Sheet steel is a product that is produced by hot rolling - a so-called slab serves as the starting material. The rolling process can be continuous or reversing.
Sheet steel is supplied and processed as sheets in standardised sizes; if the sheet is rolled up, it is referred to as a strip or coil.
Today, sheet thicknesses of more than 175 mm are possible; thin sheet is understood to mean thicknesses of up to 3.00 mm, above which it is referred to as heavy plate. The term "centre plate" is considered obsolete and is no longer used.
Sheet metal can be further processed using various manufacturing processes: punching, nibbling, oxyfuel, laser and plasma cutting, bending, round rolling or roll forming as well as cutting with sheet metal shears are the most common processes.
Mechanical or heat treatment can cause thin sheet metal to warp slightly and form unevenness; if this is subsequently corrected using hydraulic presses or roller levellers, it is referred to as straightened material, which is used in façade construction.
Industrially used sheet metal is stored in specially equipped rack systems that can be supplied fully automatically.
