Steel Allied Products » Stuctural Steel » Channels

Steel channels are used ideally as supports and guide rails. These are roll-formed products. The main metal used for making channels is steel along with aluminum. There are certain variations that are available in the channels category, the categorization is mainly on the shape of the channel, the varieties are mentioned below:

• J channels: This kind of channel has two legs and a web. One leg is longer. This channel resembles the letter-J.
  
  
• Hat channels: This channel has legs that are folded in the outward direction resembling an old fashioned man's hat.
  
  
• U channels: This the most common and basic channel variety. It has a base known as a web and two equal length legs.
  
  
• C channels: In this channel the legs are folded back in the channel and resembles the letter-C. C channels are known as rests.
  
  
• Hemmed channels: In this kind of channel the top of the leg is folded hence forming double thickness.

There are other variations of channels that are available, which are customized according to the customer's needs.

Application
Steel channels are subjected to a wide array of applications. The application fields are:

• Construction
• Appliances
• Transportation
• Used in making Signposts
• Used in wood flooring for athletic purposes
• Used in installing and making windows and doors

A major variant of the channel is the mild steel channel. Such channels are generally used in heavy industries. They are used in the heavy machinery industry and automotive industry too. The mild steel channel is divided into three major variants, namely:

• Lipped channels: The letters "LL" denote the Lipped channels. In the diagram, the number following the letters, the nominal web dimension of the channel is indicated by the first three digits. The measurements are in millimeters.
  
  
  http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/index.cfm?objectid=587B9635-83FD-4632-873D1D76F5201417
  
  
  
• Plain channels: Such channels are represented by the letters "LC". The numbers after the letters denote the web dimensions of the channel measured in millimeters. The thickness of the material is denoted by the last two digits and is measured in the tenth of millimeter.
  
  
  http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/index.cfm?objectid=587B9635-83FD-4632-873D1D76F5201417