German Steel Plate and Strip Numbering System
Germany has developed a standardized system of steel plate and strip numbering to enable different types of steel to be identified, as well as their grade, thickness, and other characteristics. This system is similar to the American Standard decimal numbering system, but it is different in its ten-digit decimal format.
The first two digits (e.g. “22”) represent the distinctive characteristics of the steel, such as its type, grade and application. After that, the next three digits (e.g. “001”) indicate the steel’s thickness in millimeters. The sixth digit (e.g. “2”) indicates the hardness of the steel, 1 being softest and 5 being the hardest. The seventh digit (e.g. “4”) indicates the type of surface coating, 0 indicating no coating and 7 indicating a special coating. The next three digits (e.g. “001”) indicate the type of rolling applied to the steel, such as cold-rolling or hot-rolling. Finally, the tenth digit (e.g. “2”) indicates the type of finishing applied to the steel, such as pickling or tempering.
Using the above example (22-001-2-4-001-2), there are two possible interpretations of this steel number. First, the metal has a thickness of 1mm, with a hardness of 2 (medium hardness), a type 4 surface coating, and a cold-rolling finish. Alternatively, the metal could have a thickness of 2mm, with a hardness of 4 (hard), a type 1 surface coating, and a hot-rolling finish.
By standardizing steel plate and strip descriptions, it has become much easier for buyers and sellers to identify the exact type and characteristics of the steel they need and understand their differences. This system is still relatively new, and is still being refined, but it is proving to be an extremely helpful tool in understanding steel products.
