General information about galvanizing

General information about galvanizing

The most common galvanizing techniques are known as; hot dip galvanizing and electrolytic galvanizing methods. Hot dipped galvanized material is a rather widely produced and consumed material as a result of strong demand coming especially from the automotive industry. Recently, some electrolytic lines are shut down (like Corus did), while hot dip galvanizing capacities are expanded. In the European market most flat rolled producers have their own galvanizing lines that use their own hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel productions. They only add minimum galvanizing cost over cold rolled steel sheet prices and sell them to the market. Thus, galvanized product prices keep their low levels in Europe. For processing of these materials, the above quoted certain European flat producers have steel service centers (SSC). In this way, producers are able to give service to end users with products that is gone through slitting, cut-to-length, blanking and welding processes. Steel service centers owned by producers, as well as independent service centers play a very important role in European market. As local mills in Northern Europe, namely SSAB (Sweden) and Rautaruukki (Finland), produce materials defined as “non-spangled”, the demand is mostly for this kind of materials. Spangled galvanized material demand in Northern markets is pretty limited. “Aluzinc”, which is again a hot dipped galvanizing method, involves 53% aluminium, 43.5% zinc and 1.5% silicon. Patented product aluzinc is reportedly more resistant to corrosion. Rival products for galvanized materials especially to be used in roof claddings and air condition canals is the color coated steel. Prepainted steel, which is preferred by some users due to various color options and longevity, is relatively a high cost product compared to galvanized steel, as raw material used in prepainted steel is galvanized steel.