated IPB): HEB 100 through HEB 600 in all standard increments. HEB beam weight per meter ranges from 20.4 kg/m (HEB 100) to 212.0 kg/m (HEB 600). The wide-flange geometry provides superior moment of inertia and section modulus compared to IPE beams of equivalent depth.
- HEA beams (wide-flange, light series, also designated IPBl): HEA 100 through HEA 600. HEA profiles share the same flange width as HEB profiles but with reduced flange and web thicknesses, offering weight savings of 15–25% while maintaining substantial bending capacity.
- UPN channels: UPN 50 through UPN 400, with tapered flanges per EN 10365. Weight per meter from 5.59 kg/m (UPN 50) to 71.8 kg/m (UPN 400).
- T-sections (T-steel): T20 through T140 per EN 10055.
- Angle steel: Equal-leg angles from 20×20 to 200×200 mm and unequal-leg angles from 30×20 to 200×100 mm per EN 10056-1.
Standard lengths of 6,000 mm and 12,000 mm are held in stock. Dimensional and shape tolerances conform to EN 10034 (for I and H sections) and EN 10279 (for channels). The surface finish is hot rolled mill scale as delivered from the rolling mill.
Applications of Structural Steel Profiles
Steel beams and structural sections from ULAMEX serve an exceptionally broad range of applications across multiple industries. The versatility of hot rolled steel profiles makes them indispensable in both permanent structures and temporary works:
- Building construction and multi-storey structures — IPE beams serve as floor beams and roof rafters, while HEB and HEA beams function as primary columns and transfer beams. Steel beam load capacity combined with high section modulus values allows designers to span large openings, support heavy floor loads and create open-plan layouts. Whether for residential steel beam installations, commercial buildings or industrial warehouses, structural steel sections per EN 10025 provide the necessary strength and stiffness.
- Industrial hall and warehouse construction — Portal frame structures rely on IPE and HEB beams as rafters and columns. UPN channels serve as purlins, girts and secondary bracing members. ULAMEX delivers the complete range of steel profiles needed for industrial hall construction from a single source.
- Bridge and infrastructure engineering — S355J2 steel beams with guaranteed low-temperature impact toughness are specified for bridge girders, footbridges, pedestrian overpasses and railway infrastructure. The higher yield strength of S355J2 allows thinner, lighter cross-sections while maintaining the required load-bearing capacity.
- Mechanical and plant engineering — Steel sections form the structural framework of conveyor systems, crane runway beams, machine foundations and industrial platforms. The predictable mechanical properties of EN 10025 steel enable precise engineering calculations per Eurocode 3.
- Energy and renewables — Solar farm substructures, wind turbine access platforms and power plant steelwork all rely on structural steel profiles. The combination of S235JR for secondary elements and S355J2 for primary load paths provides an optimised design approach.
- Renovation and conversion — Steel beams for wall removal, floor support, lintels and structural openings are a core application. The I beam steel or H beam steel sections used in residential renovation must comply with structural calculations, and our stock availability ensures minimal project delays.
- Temporary works and formwork — Construction staging, shoring towers and formwork supports frequently utilise IPE and HEB beams due to their reusability and high load capacity.
Technical Properties of Hot Rolled Steel Profiles
All structural steel profiles supplied by ULAMEX are produced by hot rolling, a process that imparts consistent mechanical properties throughout the cross-section. Key technical characteristics include:
- Weldability — Both S235JR and S355J2 grades are fully weldable using all standard arc welding processes (MIG/MAG, TIG, MMA, SAW) without preheating for thicknesses up to approximately 25 mm. For heavier sections, preheat recommendations per EN 1011-2 should be followed based on the carbon equivalent value.
- Machinability — Hot rolled carbon steel sections can be drilled, punched, sawn, flame-cut and plasma-cut using standard workshop equipment. S235JR offers easier machining due to lower hardness, while S355J2 requires slightly more robust tooling.
- Surface treatment — The as-delivered mill scale surface can be preserved for indoor applications or prepared for coating. Standard surface preparation methods include wire brushing (Sa 1), blast cleaning to Sa 2½ per ISO 8501-1, and hot-dip galvanising per EN ISO 1461. For corrosion protection, painted systems (primer + topcoat) and duplex systems (galvanising + painting) are common.
- Fire resistance — Unprotected structural steel loses load-bearing capacity at temperatures above 500°C. Fire protection can be achieved through intumescent coatings, board encasement or concrete encasement, depending on the required fire resistance rating (R30 to R120).
Quality Assurance and Certification for Steel Sections
ULAMEX operates as an EN 1090 certified steel distributor, ensuring full compliance with the European Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Our quality management system is certified to ISO 3834-2, providing documented processes for material handling, storage, traceability and delivery. Every steel profile in our inventory can be traced back to its origin mill and production heat. Mill test certificates 3.1 per EN 10204 are available on request — please specify this requirement when placing your order. CE marking documentation accompanies all deliveries in accordance with EN 10025-1, confirming compliance with the declared performance characteristics.
Ordering Steel Beams — Stock, Delivery and Wholesale Conditions
As a dedicated steel beam supplier and steel sections wholesale distributor, ULAMEX maintains extensive stock of the most commonly specified profile sizes and grades across our European warehouse network. Standard profiles in S235JR and S355J2 are available for immediate dispatch, with typical delivery times of 3–5 working days for stock items across Western and Central Europe. Cut-to-size sawing is available for all profile types — simply specify your required lengths when requesting a quote. For large-volume project requirements, we offer direct mill orders with competitive lead times and wholesale conditions.
ULAMEX is your single-source structural steel supplier for the complete range of steel sections — from IPE beams and HEB columns to UPN channels and angle steel. Whether you need a single bundle of IPE 200 beams for a renovation project or a full truckload of mixed sections for an industrial hall, our experienced sales team will provide a tailored quotation with competitive wholesale pricing. Request a quote today or contact us directly to discuss your structural steel requirements.