BLACK SHEET

Black steel sheet and plate from ULAMEX is one of the most widely used structural steel flat products in construction, fabrication, and heavy industry. As a wholesale supplier with over 38 years of experience serving the European market, we maintain extensive stock of hot rolled steel sheet and heavy plate in thicknesses from 1 mm to 50 mm, available in all standard formats for immediate dispatch. Our black steel sheet range covers everything from thin sheet for general fabrication and enclosures through to thick structural plate for base plates, gussets, and load-bearing connections. Every sheet and plate we deliver meets the rigorous requirements of European harmonised standards, backed by our EN 1090 certification for structural steel components.

Material Grades and Standards

All hot rolled steel sheet and plate from ULAMEX is manufactured from non-alloy structural steel in accordance with EN 10025-2, the primary European standard governing the technical delivery conditions for hot rolled products of structural steels. We stock two principal grades that cover the vast majority of construction and fabrication requirements:

• S235JR (material number 1.0038, formerly St37-2) — the most widely specified general-purpose structural steel grade. With a minimum yield strength of 235 MPa (for thicknesses up to 16 mm) and tensile strength of 360–510 MPa, S235JR is suitable for general construction, secondary steelwork, enclosures, brackets, and non-critical fabrication applications. The “JR” designation guarantees impact energy of 27 J at +20 °C (room temperature), making this grade appropriate for normal ambient-temperature service conditions.
• S355J2 (material number 1.0577, formerly St52-3) — a higher-strength structural steel grade with a minimum yield strength of 355 MPa (for thicknesses up to 16 mm) and tensile strength of 470–630 MPa. The “J2” impact designation guarantees 27 J at −20 °C, making S355J2 the preferred choice for primary load-bearing structures, bridges, crane runways, heavy machinery bases, and applications subject to low-temperature service or dynamic loading. S355J2 offers approximately 50% higher yield strength compared to S235JR, allowing engineers to specify thinner plates without compromising structural integrity.

Dimensional tolerances for our steel plate (thickness 3 mm and above) conform to EN 10029, which defines thickness, width, length, flatness, and edge tolerances for hot rolled steel plates. Thin sheet products (thickness below 3 mm) are supplied in accordance with EN 10051, the standard for continuously hot-rolled strip and plate/sheet cut from wide strip. Surface condition is delivered per EN 10163, with Class A2 as standard. S275JR (1.0044) is available on request for projects requiring an intermediate strength level.

Dimensions and Specifications

ULAMEX stocks hot rolled black steel sheet and plate across a comprehensive range of thicknesses and standard formats:

• Thin sheet (Feinblech): 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm — supplied in formats 1000 x 2000 mm, 1250 x 2500 mm, and 1500 x 3000 mm. These thicknesses are cut from hot rolled coil (wide strip) per EN 10051 and are used for enclosures, panels, light brackets, and decorative steel applications.
• Medium plate: 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm — available in formats up to 1500 x 6000 mm and 2000 x 6000 mm. This thickness range bridges the gap between thin sheet and heavy plate, commonly specified for floor plates, structural connections, equipment housings, and vehicle body components.
• Heavy plate (Grobblech): 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, 45 mm, 50 mm — supplied in large formats up to 2500 x 6000 mm, 2500 x 8000 mm, and 2500 x 12000 mm. Heavy plate is hot rolled as individual plates (quarto plate) and used for base plates, gusset plates, stiffener plates, tank shells, pressure vessel components, bridge deck plates, and primary structural connections.

The theoretical weight of steel sheet and plate is calculated at 7.85 kg/m² per mm thickness (steel density 7,850 kg/m³). For example, a 10 mm plate measuring 2000 x 6000 mm weighs approximately 942 kg. Actual weights may vary within the thickness tolerance range per EN 10029.

Applications

Hot rolled black steel sheet and plate is one of the most versatile structural steel products, finding application across virtually every sector of construction and manufacturing:

• Structural steelwork and construction — Base plates for column connections, gusset plates for bracing nodes, stiffener plates for beam-to-column joints, splice plates, and end plates. S355J2 heavy plate is the standard material for primary structural connections in multi-storey buildings, industrial halls, and infrastructure projects designed to EN 1993 (Eurocode 3).
• General fabrication and metalworking — Enclosures, housings, frames, brackets, machinery guards, and covers. Thin sheet (1–3 mm) in S235JR is widely used for light fabrication, while medium plate (4–10 mm) serves as the workhorse material for workshops and jobbing fabricators.
• Tank and vessel construction — Shell plates, bottom plates, roof plates, and baffles for storage tanks, silos, and non-pressurised vessels. For pressure vessel applications, specific grades (P235GH, P265GH, P355GH) per EN 10028 are available on request.
• Mechanical and plant engineering — Machine beds, support frames, counterweights, wear plates, and structural bases. S355J2 plate in thicknesses of 20–50 mm is commonly specified for heavy machinery foundations and crane support structures.
• Bridge and infrastructure — Deck plates, bearing plates, anchor plates, and connection details. Bridge construction typically requires S355J2 with enhanced inspection, supplied with mill test certificate 3.1 per EN 10204.
• Shipbuilding and offshore — Hull plates, bulkhead plates, and structural components. Marine-grade plates with Lloyd’s, DNV, or BV classification are available on request.
• Automotive and transport — Chassis components, trailer floors, tipper body panels, and structural reinforcements. Medium plate in 4–8 mm thickness is commonly used in commercial vehicle construction.

The hot rolled mill scale surface finish of black steel sheet provides adequate short-term corrosion protection during storage and fabrication. For longer service life, plates are typically prepared by shot blasting (Sa 2.5 per ISO 8501-1) and coated with primer, paint, or hot-dip galvanised after fabrication.

Technical Properties

The mechanical properties of our hot rolled steel sheet and plate are guaranteed per EN 10025-2 and verified by the producing mill:

• S235JR: Yield strength R_eH ≥ 235 MPa (t ≤ 16 mm), tensile strength R_m = 360–510 MPa, elongation A₅ ≥ 26% (t < 3 mm) to ≥ 24% (3 mm ≤ t ≤ 40 mm), Charpy V-notch impact energy ≥ 27 J at +20 °C.
• S355J2: Yield strength R_eH ≥ 355 MPa (t ≤ 16 mm), tensile strength R_m = 470–630 MPa, elongation A₅ ≥ 22% (t < 3 mm) to ≥ 20% (3 mm ≤ t ≤ 40 mm), Charpy V-notch impact energy ≥ 27 J at −20 °C.

Both grades feature excellent weldability due to their low carbon equivalent (CEV typically below 0.35 for S235JR and below 0.45 for S355J2). Standard welding processes including MIG/MAG, TIG, MMA (stick), and submerged arc welding can be applied without preheating for thicknesses up to approximately 25 mm (depending on ambient temperature and hydrogen content of the filler material). For thicker plates, preheating per EN 1011-2 is recommended.

Hot rolled black steel sheet has a characteristic mill scale (Walzzunder) surface — a dark blue-grey iron oxide layer formed during the hot rolling process. This surface finish is designated as “as-rolled” per EN 10163. The mill scale provides temporary protection during storage but must be removed (typically by shot blasting) before applying protective coatings. Hot rolled sheet can be processed by shearing, bending, drilling, punching, flame cutting, plasma cutting, laser cutting, and all standard welding processes.

Cut-to-Size Services

In addition to standard format stock, ULAMEX offers professional cut-to-size services for steel sheet and plate:

• Shear cutting — For thin sheet up to approximately 6 mm thickness, guillotine shearing delivers clean straight cuts with high production speed.
• Flame cutting (oxy-fuel) — For medium and heavy plate from 6 mm to 50 mm and beyond, flame cutting provides accurate straight and contour cuts. Cutting tolerances per EN ISO 9013.
• Plasma cutting — For thicknesses from 3 mm to approximately 30 mm, plasma cutting delivers faster cutting speeds and narrower kerf than oxy-fuel, with good edge quality suitable for direct welding.

All cut-to-size processing is carried out to customer specifications. Dimensional tolerances, edge quality, and surface preparation can be specified per project requirements. Please indicate your cutting requirements when requesting a quote.

Quality and Certification

As an EN 1090 certified steel distributor with ISO 3834-2 quality management, ULAMEX ensures full traceability and compliance for every steel sheet and plate we supply. Mill test certificate 3.1 per EN 10204 is available on request, documenting chemical composition, mechanical properties, and heat number for complete material traceability. Our quality management system guarantees that incoming material is inspected, stored correctly to prevent damage and cross-contamination, and dispatched with accurate documentation. For projects requiring enhanced inspection or specific testing (ultrasonic testing per EN 10160, Z-quality per EN 10164), please specify your requirements at the time of enquiry.

Ordering and Delivery

ULAMEX delivers hot rolled steel sheet and plate across Europe with flexible logistics tailored to your project timeline. Standard formats in common thicknesses (1–20 mm) are held in stock for rapid dispatch, while heavier and wider plates may be supplied against rolling schedules with typical lead times of 2–4 weeks. We handle full truck loads as well as smaller quantities, and mixed loads combining sheet, plate, and other black steel products can be arranged to optimise transport costs. Cut-to-size orders are processed within agreed timelines depending on volume and complexity.

Whether you need a single heavy plate for a base connection or a recurring supply of thin sheet for serial production, ULAMEX is your reliable steel sheet wholesale partner in Europe. With over 38 years of B2B steel trading experience, we combine competitive wholesale conditions with the service quality and documentation that professional buyers demand. Contact our sales team today with your steel sheet and plate requirements — we respond to enquiries within one business day.