Semi-finished 304 Stainless Steel Tube

Semi-finished 304 Stainless Steel Tube offered by JILAIDA factory in China is mainly used for subsequent cold drawing, cold rolling, re-extrusion, and machining. It is supplied as an intermediate tube billet rather than a finished tube with final dimensions. For cold drawing workshops, tube reducing lines, and manufacturers of hydraulic tubes and instrumentation tubes, the initial OD, wall thickness, length, and target dimensions after subsequent processing need to be confirmed during procurement.

JIALAIDA factory’s Semi-finished 304 Stainless Steel Tube is manufactured by seamless hot extrusion. After heating, piercing, and extrusion, the round billet is formed into a hollow tube without welding. For products that require further cold working, the procurement specifications need to match the downstream equipment and final dimensions. Therefore, an RFQ should include not only the final product name but also the target dimensions after processing and the required starting tube billet specifications.

The main stock specification is 89 mm OD, 9 mm wall thickness, and 3,000–3,500 mm length. Special dimensions can be confirmed according to customer drawings, but equipment adjustment requires additional time and may involve extra costs.

Suitable downstream processes include:

1. Cold Drawing: Further reducing the OD and wall thickness for the production of precision hydraulic tubes, instrumentation tubes, and similar products.

2. Cold Rolling: Further processing into specifications such as capillary tubes and instrumentation tubes.

3. Re-extrusion: Further reducing the OD.

4. Machining: Used as a material for machining components such as fittings and valve bodies.

Production Process

Round Billet Heating

Production starts with 304 stainless steel round billets. Before extrusion, the billets are heated by induction to bring the material to the required condition for hot extrusion.

Piercing and Extrusion

The heated round billet is pierced and then formed into a hollow tube through a die using a 2,000-ton forward extrusion press. The hot extrusion process produces a round seamless tube billet without welding.

The hot-extruded tube is used as the starting material for subsequent processing. The OD and wall thickness need to be determined according to the requirements of cold drawing, cold rolling, or re-extrusion.

Surface Treatment

The standard surface treatment is pickling. Pickling removes the oxide scale formed during hot extrusion. The products are pickled and inspected before shipment.

Orders requiring the original hot-extruded surface can be confirmed in advance during the inquiry stage.

Material Utilization

The material yield for the 89 mm specification is above 95%, with material loss below 5%. For bulk purchases, raw material consumption can be calculated based on the purchase weight, actual material yield, and the required amount of subsequent processing.

Technical Specifications

When purchasing semi-finished tube billets, it is not recommended to provide only the material and product name. To help our technical team match the specifications more accurately, it is better to provide the target OD after subsequent drawing, starting wall thickness, extrusion length, purchase quantity, and destination port.

For buyers with complete product drawings, sending the drawings directly is more efficient. This allows the starting tube billet specifications to be determined based on the final product dimensions and reduces repeated confirmation between both parties.

Applications

Semi-finished 304 Stainless Steel Tube is mainly suitable for production processes where seamless tube billets are further processed into precision products.

Main application areas include:

1. Hydraulic Tube Production: Used as the starting tube billet for subsequent cold drawing.

2. Instrumentation Tube Production: Provides intermediate material for the production of precision instrumentation tubes.

3. Precision Tube Processing: Suitable for further cold drawing, cold rolling, and other production processes.

4. Fitting Production: Can enter machining processes for the production of customized fittings.

5. Valve Body Machining: Used as part of the raw material for machining valve bodies.

Why Choose JILAIDA

1. Own Factory: Located in Wuxi, Jiangsu, with its own manufacturing facility.

2. Extrusion Equipment: Equipped with a 2,000-ton forward extrusion press and supporting production equipment.

3. Quality System: Seamless tube extrusion production is ISO 9001 certified, with a dedicated inspection department.

4. Technical Team: Has an R&D team and continues to conduct technical research in the seamless tube field.

5. Customization Capability: Specifications can be discussed and produced according to customer drawings or samples.

6. OEM Support: OEM orders are accepted, including new product sampling.

7. Export Experience: Products have been supplied to markets in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and other regions.

Purchasing Process

How to Request a Quote Efficiently

1. Provide the Target OD: Ideally, specify the target OD after subsequent drawing rather than only the dimensions of the tube billet to be purchased.

2. Provide the Starting Wall Thickness: Specify the wall thickness required at the beginning of the subsequent processing.

3. Provide the Length: The standard length is 3,000–3,500 mm. Special requirements should be stated in advance.

4. Provide the Material: The standard material is 304 stainless steel. Other requirements can be discussed according to the application.

5. Provide the Surface Condition: The standard condition is pickled. As-hot-extruded surface condition can also be provided according to requirements.

6. Provide the Purchase Quantity and Destination Port: This helps determine the quotation and delivery method more efficiently.

The more complete the information, the more efficiently the specifications and quotation can be confirmed.

Quotation and Delivery

The standard quotation response time is 24–48 hours, and quotations are valid for 30 days. For orders exceeding 5 tons, a 30-day price lock can be provided.

Available delivery terms include FOB Shanghai, Ningbo, and Lianyungang; CIF Jebel Ali, Mundra, and Singapore; and DDP to the customer's warehouse.

The specific shipping arrangement, trade terms, and lead time need to be determined based on the order quantity, product specifications, and destination.

Service Support

JILAIDA provides service throughout the process from quotation and technical communication to sample confirmation and mass production.

After receiving an inquiry, we first confirm the material and dimensional requirements. Once the product specifications are confirmed, samples are produced. After the customer approves the samples, mass production begins. During production, the product quality, dimensions, and external surface are inspected.

If a quality issue occurs, the company will discuss a solution with the customer, including corresponding compensation arrangements for customized seamless tube products.

FAQ

Q: What type of 304 stainless steel tube is this?

A: This is a 304 stainless steel hot-extruded seamless hollow tube billet, mainly used for cold drawing, cold rolling, re-extrusion, and machining. It is not a finished tube processed to final dimensions.

Q: What is the standard specification?

A: The standard specification is 89 mm OD, 9 mm wall thickness, and 3,000–3,500 mm length. Other ODs, wall thicknesses, and lengths can be confirmed according to customer drawings.

Q: What production process is used?

A: The 304 stainless steel round billet is induction heated and pierced, then hot extruded using a 2,000-ton forward extrusion press to form a round seamless hollow tube.

Q: Is the product welded or seamless?

A: The product is formed through piercing and hot extrusion without welding. It is a seamless hollow tube.

Q: What is the surface condition?

A: The standard surface condition is pickled. An as-hot-extruded surface can be provided when specified during the inquiry.

Q: Can you provide a material certificate?