Choosing your steel supplier is a unique decision. You need to locate a supplier who will provide you with high-quality finished products from the very beginning. It’s effortless to provide low-quality cheaper products, but it will not last anywhere near as long as a high-quality ground flat product. With this guide, you should figure out how to shot-list a quality supplier and what it takes to for them to become your lifetime provider.
Ground flat stock manufacturers need to have high-quality raw products to produce an excellent finished product. The countries known for the highest quality raw material include England and Germany. This is because steel has been created in these countries for many years, and the highly skilled staff who work in plants such as British Steel in Sheffield make fantastic raw material.
Toolmakers who purchase materials such as tool steel and ground flat require a product of the highest quality. This is because the steel needs to be able to handle extreme environments, stress and load. So choosing a product known to be made from high-quality materials will ease the mind of any toolmaker.
Other factors to consider include the grade of tool steel that the flat ground has been made. British manufactures such as ground-flat-stock.co.uk pride themselves on producing ground flat stock from the UK and European raw materials. Whether you’re buying the materials in bulk or small purchases, you need to think carefully about the supplier’s choice before purchasing.
Business reputation and accreditations
There are many fantastic suppliers across the world, so your choice is not limited. However, we recommend that the company you choose is ISO 9001 accredited so you can have peace of mind that the quality of the product you are receiving consistently meets customers’ expectations.
Checking for an ISO certification is easy. A company either has an up-to-date certificate to show or they do not. If you ask the company and they can’t produce the documentation, ask if they didn’t meet the requirements or if they haven’t applied.
Although ISO is not going to guarantee high-quality service, it does indicate that the company has gone through a solid process to achieve its certificate.
Where are they located?
Location is going to play a significant role in the precision ground flat supplier you choose. Dealing with suppliers in your own country is going to be easier than in other countries, especially if you’re in Britain and trying to order from a European company post-Brexit. It’s been estimated that delivery times are three times as long as they were before Brexit. Furthermore, the costs associated with companies in different countries end up being more expensive. Be sure that the company you choose is local or has fantastic delivery times advertised.
Furthermore, make sure the company actually holds stock and does not just place a white-label order once you have purchased. This will cause longer delivery times and more pain for your team.
Strong reputation
Another factor to take on board when choosing a steel supplier would be the reliability of the company. Place a small order and see if they hold up to their estimated delivery times. What is the companies turnaround time? If you’re in a rush and need some material delivered the next day, can they help out? The last thing you want is when you’re rushing to get a big order through, the shipment arrives late or does not arrive at all.
Once you have found access to a reliable supplier, you will likely have a supplier for life. When considering a supplier, see if you can find any history on the company, check their reviews and company profiles. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find a supplier with all the qualities listed throughout this article so you may have to settle for which one ticks the most boxes.