Description
Direct Factory Supply — As a vertically integrated steel mill and fabrication facility, we produce 304 stainless steel plates with BA finish in-house, eliminating third-party sourcing risks and ensuring full material traceability from slab to final surface treatment.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Designation | 304 Stainless Steel Plate BA Finish |
| Product Type | Stainless Steel Plate |
| Steel Grade | 304 (06Cr19Ni10 / SUS304) |
| Standard | ASTM A240 / EN 10088-2 / JIS G4304 |
| Section Shape | Flat Plate |
| Size Range | 1000mm–2000mm width × 2000mm–6000mm length |
| Wall Thickness | 0.3mm – 3.0mm |
| Length | 2000mm – 6000mm (custom cut-to-length available) |
| Technique | Cold Rolled |
| Surface Treatment | BA (Bright Annealed) Finish |
| Tolerance | Thickness: ±0.02mm; Width: ±1mm; Length: ±2mm |
| Ends | Mill Edge / Slit Edge |
| Application | Architectural cladding, elevator interiors, kitchen equipment, decorative panels |
| MOQ | 1 Ton |
| Origin | Shandong, China |
Application Suitability
| Industry | Typical Applications |
|---|---|
| Architecture & Construction | Elevator cabin wall panels, ceiling trim, column covers, lobby decorative cladding |
| Commercial Interiors | Kitchen backsplashes, restaurant wall panels, retail display fixtures |
| Industrial Equipment | Food processing machine guards, pharmaceutical cleanroom panels, chemical tank linings |
| Infrastructure | Airport terminal interior finishes, metro station decorative surfaces |
Why BA Finish Rejection Rates Spike on Architectural Projects
Surface consistency is the single largest cause of on-site rejection for BA stainless plates.
Early in my career, I supplied a batch of 304 BA plates to a Dubai curtain wall project. The plates arrived with visible roller marks and uneven gloss across the surface. The site supervisor rejected the entire shipment. We had to pay for on-site repolishing — doubling the project cost. Since then, I personally inspect every BA production run on the bright annealing line. [NEED_CITE: bright annealing process control for stainless steel surface quality]
When buyers source 304 Stainless Steel Plate BA Finish from trading companies rather than integrated mills, the material passes through multiple handlers. Each transfer introduces risk: improper stacking causes micro-scratches, inadequate interleaving paper leads to friction marks, and inconsistent annealing temperatures produce gloss variation. These defects are invisible during warehouse inspection but become glaring under project lighting conditions.
Matching 304 BA Plates to Architectural and Interior Applications
For elevator interiors and lobby cladding, the BA finish provides a mirror-like reflectivity that enhances spatial perception while maintaining the corrosion resistance inherent to 304 grade. The cold rolling process followed by bright annealing in a controlled hydrogen atmosphere produces a smooth, oxide-free surface that requires no additional polishing. This makes 304 Stainless Steel Plate BA Finish ideal for applications where aesthetic uniformity matters — from continuous wall panels to decorative trim pieces. Our in-house production ensures consistent surface quality across large orders, avoiding the batch-to-batch variation that plagues fragmented supply chains.
Engineering Compliance and Certification Requirements
Architectural projects in the EU require EN 10088-2 compliance for stainless steel plates, while North American specifications typically reference ASTM A240. The 304 grade meets both standards, but documentation must explicitly confirm chemical composition (18% Cr, 8% Ni minimum) and surface finish classification. For projects requiring fire-rated assemblies or hygienic environments, the BA surface’s non-porous characteristics support compliance with sanitary standards. [NEED_CITE: EN 10088-2 stainless steel plate surface finish classifications] When sourcing 304 Stainless Steel Plate BA Finish for international projects, buyers must verify that mill test certificates reference the correct standard and that heat numbers provide full traceability back to the original slab.
Understanding 304 Grade and BA Finish Metallurgy
The 304 grade belongs to the austenitic stainless steel family, characterized by its face-centered cubic crystal structure that provides excellent formability and weldability. The 18% chromium content forms a passive oxide layer that protects against atmospheric corrosion, while 8% nickel stabilizes the austenitic structure at room temperature. The BA (Bright Annealed) finish is achieved through cold rolling to the target thickness, followed by annealing in a controlled atmosphere furnace — typically pure hydrogen or nitrogen-hydrogen mix — that prevents surface oxidation. This eliminates the need for subsequent pickling or mechanical polishing, preserving the smooth, reflective surface. The cold rolling process also work-hardens the material, increasing tensile strength while maintaining ductility sufficient for bending and forming operations. [NEED_CITE: austenitic stainless steel metallurgy and bright annealing process]
Thickness tolerance becomes critical for architectural applications. Plates specified at 1.0mm with ±0.05mm tolerance may actually measure 0.95mm at the edges, affecting panel flatness and joint alignment. Our production maintains ±0.02mm tolerance across the full plate width, ensuring consistent appearance when multiple panels are installed side by side.
Hidden Costs of Sourcing BA Plates from Unverified Suppliers
Material substitution is the most expensive hidden cost in stainless steel procurement. Some suppliers deliver 201 grade plates labeled as 304 — visually identical when new, but 201 lacks sufficient nickel content for long-term corrosion resistance. Within months, 201 plates develop rust staining in humid environments, triggering warranty claims and replacement costs that far exceed the initial price difference. [NEED_CITE: 201 vs 304 stainless steel corrosion resistance comparison]
Certification gaps create customs clearance delays. Shipments lacking proper mill test certificates or bearing inconsistent heat number documentation face inspection holds at destination ports. For project-timed deliveries, these delays cascade into installation schedule disruptions and liquidated damages claims. The 304 Stainless Steel Plate BA Finish you specify must arrive with documentation matching the physical material — any discrepancy invites scrutiny.
Why Procure from Xin Jiyuan Structure
Our vertical integration eliminates the risks that come from fragmented supply chains. We operate our own steel production facility with dedicated cold rolling mills and bright annealing lines, producing 304 Stainless Steel Plate BA Finish from raw slab to finished surface treatment under one roof. This means every plate carries our heat number traceability from melt shop to shipping container.
With over 2,800 specifications in our inventory system, we maintain stock of common thicknesses and widths while offering custom cut-to-length services for project-specific requirements. Our quality control includes in-process surface inspections at each production stage, dimensional verification using calibrated gauges, and final visual examination under standardized lighting conditions.
We hold ISO 9001 certification and provide third-party inspection reports from SGS and BV upon request. Our export documentation package includes mill test certificates conforming to EN 10088-2 and ASTM A240, packing lists with heat number cross-references, and certificates of origin for preferential customs treatment. Professional loading teams understand the surface protection requirements for BA finish plates, using interleaving paper and edge protectors to prevent transit damage.
Documentation & Compliance
- Mill test certificate documenting 304 chemical composition (Cr, Ni, C, Mn content) per ASTM A240 or EN 10088-2, with heat number traceability
- ISO 9001 quality management certificate covering cold rolling and bright annealing processes
- SGS or BV third-party inspection report verifying surface finish quality and dimensional tolerance
- Material traceability report linking each plate to original melt heat number and production batch
- Customs documentation package including commercial invoice, packing list with piece-level heat numbers, and certificate of origin
- Surface finish classification certificate confirming BA grade per EN 10088-2 Table 8
Packaging, Loading & Delivery
- BA finish plates packed in seaworthy wooden crates with individual interleaving paper between each sheet to prevent surface contact and friction marks
- Edge protectors applied to all four sides of bundled plates to preserve the bright annealed surface during handling and ocean transit
- Container loading optimized for 2000mm–6000mm lengths with anti-roll chocking and moisture-absorbing desiccant packs to prevent condensation staining
- Custom cut-to-length service available for project-specific dimensions, with cut edges deburred and protected
- Each plate marked with heat number, steel grade 304, thickness, and production date using non-marking inkjet coding
- FOB Qingdao port with CIF and DDP options available; professional export documentation provided for customs clearance at destination
Starting Your 304 BA Plate Inquiry
Submit your project specifications including thickness, width, length, quantity, and destination port to receive a detailed quotation with production timeline. We provide mill test certificate samples and surface finish reference photos before order confirmation. For architectural projects requiring large volumes of consistent BA finish, we offer production scheduling with staged delivery to match your installation sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between BA finish and 2B finish for 304 stainless steel plates?
A: BA (Bright Annealed) finish is produced by annealing cold-rolled plates in a controlled atmosphere furnace, resulting in a highly reflective, mirror-like surface without additional polishing. 2B finish undergoes pickling and skin-pass rolling after annealing, producing a smooth but less reflective matte surface. BA finish is specified for architectural and decorative applications where appearance matters, while 2B is used for industrial applications where surface reflectivity is not critical.
Q: Can 304 BA plates be welded without damaging the surface finish?
A: Welding will alter the surface appearance in the heat-affected zone, causing discoloration and loss of the bright finish. Post-weld polishing or pickling is required to restore corrosion resistance and appearance. For architectural applications requiring visible weld joints, we recommend specifying larger plates to minimize welding, or using mechanical fastening methods where design permits.
Q: What thickness tolerance can be expected for 304 Stainless Steel Plate BA Finish?
A: Our cold rolling process maintains ±0.02mm thickness tolerance across the full plate width for thicknesses between 0.3mm and 3.0mm. This tight tolerance ensures consistent flatness and appearance when multiple plates are installed in continuous runs, such as elevator cabins or wall cladding systems.
Q: How do you prevent surface damage during shipping for BA finish plates?
A: Each plate is separated by acid-free interleaving paper, bundled with edge protectors on all four sides, and packed in fumigated wooden crates for ocean shipment. Container loading includes desiccant packs to control humidity and prevent condensation marks. Our loading teams receive specific training on handling BA finish materials to avoid surface contact damage.
Q: Do you provide samples before order confirmation?
A: Yes, we provide surface finish reference samples and mill test certificates from recent production runs for your evaluation. For large architectural projects, we can produce pre-production samples from the same cold rolling batch to verify surface consistency before full production commitment.
Request Your 304 BA Plate Quotation with Mill Test Certificate
Send your specifications — thickness, width, length, quantity, and destination port — to receive pricing and production timeline within 24 hours. We include surface finish photos and mill test certificate samples with every quotation.
Contact:
Mobile/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 188 5315 7756
Email: admin@xjystructure.com
Website: www.xjystructure.com
