Cut and Processed Plate Supply | STS Case Study

Sector: Oil & Gas | Offshore Wind | Marine & Shipbuilding
Scope: Cut and processed plate supply — offshore grade, shipbuilding grade, duplex and super duplex
Client: Multiple EPCs and fabricators
Status: Ongoing capability 

Structural plate for offshore structural steel, marine, and subsea fabrication is typically available from mills and distributors in standard full-plate sizes. For many fabricators and EPCs, ordering full plate is the default practice; however, it is rarely the most efficient or cost-effective approach. Full plate orders often lead to excess material, increased wastage, higher freight costs, and additional cutting work on the shop floor. This issue is particularly pronounced for high-value offshore grade and duplex plate, where the costs associated with unused material and the time spent on in-house cutting can be significant. STS recognized an opportunity to enhance fabrication solutions for fabricators and EPCs by offering cut to size plate supply that meets project requirements precisely, thereby reducing waste, lowering total material costs, simplifying shop floor logistics, and accelerating fabrication programmes.

Fabricators and EPCs involved in offshore, marine, and subsea projects frequently encounter a common set of challenges when dealing with offshore structural steel procurement. The use of full plate sizes often leads to offcuts and wastage, especially with costly offshore grade and duplex materials. Additionally, in-house cutting can tie up equipment and labor that could otherwise be utilized for more effective fabrication solutions. Freight costs for transporting full plates are generally higher than for cut to size plate supply, which is particularly significant for projects in remote locations. Moreover, weld procedure qualification necessitates small, precise plate samples that are cut to specific dimensions, rather than relying on full plates. For projects requiring multiple plate grades across various thicknesses, managing procurement through conventional means adds unnecessary costs and complexity at every stage.

STS supplies cut and processed plate directly from our international mill network, collaborating with processing facilities to deliver cut to size plate supply that arrives ready for fabrication — eliminating the need for further cutting work on the shop floor.

Cut to drawing: We accept DXF files directly from the fabricator or EPC and supply plate cut to the exact shapes and dimensions required by the project. This approach enhances our fabrication solutions by eliminating in-house cutting for primary structural components and ensures dimensional accuracy from the outset.

Hole cutting: Plate supplied with holes cut to drawing — bolt patterns, nozzle openings, access holes, and other penetrations — arrives ready for fit-up and welding without further workshop processing.

Exact quantity supply: Rather than ordering full plates and cutting down, fabricators receive only the material they need. For high-value grades — offshore structural steel, shipbuilding grade, duplex, and super duplex — this delivers significant cost savings on every order.

Weld procedure qualification plates: STS supplies small quantity, precisely dimensioned plate samples for weld procedure qualification testing — a requirement at the start of every new project or when working with new material grades. Supplying WPQ plates through the same channel as the project plate ensures grade and heat consistency between qualification and production material.

Short turnaround: Processing and delivery timescales are compressed compared to ordering full plate and cutting in-house, supporting tight fabrication schedules without requiring fabricators to carry large plate inventory.

Offshore structural steel includes grade structural plate — EN10225 S355M / S460M and variants. We also offer shipbuilding grade plates that are ABS, BV, DNV, and Lloyd's Register certified. For corrosion-critical applications, our duplex and super duplex plates are ideal. Additionally, we provide standard structural plates — EN10025 S355 grades for secondary structural applications, along with cut to size plate supply and fabrication solutions to meet your specific needs.

Multiple EPCs and fabricators across Perth and the broader Australian market have adopted STS cut-to-size plate supply as their preferred procurement approach for offshore structural steel, marine, and duplex plate requirements. The benefits consistently reported by clients include reduced material wastage, lower total plate cost, simpler shop floor management, reduced freight spend, and faster fabrication starts with material arriving dimensionally accurate and ready for immediate use. For weld procedure qualification, the ability to source precisely dimensioned test plates from the same supply chain as the production material—ensuring consistent grade, heat, and certification—has simplified the qualification process and improved traceability between WPQ and production records.

Our cut to size plate supply includes everything from DXF file to finished piece, ensuring precision in hole cutting and plate processing. We offer exact quantity supply to eliminate wastage on high-value grades, including offshore structural steel, shipbuilding grade, duplex, and super duplex plate. Additionally, we provide weld procedure qualification plate supply with short turnaround processing and delivery. Enjoy the benefits of our fabrication solutions, with multi-grade and multi-thickness supply consolidated under a single order.