Carbon & Mild Steel
EN 10111 / EN 10130Cold- and hot-rolled carbon steels are the workhorses of Italian sheet metal shops. Grades are classified by formability: DD grades (hot-rolled) suit deep drawing; DC grades (cold-rolled) offer better surface finish and tighter tolerances. S235 is a general structural grade — formable but not optimised for drawing or tight bends.
| Grade | Standard | Type | Min Bend Radius | Formability | Weldability | Corrosion Res. | Surface | Cost | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DD11 | EN 10111 | Hot-rolled | 0 × t (flat hem) | Excellent | Excellent | Poor | Mill scale, rough | Very Low |
Deep drawing
Automotive stampings
Brackets
Structural boxes
|
| DC04 (formerly DC41) |
EN 10130 | Cold-rolled | 0 × t (flat hem) | Excellent | Excellent | Poor | Smooth, paint-ready | Low |
White goods
Car body panels
Complex enclosures
Pressed parts
|
| S235JR | EN 10025-2 | Hot-rolled structural | 1–2 × t | Moderate | Good | Poor | Mill scale, rough | Very Low |
Frames & brackets
Industrial enclosures
Structural panels
|
Galvanized & Coated Steel
EN 10346Hot-dip galvanised (HDG) and zinc-coated grades are ubiquitous in Italian construction, HVAC, and light fabrication. The +Z suffix denotes a pure zinc coating; variants include +ZF (zinc-iron), +ZA (zinc-aluminium), and +AZ (Aluzinc/Galvalume). Coating weight affects both corrosion life and bend behaviour — heavier coatings can crack at tight radii.
| Grade | Standard | Base Steel | Min Bend Radius | Formability | Weldability | Corrosion Res. | Coating | Cost | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DX51D+Z | EN 10346 | Soft, general forming | 0–1 × t | Good | Moderate | Good | Z100–Z275 (100–275 g/m²) | Low |
HVAC ducts
Cladding panels
Domestic appliances
General fabrication
|
| S320GD+Z | EN 10346 | High-strength (320 MPa) | 1.5–2 × t | Limited | Moderate | Good | Z100–Z275 | Medium |
Roofing & profiling
Structural cladding
Purlins
Load-bearing panels
|
Aluminium Alloys
EN 573 / EN 485Aluminium is widely used in Italian design and fabrication for its light weight, natural corrosion resistance, and clean anodised finish. Peraluman (5754 / Al-Mg family) is the standard bending-grade alloy at Italian sheet metal shops. Pure or near-pure alloys (1050, 1100) offer maximum formability for deep drawing; 3xxx alloys balance formability with moderate strength.
| Grade / Name | Series | Alloy Type | Min Bend Radius | Formability | Weldability | Corrosion Res. | Finish Options | Cost | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1050A / 1100 | 1xxx | Commercially pure Al | 0–0.5 × t | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Mill, anodised, painted | Medium |
Chemical tanks
Deep-drawn parts
Reflectors
Cooking vessels
|
| 3003 / 3105 | 3xxx | Al-Mn | 0.5–1 × t | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Mill, anodised, painted | Medium |
HVAC panels
Roofing
Food packaging
Signage
|
| Peraluman 5754 / 5052 |
5xxx | Al-Mg | 1–2 × t | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Mill, brushed, anodised | Medium |
Marine components
Architectural facades
Automotive trim
Industrial enclosures
Furniture
|
| 6082 T6 (extruded) |
6xxx | Al-Mg-Si | 2–3 × t | Limited | Moderate | Good | Anodised, painted | High |
Structural profiles
Machine frames
Aerospace (light)
|
Stainless Steel
EN 10088Stainless steels are essential in Italian food-processing, architecture, and medical equipment. AISI 304 (1.4301) is the dominant austenitic grade; AISI 430 (1.4016) is a ferritic alternative that costs less, is magnetic, and machines more easily — but has lower corrosion resistance. Both exhibit significant work hardening, requiring more tonnage and wider bend radii than carbon steel.
| Grade | EN Equiv. | Type | Min Bend Radius | Formability | Weldability | Corrosion Res. | Magnetic? | Cost | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AISI 304 | 1.4301 | Austenitic | 1–2 × t | Good | Good | Excellent | No (non-magnetic) | High |
Food equipment
Kitchen surfaces
Medical devices
Architecture
Chemical vessels
|
| AISI 316L | 1.4404 | Austenitic (Mo) | 1–2 × t | Good | Excellent | Excellent | No | Very High |
Marine / coastal
Pharmaceutical
Chlorinated environments
|
| AISI 430 | 1.4016 | Ferritic | 1.5–2 × t | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Yes (magnetic) | Medium |
Kitchen appliances
Decorative panels
Automotive trim
Elevator cladding
|
Quick Reference by Use Case
Choosing by application rather than grade? Use this summary to narrow down your material first.