Yorkshire Profiles provides precision laser cutting and fabrication of Zintec, electro-zinc coated steel and pre-galvanised steel.
Both materials use a zinc coating to improve the corrosion resistance of the underlying steel, but the coating is applied using different processes and the resulting materials have different surface characteristics and typical applications.
We regularly supply and process these materials for enclosures, panels, machinery, ventilation equipment, electrical products and general fabricated components.
What Is Zintec?
Zintec is a commonly used UK trade name for electro-zinc coated steel, sometimes described as electro-galvanised or electro-galvanized steel.
The material typically consists of cold rolled mild steel with a relatively thin zinc coating applied using an electrolytic process.
Compared with conventional hot-dip galvanised material, electro-zinc coated sheet generally has a smoother and more uniform surface, making it particularly suitable for fabricated products where appearance, dimensional accuracy or subsequent painting is important.
Typical characteristics include:
- Smooth surface finish
- Good dimensional consistency
- Improved corrosion resistance compared with untreated mild steel
- Good formability
- Good suitability for laser cutting
- Suitable surface for many painted or powder-coated products
Typical applications include:
- Electrical enclosures
- Cabinets
- Equipment panels
- HVAC components
- Internal machinery
- Automotive components
- General sheet-metal fabrication
Zintec provides useful corrosion protection during manufacture, handling and service, but it should not automatically be considered a replacement for heavier galvanised coatings in aggressive outdoor environments.
Where prolonged exterior exposure or particularly corrosive conditions are expected, the complete protection system should be considered when selecting the material.
What Is Galvanised Steel?
Galvanised steel is steel protected by a zinc coating, most commonly applied using a hot-dip process.
For sheet material, this is typically carried out continuously during steel production, with the strip passing through molten zinc before being cooled and finished.
The resulting zinc layer provides both a physical barrier and sacrificial protection to the underlying steel. If small areas of the coating are damaged, the surrounding zinc can help protect exposed steel through galvanic action.
Hot-dip galvanised sheet is widely used where greater corrosion protection is required than would normally be expected from untreated mild steel.
Typical applications include:
- Outdoor equipment
- Agricultural products
- HVAC and ventilation systems
- Building components
- Electrical equipment
- Enclosures
- Transport equipment
- General industrial fabrications
Zintec vs Galvanised Steel
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, Zintec and conventional galvanised sheet are different products.
Zintec / electro-zinc coated steel normally has a thinner, smoother zinc coating and is commonly selected for fabricated sheet-metal components where surface finish and subsequent painting are important.
Hot-dip galvanised steel normally has a heavier zinc coating and is commonly selected where increased corrosion protection is required.
The correct choice depends on the intended environment, component design and any subsequent coating or finishing processes.
Galvanised Coating Specifications
Galvanised steel is available with different quantities of zinc coating.
Specifications may contain designations such as:
- Z100
- Z140
- Z200
- Z225
- Z275
- Other coating weights depending on supplier and standard
These designations relate to the quantity of zinc applied to the steel rather than the thickness of the underlying steel itself.
A heavier zinc coating will generally provide greater corrosion protection, but it can also affect the appearance, forming behaviour and fabrication characteristics of the material.
If your drawing specifies a particular coating designation, this should therefore be included with your enquiry.
Surface Appearance and Batch Variation
An important characteristic of zinc-coated steel is that surface appearance can vary between manufacturing batches.
Galvanised and electro-zinc coated steels are industrially produced materials rather than decorative finishes, and the visual appearance can be influenced by factors including:
- Steel manufacturer
- Production coil
- Zinc coating weight
- Surface treatment
- Passivation
- Oiling
- Material age and storage
- Manufacturing process
- Natural variation in the zinc coating
As a result, components manufactured from material purchased at different times may not be identical in colour, shade, texture or surface pattern, even where the nominal material specification is the same.
This can be particularly noticeable when replacement components or additional batches are ordered several months after the original manufacture.
Where components will be installed directly alongside one another and cosmetic matching is important, please tell us when requesting a quotation.
Where practical, we can then investigate options such as sourcing material from the same supply batch or ordering sufficient material for the complete project at the same time.
However, unless a specific cosmetic surface requirement has been agreed in advance, minor visual variation between batches of zinc-coated steel should be expected.
Laser Cutting Zintec and Galvanised Steel
Our modern fibre laser cutting systems allow us to process both electro-zinc coated and hot-dip galvanised steels accurately and efficiently.
The presence of the zinc coating requires appropriate cutting parameters, but these materials are routinely processed for both prototype and production work.
Laser cutting removes the zinc coating directly along the cut edge.
The surrounding zinc can provide a degree of sacrificial protection to exposed areas, particularly with suitable galvanised coatings, but the level of protection depends on factors such as material thickness, coating weight, environment and component design.
For components intended for demanding or long-term exterior use, additional corrosion protection may therefore need to be considered.
Fabricating Zinc-Coated Steel
In addition to laser cutting, Yorkshire Profiles can provide:
- CNC folding and press braking
- Drilling and tapping
- Welding
- Fabrication
- Powder coating
- Assembly
Fabrication operations such as cutting, drilling, welding and grinding can locally remove or damage the zinc coating.
Where corrosion resistance is critical, the effect of these operations should be considered as part of the finished component specification.
Material Supply
We can supply both Zintec/electro-zinc coated sheet and pre-galvanised steel in a range of thicknesses and coating specifications.
Because different mills and batches can have slightly different appearances, customers requiring matching material for repeat orders should make us aware of this requirement when ordering.
If you have a particular coating weight, surface specification or material standard, please include it on the drawing or enquiry so that we can source the appropriate product.
If you require Zintec, electro-zinc or galvanised steel laser cutting and fabrication:
