In today's cost-conscious world, it's no surprise that people are often drawn to the lowest priced options available. Whether it's groceries, clothing, or household items, finding a bargain can bring a sense of satisfaction.
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However, when it comes to purchasing steel, the lowest price tag should not be the sole determining factor. Steel is a fundamental material used in countless industries, including construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure development. Its strength, durability, and versatility make it an indispensable resource.
Unfortunately, the allure of a low price can sometimes blind us to the potential drawbacks and risks associated with opting for the lowest priced steel. While it may seem like an attractive proposition to save money upfront, the reality is that not all steel is created equal. The lowest priced steel often comes with compromises in quality, which can have significant consequences for your projects and investments.
In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the reasons why the lowest priced steel isn't always the better choice.
1. Low quality raw material - Purchasing low cost steel presents a clear and significant issue: the possibility of receiving inferior-quality metal. This can lead to a multitude of problems, both in the short and long term, such as premature failures, difficulties in forming the metal, lack of warranties, and more. These issues not only impact your customers directly but also reflect poorly on your business. Using cheap, low-quality materials can result in negative reviews, financial losses, wasted time on repairs, and potentially even more severe consequences.
2. Lower quality paint/coat - Lower quality paint on low-priced steel compromises performance. It lacks protective properties, leading to accelerated corrosion and reduced lifespan. The paint fades, chips, and peels over time, resulting in maintenance and repainting costs. High-quality paint, albeit more expensive, adheres well and offers excellent corrosion resistance and durability. Investing in steel with quality paint ensures longevity, reduced maintenance, and an appealing appearance. Prioritising high-quality paint avoids the risks associated with lower quality alternatives, preserving the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the steel in the long run.
3. Non-adherence to testing standards - When purchasing lower quality steel, one of the significant concerns is the non-adherence to testing standards. Reputable manufacturers follow rigorous testing protocols to ensure that their steel meets specific industry requirements and standards. However, with lower quality steel, there is a higher likelihood of non-compliance with these essential testing standards.
This lack of adherence to testing standards poses several risks and uncertainties. Firstly, it becomes challenging to determine the actual properties and characteristics of the steel, making it difficult to assess its suitability for the intended application. Secondly, without reliable test data, it is impossible to accurately evaluate factors such as load-bearing capacity, corrosion resistance, or fire resistance. Consequently, using such non-tested steel in critical structures or projects can compromise the safety and integrity of the entire system.
4. Performance in Challenging Environments - Different applications require steel with specific properties to perform optimally in challenging environments. For instance, steel used in marine applications should have excellent corrosion resistance, while steel used in extreme temperature conditions must possess high thermal stability.
The lowest priced steel may not have the necessary attributes to withstand these demanding conditions. Corrosion resistance, for example, may be compromised due to the absence of specific alloying elements or inadequate protective coatings. Consequently, the cost savings from purchasing low-priced steel may be negated by premature deterioration, maintenance expenses, or even safety hazards.
5. Lack of sales and after-sales support - One of the most prominent challenges associated with purchasing low-cost metal is the limited resources and assistance provided by the supplier. The lower price often comes at the expense of support and customer service, leading to potential issues and frustrations.
Low-cost suppliers frequently have uneducated or unhelpful sales representatives who may lack the necessary knowledge and expertise to address customer inquiries effectively. This can result in a lack of guidance or assistance when encountering quality or processing issues with the metal sheet or coil products. Additionally, these suppliers often lack a dedicated technical department to provide support for installation questions, engineering requirements, warranties, project bidding, and other technical aspects.
This absence of expert guidance can lead to confusion and difficulties in navigating complex projects. Furthermore, low-cost suppliers typically offer little to no complimentary value-added services. These services could include valuable resources such as a take-off service, marketing support, architectural assistance, colour visualisation tools, and more. The absence of these services limits the overall support and value that can be derived from the supplier.
Purchasing lower cost material or opting for a low-cost material supplier can result in significant long-term financial losses. Moreover, risking your reputation by choosing materials solely based on their low price is not a wise decision.
When in the market for industrial materials, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and gain knowledge about various manufacturers and suppliers, and available options. By understanding the differences and assessing the offerings of different suppliers, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business needs and requirements.
Exercise your best judgement when selecting a supplier that not only provides competitive pricing but also demonstrates reliability, quality, and a commitment to customer satisfaction.
As an importer, your first step to success is to choose the right products for resale.
In most cases, choose products that you would buy or know a lot about.
Take the stainless steel coil as an example, there are various types of stainless steel for uses in different applications. So, there are different specific requirements for detailed situations.
Know more about the types and grades of stainless steel later in this article.
And also read about the finish treatment of stainless steel.
You’d better know all the details. The reason is obvious because your products will affect your marketing, your profit margins, etc.
Make sure there’s a market for your products. Besides, you should know roughly the cost and profits.
We suggest you go with:
Attention:
You’d better not pursue ‘cheap’ products with excellent quality because there is no ‘perfect product’.
Austenitic stainless steel remains the most common types of stainless steels. They have much more nickel content compared with other types of stainless steels.
As well, they also contain higher amounts of molybdenum, nitrogen and chromium among the members in the stainless steel family.
Austenitic stainless steels get their fame by their excellent weld-ability and malleability.
That’s why you can easily find them in the products for kitchen cutlery and storage components.
Also, the materials receive a bunch of credit for their outstanding strength capabilities. Plus, they have great anti-corrosion performance, which enables their versatile applications in an environment with corrosive elements. Typically, 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel as you might have heard.
To talk about the downside of austenitic stainless steels is their expensive price. Meanwhile, the prices come with excellent quality.
Fortunately, you can always find a competitive price if you buy stainless steel coil from China, as we talked earlier.
This type of stainless steel comes with low but still some amounts of carbon.
The carbon in ferritic stainless steel does not exceed 0.10% in most cases though.
The material mainly consists of chromium while other elements are common to see as additions such as molybdenum. Unlike most Austenitic stainless steel, Ferritic stainless steel is magnetic.
Still, you can find their footprints in many applications thanks to their resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
As a result, many manufacturers use them for kitchen cookware, car components, and other industrial products. Situations with potentials to contact with corrosive matters.
430 stainless steel and 434 stainless steel are the common members of the Ferritic stainless steel family.
Are you interested in learning more about Hot Rolled Stainless Steel Coil? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
And it’s not very difficult to buy stainless steel coil from China with these 2 types of materials.
Duplex stainless steel is a species stronger than ferritic stainless steel and austenitic stainless steel.
But the material contains less nickel than the Austenitic ones. That’s why Duplex stainless steel remains less expensive compared with its Austenitic counterpart.
Due to its resistance to corrosive saltwater even over a long time, you can find them heavily used in the underwater oil industry.
Besides, because of their strong malleability and weldability, Duplex stainless steels are often shaped into various components.
S stainless steel and S stainless steel are both typical Duplex stainless steels.
Martensitic stainless steel is similar to Ferritic stainless steel in the structure.
But the carbon amount makes it different.
The percentages of carbon element in martensitic stainless steel hover around 1%. Correspondingly, the amount in Ferritic stainless steel stays below 0.10%.
And the amount of carbon matters indeed, as it allows the material to have great extents by the hardening process.
The footprint of Martensitic stainless steel lies in applications with the needs for high strength.
However, the anti-corrosion performance of Martensitic stainless steel remains average, compared with Austenitic stainless steel with high nickel particularly.
You might often see Martensitic stainless steel in pumps or valves and many other applications with fewer requirements for corrosive issues.
The typical martensitic stainless steels include 431 stainless steel and 420S45 stainless steel.
To improve your experience to buy stainless steel coil from China, you need to know the finish treatment. And it is another key consideration for buying stainless steel products.
The common finish treatments today on the stainless steel market include:
Find the introduction of each below:
This finish treatment is the starting point for many other finishes in the stainless steel industry.
When there’re not many requirements for beauty, you might as well choose the 2B finish.
And the 2B finish can create a dark grey and slightly reflective effect.
Among the many, no. 4 finish can be the easiest one to maintain.
Due to this feature, you can easily find its footprint in light manufacturing. Also, manufacturers often use stainless steel with no. 4 finish to make armrest and beautiful products.
Typically, it comes with a low gloss and short parallel polishing lines on the surface. You might find it on the market with another name as “satin” or “lining”.
“Mirror” finish is another name of no. 8 finish treatment.
Pretty much from its name, it creates a high reflective polishing effect.
The applications of this stainless steel finish include cleanrooms, column covers, mirrors, decorative trim, pressure plates, reflectors, signage and wallboards.
Know more about the popular surface finish treatment.
As an importer, you need to know some basic things. Here we list some tips. Keep them in mind, and your business will go much more smoothly.
Your country may have special rules on some imports from China. So, make good use of your licensed customs broker. They can tell you if your goods are legal to import.
Incoterms protect your rights and your business. So, when determining incoterms followed, you need to get the most out of your trades. For example, determine who handles shipping costs.
Learn more about Incoterms.
When you import goods, you need to provide information about your goods to CBP. For legal import, you should make sure that all your information is correct and accurate.
There is no doubt that every importer needs to follow procedures and regulations. But, not aware of customs procedures and regulations? Your licensed customs broker can tell you.
Product liability insurance can protect you from damage caused by defective products. So, discuss with an insurance professional to choose insurance that best suits your products.
The right customs bond can make the import process simple. If you don’t know what to choose, don’t forget to contact your licensed customs broker again. It’s of great help.
Getting overwhelmed by all this information?
No worries. Take the shortcut by WJH premium stainless steel. We are always here for your service.
Contact us and write down your needs, we’ll figure out the solutions that tailor to your specific requirements and needs.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Size Stainless Steel Sheet. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.