FAQ

1. About Our Products

Q1: What types of metal materials do you supply? What are the main specifications?

A1: We mainly supply four categories of high-quality metal materials, covering the core needs of various industrial fields:

• Stainless Steel: Including 304, 316, 316L, 201, 430 series, available in forms of sheet, coil, pipe, bar, and profile. The thickness ranges from 0.3mm to 100mm, and the width can be customized according to your requirements (max 2000mm for sheets).

• Carbon Steel: Covering Q235, Q355, A36, S235JR, S355JR series, in forms of sheet, coil, pipe, angle steel, channel steel, I-beam, etc. Thickness ranges from 0.5mm to 200mm.

• Galvanized Steel: Hot-dip galvanized (HDG) and electro-galvanized (EG) materials, including galvanized sheet, galvanized coil, galvanized pipe, and galvanized profiles. The zinc coating thickness can be adjusted (80-275g/m²) to meet different anti-corrosion requirements.

• Aluminum: 1050, 1060, 3003, 5052, 6061 series, available in sheet, coil, pipe, bar, and aluminum profile. Thickness ranges from 0.2mm to 50mm.

All products comply with international standards such as ASTM, EN, DIN, GB, and JIS, and we can provide material certificates for verification.

Q2: Why does stainless steel sometimes rust? How to avoid it?

A2: Rust of stainless steel does not necessarily mean inferior quality; the common causes and solutions are as follows:

1. Surface Contamination: Iron powder adheres to the surface during transportation, cutting, or contact with carbon steel tools, leading to "superficial rust" in humid environments. Remedy: Clean with stainless steel-specific pickling paste or passivation paste to restore the passivation film.

2. Chloride Ion Corrosion: Chloride ions from sea air, salt, or cleaning agents can damage the stainless steel passivation layer, causing pitting corrosion. Avoid using the product in high-salt environments or clean the surface regularly if used near the coast.

3. Improper Welding/Heat Treatment: Incorrect welding or heat treatment leads to carbide precipitation, reducing corrosion resistance near welds. Solution: Use low-carbon stainless steel grades (such as 316L) and perform post-weld pickling and passivation treatment.

4. Wrong Material Selection: Using inappropriate grades in highly corrosive environments (e.g., 304 is not suitable for strong acid/alkali scenarios). We will provide professional material selection advice based on your application scenario.

Q3: What is the difference between hot-dip galvanized steel and electro-galvanized steel? How to choose?

A3: The two galvanizing methods differ in process, performance, and application scenarios, and you can choose according to your anti-corrosion needs and budget:

• Hot-Dip Galvanized (HDG): The steel is immersed in molten zinc (about 450℃), forming a thick zinc-iron alloy layer (80-275g/m²). Advantages: Excellent anti-corrosion performance, long service life (15-30 years in normal environment), suitable for outdoor, marine, and industrial harsh environments (e.g., construction steel structures, outdoor pipelines).

• Electro-Galvanized (EG): Zinc is deposited on the steel surface through electrolysis, forming a thin and uniform zinc layer (10-50g/m²). Advantages: Smooth surface, beautiful appearance, low cost, suitable for indoor use, decorative parts, or products with low anti-corrosion requirements (e.g., indoor furniture, light fixtures).

Q4: Can you provide customized metal materials (size, surface treatment, etc.)?

A4: Yes, we support comprehensive customization to meet your specific project needs:

• Size Customization: Customize thickness, width, length, and specification of sheets, coils, pipes, and profiles according to your drawings or requirements.

• Surface Treatment Customization: Including stainless steel mirror polishing, brushed finish, sandblasting; carbon steel pickling and phosphating, painting; aluminum anodizing, electrophoresis, and other surface treatments.

• Material Customization: We can adjust the chemical composition of materials according to your performance requirements (e.g., high-strength carbon steel, corrosion-resistant stainless steel) and provide corresponding test reports.

Please provide detailed customization requirements (drawings, parameters, application scenarios), and our technical team will provide a professional customization plan and quotation.

2. Procurement & Cooperation

Q1: What is your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)? Is it possible to order small quantities for sample testing?

A1: Our MOQ is flexible, adjusted according to product type:

• Regular specifications (standard size, common grade): MOQ is 1 ton for stainless steel/carbon steel/galvanized steel, 500kg for aluminum.

• Customized products: MOQ is determined according to customization difficulty (usually 5-10 tons), and we will try our best to lower the threshold for long-term cooperative customers.

Sample Policy: We provide free samples (1-2 pieces, within 1kg) for quality testing; you only need to bear the international shipping cost. For large-size or customized samples, a small sample fee will be charged, which can be deducted from the formal order payment later.

Q2: What are your payment terms? 

A2: We support flexible and secure payment terms to adapt to international trade habits:

• Common Payment Terms: T/T (30% advance payment, 70% balance before shipment), L/C at sight (Letter of Credit), and Western Union (for small sample fees).

Q3: How to get a quotation? What factors affect the price?

A3: To provide you with an accurate quotation, please inform us of the following information:

1. Product type (stainless steel/carbon steel/galvanized steel/aluminum);

2. Material grade (e.g., 304 stainless steel, Q235 carbon steel);

3. Specifications (thickness, width, length, form: sheet/coil/pipe, etc.);

4. Quantity (order quantity, whether it is a sample order);

5. Surface treatment requirements (if any);

6. Destination port (for calculating shipping cost).

Factors affecting the price: International metal raw material prices (real-time fluctuation), product specifications, order quantity, surface treatment, shipping cost, and payment terms. We will provide a real-time and transparent quotation, and update the price in a timely manner if there is a major fluctuation in raw material prices.

Q4: Do you provide material certificates and quality inspection reports?

A4: Yes, quality assurance is our core commitment. We provide complete quality certification documents for all products:

• Material Certificates: Mill Test Certificate (MTC) in accordance with ASTM, EN, DIN, GB standards, which includes detailed information such as chemical composition, mechanical properties, and production batch.

• Quality Inspection Reports: We can provide third-party inspection reports (e.g., SGS, BV, TÜV) according to your requirements, which will be issued after the goods are produced and inspected, ensuring that the product quality meets your standards.

All documents are provided in English, and electronic versions will be sent to you before shipment.

3. Logistics & Delivery

Q1: What is your delivery time? How to track the shipment?

A1: The delivery time is determined according to the product type and order quantity, ensuring on-time delivery to meet your project schedule:

• Regular specifications (in stock): Delivery within 7-15 working days after receiving the advance payment.

• Customized products: Delivery within 15-30 working days after confirming the customization plan and receiving the advance payment (depending on the customization difficulty).

Shipment Tracking: After the goods are shipped, we will provide you with the shipping bill of lading (B/L), tracking number, and contact information of the logistics company. You can track the shipment status in real time through the logistics company's official website or our customer service.

Q2: What logistics methods do you support? Which ports do you ship from?

A2: We cooperate with well-known international logistics companies (Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, etc.) to provide professional logistics solutions, supporting multiple transportation methods:

• Sea Shipping: The most cost-effective method for large-quantity orders, supporting FOB, CIF, CFR terms. We ship from major Chinese ports (Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin), and can also ship from other ports according to your requirements.

• Air Shipping: For small-quantity orders or urgent orders, supporting DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT, with a delivery time of 3-7 days.

• Land Transportation: For customers in neighboring countries (e.g., Southeast Asia, Central Asia), we support land transportation (railway, road) to ensure fast delivery.

Our logistics team will choose the most suitable transportation method according to your order quantity, destination, and delivery time requirements, and provide the most competitive shipping cost.

Q3: How to package the goods to avoid damage during transportation?

A3: We adopt professional packaging standards to ensure that the goods are intact during long-distance transportation, especially for metal materials that are prone to scratches and corrosion:

• Sheets/Coils: Wrapped with waterproof plastic film + moisture-proof paper + steel strip, and placed on wooden pallets (fumigated wooden pallets meet international export standards) to prevent moisture, scratches, and deformation.

• Pipes: Plugged at both ends to prevent dust and moisture, wrapped with plastic film, and bundled with steel strips; large-diameter pipes are packed in wooden cases.

• Profiles (angle steel, channel steel, etc.): Bundled with steel strips, wrapped with moisture-proof paper, and placed on wooden pallets.

If you have special packaging requirements (e.g., customized wooden cases, extra moisture-proof treatment), we can provide personalized packaging services at a reasonable cost.

4. After-Sales Service

Q1: What if the received goods do not meet the quality requirements or specifications?

A1: We attach great importance to product quality and after-sales service. If the goods have quality problems (e.g., inconsistent material grade, unqualified mechanical properties, incorrect specifications) due to our reasons, please contact us within 7 working days after receiving the goods, and provide relevant photos, test reports, and other evidence:

1. We will arrange professional technical personnel to verify the problem within 3 working days.

2. If the problem is confirmed to be our responsibility, we will provide solutions according to your needs: free replacement, refund of the corresponding payment, or compensation according to the loss.

Note: The damage caused by improper transportation, storage, or use by the buyer is not within the scope of after-sales service.

Q2: Can you provide technical support for material selection and application?

A2: Yes, we have a professional technical team with more than 10 years of experience in the metal industry, providing one-stop technical support:

• Material Selection Advice: According to your application scenario (e.g., high temperature, corrosion, load-bearing), recommend the most suitable material grade and specification to help you reduce costs while ensuring performance.

• Application Guidance: Provide technical parameters, processing methods (cutting, welding, bending), and maintenance tips of materials to help you use the products correctly.

• Customization Technical Support: For customized products, our technical team will communicate with you in detail, optimize the customization plan, and ensure that the products meet your project requirements.

You can contact our customer service at any time, and we will provide professional technical answers within 24 working hours.

Q3: How to contact your customer service team?

A3: We provide 24/7 customer service support to solve your problems in a timely manner:

• Email: sales01@huafulai-js.com (reply within 12 working hours)

• WhatsApp/WeChat: 86 173 2728 8611  (real-time communication during working hours)

• Phone: 86 173 2728 8611  (working hours: 9:00-18:00 GMT+8)

• Bing International Station Message: You can leave a message on our Bing International Station page, and we will reply to you within 24 working hours.

We will track your order and after-sales needs throughout the process, ensuring that you have a worry-free procurement experience.

5. Company & Cooperation Advantages

Q1: What are your core advantages compared with other steel suppliers?

A1: As a professional metal material supplier with more than 10 years of experience in international trade, we have the following core advantages:

1. Product Advantage: We cooperate with top domestic steel mills (e.g., Baosteel, Posco) to ensure stable product quality; the product range covers stainless steel, carbon steel, galvanized steel, and aluminum, realizing one-stop procurement for customers.

2. Price Advantage: Direct supply from mills without middlemen, and we have a long-term cooperation with logistics companies, which can provide competitive prices and shipping costs.

3. Customization Advantage: Professional technical team and production partners can meet various customized needs, providing flexible solutions for your special projects.

4. Service Advantage: 24/7 customer service, one-stop services including quotation, customization, logistics, and after-sales, ensuring efficient and worry-free cooperation.

5. Certification Advantage: All products comply with international standards, and we can provide various third-party inspection reports and material certificates to meet the import requirements of different countries and regions.

Q2: Do you have experience in cooperating with customers from my region? Can you provide relevant cases?

A2: Yes, we have rich experience in international trade, and our products have been exported to more than 50 countries and regions, including Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. We have cooperated with customers in various industries (construction, machinery, automobile, electronics, marine, etc.).

We can provide relevant cooperation cases (e.g., project name, product type, quantity, customer evaluation) according to your region and industry.