Checker Plate: Definition, Uses, Production Process, and Prices

Hot Rolled Checker Plate is a functional metal plate with regular raised patterns on the surface of steel plate through rolling, stamping and other processes. It is an important basic material in the industrial field. With its unique surface structure and excellent performance, it occupies a key position in the construction, transportation, machinery manufacturing and other industries.

Key Takeaways

What is Checker Plate: Basic Definition and Characteristics  

Checkered Plate is a functional metal plate with regular raised patterns on the surface of hot-rolled steel plate through rolling, stamping and other processes. The patterns are usually lentil-shaped, diamond-shaped or round-shaped. 

This type of plate not only has the high strength and toughness of ordinary hot-rolled plates, but also has three core advantages through pattern design:

1. Improved anti-slip performance: The surface friction coefficient is 30-40% higher than that of ordinary steel plates, suitable for slippery environments such as moisture and oil;

2. Optimized structural strength: The pattern can improve the plate's ability to resist deformation, and the load-bearing capacity is increased by 15-20% at the same thickness;

3. Corrosion resistance and self-cleaning: Hot-dip galvanizing can resist corrosion, while the surface texture reduces fouling.

   
   

Steel Checker Plate Process Properties

  - Hot rolling: mainstream products are rolled at 1200℃ to simultaneously complete plate forming and grain engraving

  - One-piece forming: the grain and steel plate substrate are metallurgically bonded to the same material, with no risk of falling off

Steel Checker Plate Structural Features

  - Thickness range: 2.0-12mm  ( common specifications 3mm/4mm/5mm patterned plate )

  - Texture type: diamond/lentil/round bean, etc., texture height 0.5-1.2mm  ( directly affects the anti-slip level )

Functional Positioning of Steel Checker Plate

  - Core function: Achieve anti-slip safety performance by increasing the surface friction coefficient

  - Derived value: The texture structure can hide scratches and reduce maintenance costs

Checker Plate Sheets VS. Hot Rolled Steel Sheets

Production Process of Checker Plates

The production of hot rolled checker plates requires multiple precision processes to achieve a balance between performance and appearance:

1. Blank preparation:

   Use carbon steel/alloy steel ingots with a thickness of 200-250mm, and reduce energy consumption through hot delivery and hot loading technology;

2. Rolling process:

     - Rough rolling stage: two rolling mills are used to reduce the billet thickness to 30-35mm through 4 rolling passes;

     - Finishing rolling stage: F7 stands use engraved pattern rollers to form patterns with a height of ≥0.12mm through metal flow filling;

3. Cooling and coiling:

   Use rear-stage laminar cooling technology,  560-620℃, to avoid warping defects on thin-gauge plates (1.2-3.0mm);

4. Surface treatment:

   Optional hot-dip galvanizing to meet the corrosion resistance requirements in different environments.

Product Categories and Application Scenarios

• Texture shape

  
  

• Materials and processes

⚠️ Tips for avoiding pitfalls: Beware of the "cold instead of hot" trap! The anti-slip grade of cold-rolled patterned plate is only B grade, while hot-rolled can reach C grade standard

Market Trends

The hot-rolled metal checker plate market in 2025 presents the following characteristics:

• Supply and demand pattern: 

The global hot-rolled coil market is expected to reach US$15.87 billion in 2031, with China's share continuing to increase, among which the demand for thin-gauge products (≤3.0mm) will grow by 8-10%;

• Technology trends:

       - Breakthrough in ultra-thin specifications: 1.2mm hot-rolled patterned plates are mass-produced by optimizing rolling parameters, with a yield rate of over 95%;

       - Environmental innovation: Nano-super-slip coating technology reduces the friction coefficient by 40-60%, solving the efficiency bottleneck of traditional slideways.

Factors Afecting Price:

Basic price: The average price of Q235B hot-rolled patterned coil is 3360-3460 yuan/ton, and the price of stainless steel products is 2-3 times that of carbon steel;

Premium factors: Thin specifications (≤2.0mm) are priced 10-15%, special patterns (combined, high density) are priced 8-12%

Industry insights and marketing opportunities

The current hot-rolled patterned plate market is undergoing a structural upgrade:

High-end demand: The demand for thin-gauge high-strength patterned plates (tensile strength ≥ 550MPa) in the automotive manufacturing field has surged. For example, the 1.5mm patterned plates customized by Pangang for Chongqing auto companies have been supplied in batches;'

Green transformation: The application ratio of environmentally friendly coating technology will increase from 12% in 2023 to 25% in 2025, in line with the requirements of the EU RoHS Directive;

International expansion: The infrastructure boom in Southeast Asia has driven export growth. From January to March 2025, China's hot-rolled patterned plate exports increased by 18% year-on-year, mainly to Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries.

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