Delivery Status of A588 Grade A Weathering Steel

A588 Grade A weathering steel is a structural steel that has excellent corrosion resistance due to its chemical composition. This material contains an alloy combination of the elements Cu, Cr, Ni and A, as well as chromium, the natural protector of steel. The chromium content allows this steel to develop an extremely thin layer of rust, giving structural steel better protection from the elements than traditional carbon steel without sacrificing strength or durability.

The delivery status of A588 Grade A weathering steel is determined by the size, type and quantity of material ordered. In general, most orders will be supplied in the as-rolled condition. If a customer places a request for their order to be normalized or stress relieved, the order may be rolled and heat-treated, normally to a lower strength than the as-rolled state. If a customer requests an annealed state, the steel can be annealed in either a vacuum or a controlled atmosphere, depending on the nature of the order.

In order to meet customer demands, orders for A588 Grade A weathering steel can also be produced in a variety of sizes, ranging from 3/16” up to 18” thick. Orders for thicker materials may be supplied in an annealed state as well, but would face a longer lead time due to the increased difficulty of working with thick material. For non-standard orders, the steel can be supplied in plate or sheet form, and can be ground to suit the customer’s project needs.

Regarding delivery, A588 Grade A weathering steel is usually shipped as coils, full cut lengths, or flats. Multiple pieces are usually packed together in each shipment to ensure the material arrives with minimal damage. The number of pieces in a bundle, as well as the maximum weight of each bundle, will be based on the size, type, and quantity of steel ordered.

Overall, the delivery status of A588 Grade A weathering steel depends on the individual requirements of customers. For example, orders placed by steel mills often turn around much faster than orders for raw materials or specific applications. In order to provide the highest quality products, raw material orders often require longer lead times due to the multiple processing stages involved. Finally, orders for specific applications, such as structural steel for buildings, often require more time for fabrication, inspection and testing before delivery.