Mild steel angle irons are formed by one of two different methods. Angle irons can either be hot-formed or cold formed. Both hot and cold formed angle irons can be equal or unequal flanged. The visual difference between hot and cold formed angle irons are shown in the picture below while the table to the right of the picture explains these differences.
|
# |
Cold Formed Quality |
Hot Formed Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slit Material Edges | Rounded Edges |
| 2 | Equal Thickness | Tapered Legs |
| 3 | Rounded Outside Corner | Square Outside Corner |
The cold formed angle iron offers the customer a significant advantage if a need for value adding aspects such as in-line hole punching exists. Aspects such as in-line hole punching on cold formed angle irons is done when the slitted material is still in a flat state (not formed yet). Hot formed angle irons have to be punched off-line which may incur additional cost or the possibility may exist that it will not be possible. The flatness and consistent thickness given by the cold formed angle irons holds advantages during fabrication which cannot be achieved with the tapered legs from the hot formed angle iron.
Another advantage that cold formed products have over hot formed products is the fact that there are less scale on the product, making it easier to paint or coat leading to a more aesthetically pleasing end product.
Tubecon manufactures cold formed angle irons at our manufacturing plant in Pretoria. Punching and rolling/cutting to size is an added benefit that Tubecon is able to supply our customers with.
