We’re one of Utah’s top steel suppliers at Wasatch Steel, and we’re here to provide you with all the custom steel you need to complete your next project. Steel sheets of all shapes and sizes are some of our most popular products, and we provide them at industry standard quality.

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There are dozens of different styles and variations of steel sheets. One of the most common ways to classify them is by the temperature at which they were rolled – cold rolled or hot rolled. Let’s look at the pros and cons of cold rolled steel for your next project.

What is It?

When steel is rolled out to form a coil during its production, this is done at varying degrees of temperature. In all cases where this temperature is considered at or below the room temperature, this is considered cold rolled steel.

Cold rolled steel will be smooth to the touch, strong and not particularly flexible. It’s generally found in flat, square or round shapes.

Pros

There are a couple distinct benefits to cold rolled steel:

• Strength: Cold rolled steel is up to 20 percent stronger than typical hot rolled steel. Using heat to roll the steel can weaken it, but keeping it above room temperature holds its structural integrity. This makes it perfect for your biggest and toughest projects.
• Surface finish: Cold rolled steel also looks better than hot rolled. It’s the preferred technique for furniture, cars and other aesthetic areas for this reason, and has a modern look.

Cons

There are also a couple downsides to cold rolled steel for some people:

• Price: Because of its advantages over hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel is more expensive. Also, because cold rolled steel is tougher to manipulate, it’s takes more time and can cost more to take it through similar processes.
• Width: Shaving down a hot rolling metal sheet is very due to the temperature, but it can’t be done with cold rolled steel. This means you have to be more careful about measuring width in advance – you won’t have any leeway once you get started.
• Time: As we mentioned above, the difficulty in manipulating cold rolled steel can make projects take longer to complete than the equivalent project using hot rolled steel.

Introduction

Cold-rolled steel (CRS) Cold rolled steel is rolled at room temperature and then rolled again below its recrystallization temperature. This process enables better control over the finished product shape, thickness, dimensions, and a more consistent finish.

CRS is extensively used in manufacturing because of its mechanical properties and precision. Cold rolling increases the steel's strength and hardness, along with a smooth surface finish. These properties are valuable for applications involving dimensional tolerance and appearance requirements, such as automotive components, household appliances, and furniture.

Its improved strength-to-weight ratio makes cold-rolled steel an efficient choice for constructing durable yet lightweight components. Its reliability and versatility make it an indispensable material in various manufacturing sectors.

Alliance Steel maintains a large inventory of cold-rolled sheet and coil products in various materials and grades.

Benefits of Cold Rolled Steel

Strength

CRS is stronger than its hot rolled steel, mainly due to the work hardening during the cold rolling process. When steel is rolled at room temperature, the metal's grains are deformed, increasing its dislocation density. This internal structure change enhances the material's yield and tensile strength.

Surface Quality

Unlike hot-rolled steel, which can have scale and surface imperfections from high-temperature processing, cold rolled steel is generally absent from defects. The absence of scale and other impurities makes it easier to coat, paint, or plate for additional protection or aesthetic purposes.

Dimensions

Cold rolled steel has tighter dimensions because it's processed at or near room temperature, which reduces the chance of warping, twisting, or bowing during production. Cold rolled steel is also compressed between rollers during the process, which creates a thinner, smoother product with tighter dimensional tolerances.

Improved Mechanical Properties

The cold rolling process enhances the surface quality and improves cold rolled steel's mechanical properties (strength and hardness).

Top Industries & Applications That Use Cold Rolled Steel

Automotive Industry

Cold rolled steel is essential in automotive manufacturing due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, precise dimensions, surface quality, durability, and formability. These attributes make it indispensable for producing high-performance, aesthetically pleasing, and safe vehicles.

High Strength-to-Weight Ratio

Cold Rolled steel provides a high strength-to-weight ratio, essential for automotive applications. This ratio allows manufacturers to create lighter vehicles without compromising structural integrity.

Precision and Tolerance

Automotive parts such as body panels, structural frames, and engine parts require exact specifications to fit and function correctly.

Surface Quality

Cold rolled steel features a smooth and uniform surface, which is excellent for automotive exterior panels. This finish is essential for painting and coating.

Durability and Strength

The increased hardness and tensile strength resulting from the cold rolling process make the steel more durable and resistant to wear and tear. This is very important for parts needing to withstand HIGH stress and impact, like suspension and chassis.

Formability

Despite its increased strength, cold rolled steel maintains good formability, allowing it to be shaped into complex parts through stamping and bending. This versatility is essential for creating the intricate designs and shapes required in modern automotive manufacturing.

Examples of automotive parts made with cold rolled steel

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Body Panels

1. Doors
2. Hoods
3. Fenders
4. Roof Panels

Structural Frames

1. Chassis
2. Subframes
3. Reinforcement bars

Suspension Components

1. Control Arms
2. Brackets
3. Mounts

Interior Components

1. Seat Frame Brackets
2. Shields
3. Covers

Engine and Transmission Parts

1. Side Impact Beams
2. Roof bows

Cold Rolled Steel in the Construction Industry

Cold rolled steel (CRS) has become a cornerstone in modern construction due to its superior properties and wide range of applications.

Here's a deeper look into why cold rolled steel is integral to the construction industry and the advantages it offers:

Strength and Durability

Cold rolled steel's manufacturing process enhances its tensile properties by minimizing thickness and improving the grain structure.

Precision and Consistency

The tight tolerances achieved through manufacturing ensure that each piece has a consistent thickness and shape.

Ease of Fabrication and Versatility

Cold rolled steel is highly versatile and easily fabricated into various shapes and sizes through cutting, bending, and welding. This makes it suitable for multiple applications, from small components like fasteners and brackets to significant structural elements.

Cold Rolled Steel Applications in Construction

Cold rolled steel is widely used in various construction applications due to its superior surface finish, strength, and dimension tolerances

Here are some examples of construction products manufactured with cold rolled steel:

1. Structural Beams and Columns
2. Steel Studs and Tracks
3. Roofing and Cladding.
4. Doors and Frames
5. Partitions and Ceiling Systems

Role of Cold Rolled Steel in Appliance Manufacturing

Cold rolled steel (CRS) is critical in appliance manufacturing due to its superior surface finish, dimensional tolerances, and enhanced mechanical properties. Appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, and dishwashers rely on CRS for structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.

Below are some reasons why cold rolled steel is preferred in appliance manufacturing:

Superior Surface Finish

Cold rolling produces a smooth, clean surface with a uniform finish. It is well suited for appliances that desire a high appearance.

Dimensional Tolerances

Cold rolling ensures uniform thickness and precise dimensional control, which are crucial for the seamless fitting of appliance components. This level of accuracy allows manufacturers to produce high-quality, consistent parts with minimal variation.

Corrosion Resistance

While cold rolled steel is not highly corrosion-resistant, it is often galvanized or coated to enhance its durability. Many appliance components use electro-galvanized or pre-painted cold rolled steel to protect against rust and extend the product's lifespan.

Formability for Complex Shapes

Cold rolled steel possesses higher ductility, enabling it to be stamped, deep drawn, or shaped into complex forms. This is particularly vital for appliance casings, control panels, and decorative features that need precise shaping.

Applications in Appliance Manufacturing

1. Refrigerators & Freezers – Exterior panels, internal shelving supports, and door frames.
2. Washing Machines & Dryers – Outer casings, control panels, and drum housings.
3. Ovens & Stovetops – Internal structural supports, control panels, and door enclosures.
4. Dishwashers – Cabinet bodies, doors, and internal racks.

Cold Rolled Steel Coatings

Cold rolled steel can be coated with various materials to enhance its protection and aesthetic appeal. Alliance Steel offers a variety of coated steel coil and sheet products and value-added services to meet customers’ needs.

• Hot-Dipped Galvanized Steel - Hot-Dipped Galvanizing (HDG) involves submerging the material in molten zinc to develop a corrosion-resistant layer. Initially, the material is cleaned to establish a strong bond between the base metal and the zinc coating. Next, it is dipped into a heated zinc bath, where a metallurgical bond is established between the iron in the steel and the molten zinc, resulting in multiple intermetallic layers across all surfaces.
• Electrogalvanized Steel - This type of steel features a corrosion-resistant zinc coating applied through electro-deposition on one or both sides. The continuous electrolytic coating method ensures an exceptionally uniform thickness across the steel surface, which can improve forming and joining operations. This process is especially suitable for applications that require outstanding uniform thickness.
• Aluminized Steel— Aluminized steel consists of carbon steel coated on both surfaces with an aluminum-silicon alloy through a hot-dipped process. This produces a shiny finish while providing heat resistance at a reasonable cost. It suits applications with high temperatures and corrosion resistance without a high strength-to-weight ratio.
• Galvannealed Steel—Galvannealed steel is carbon steel coated with zinc using the hot-dipped process. The steel is then annealed, converting the zinc into a zinc-alloy coating that increases corrosion and scratch resistance.
• Galvalume Steel—This type of steel consists of carbon steel coated in an aluminum-zinc alloy through a continuous hot-dip process. This combination offers the corrosion resistance of aluminum, high-temperature durability, and zinc's formability and galvanic protection.

Cold Rolled Steel Sheet and Coil Grades

Alliance Steel offers a wide range of cold-rolled materials in various gauges and grades and state-of-the-art processing capabilities in-house. With extensive mill relationships all around the country, Alliance Steel can source commonly used grades like:

• A
• A684
• A
• A109
• SAE J
• SAE J403
• SAE J404
• CR (ASTM A366)

Why Choose Alliance Steel for Your Cold Rolled Steel Needs

Alliance Steel has over 25 years of experience providing high-quality cold-rolled steel to appliance manufacturing, automotive, construction, and other industries. Our state-of-the-art equipment ensures tight tolerances, quality, and consistency in every sheet and coil.

Our advanced processing capabilities include:

Alliance Steel Slitting Capabilities:

Material Thickness: .010"-.500" Min/Max Slit Width: .375”-84” Min/Max ID: 20”-30” Max OD: 84" Slit Width Tolerance: +/-.005"

Alliance Steel Multi-Blanking Capabilities:

Material Thickness:  .015"-.135 Max Coil:  45,000 lbs ID:   20”-24” Entry Width:  15.00”-74.00” Exit Width:  5.00”-74.00” Length:  6.00”-144” Width/Length Tolerance:  +/-.010" Max Coil Weight:  50,000 lbs

Alliance Steel Stretcher - Leveling Capabilities:

Material Thickness:  .040" - .375" Max Coil:  80,000 lbs ID:   23” - 27” Entry Width: 72" Length: 240" Width/Length Tolerance:  +/-.010" Max Skid:  10,000 lbs

About Alliance Steel

Alliance Steel is a flat-rolled steel supplier, coil processor, and material distributor dedicated to supporting various manufacturing needs across many industrial sectors for over 20 years. We provide unmatched service and supply chain solutions to large OEMs and fabricators on a regional and national basis. Our temperature-controlled 500,000-square-foot facility has full rail service, multiple slitters, a heavy-gauge line, numerous fiber lasers, multi–blank, cut-to-length, stretcher leveling, and metallurgical capabilities. We are prepared to support your specific physical market needs with client-tailored solutions for future hedging, index pricing, and spot buys. ISO : and ISO :  

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