Customer Case
GL Steel Coils Supplied for Construction Projects in Argentina
10 August 2020
In August 2020, XuanYi Stainless Steel began working with an Argentine customer in the construction materials business on a supply order of DX51D Galvalume steel coils. The materials were intended for roofing, wall cladding, HVAC equipment and other construction uses, with several thicknesses, widths and coating requirements included in the same purchasing list.
From the beginning, the customer was not looking for one single mill or simply the highest-priced option. Different materials would be used in different projects, so the more practical question was which supply source made sense for each application while keeping the overall purchasing cost under control.
The inquiry covered a fairly wide range of specifications: 0.25–2.8 mm in thickness, 700–1250 mm in width, regular spangle surface, and coating requirements from AZ80 to AZ200. With so many combinations involved, we first went through the list item by item rather than treating all the coils as the same product.
Choosing Material for the Actual Application
During quotation, we discussed the coating weight, dimensions and intended use of the different items with the customer. For regular construction applications where cost and stable supply were the main concerns, we discussed materials from private steel mills such as Delong and Jinhui. Where the customer had specific brand preferences or higher material requirements, options from producers including TISCO and ESS were also considered.
The idea was simple: not every project needed the same mill resource or the most expensive material. The customer could compare the available options against the actual use and budget of each item instead of applying one purchasing standard to the entire order.
Before the order moved forward, we checked the thickness, width, coating requirement and production feasibility of every specification again. With a list covering several dimensions and coating levels, confirming these details early was more useful than finding an error after production had already started.
Working Around the Holiday Shipping Schedule
Delivery planning became another practical issue later in the order. The customer was concerned about how China's National Day holiday might affect container loading and shipment.
After checking the production and logistics arrangements, we provided two possible loading dates: October 5 and October 8. The customer could then choose the date that worked better with the available vessel schedule and their own project timing.
It was a small part of the order, but an important one. When materials are tied to ongoing construction work, knowing the realistic loading date matters more than giving a vague promise that the goods will be shipped "as soon as possible."
During the remaining process, we kept the customer updated on production, commercial documents and shipment preparation. After reviewing the commercial invoice and confirming the final order details, the customer arranged the balance payment and the export process continued as planned.
After delivery, the customer gave positive feedback on both the materials and the way the order had been handled. What they appreciated most was that the material options had been discussed around the actual projects rather than simply pushing a higher-priced product.
For this order, the goal was not to find one "best" coil for everything. It was to match different specifications and mill resources with the jobs they were actually going into, while keeping cost, quality and delivery workable for the customer.
This Argentine project also gave us more experience in handling construction-material orders with a wide mix of dimensions, coating requirements and delivery conditions. Since then, XuanYi Stainless Steel has continued supplying galvanized and Galvalume steel products to customers in South America and other overseas markets.
When an order contains several applications and specifications, we still prefer to start with how the customer will actually use the material, then work out which supply option makes the most sense for each item.
