Metal Materials RFQ Checklist: What to Include for an Accurate Quote
Metal materials — steel, aluminium, copper, nickel and titanium in standard product forms — are an additional supply category for Zhongbo: they are sourced from confirmed mills, not produced in-house. A complete request for quotation (RFQ) lets us identify the right mill, confirm the grade and dimensions, and quote with the certificate your project requires.
Who this checklist is for
Fabricators, EPC and project procurement teams, and distributors sourcing steel, aluminium, copper, nickel or titanium materials through Zhongbo's supply service.
How supplied metal materials are quoted
For every supplied metal material, Zhongbo confirms the mill identity, material grade, dimensions and country of origin before accepting the order, and provides the mill documentation you specify. Zhongbo is the supply and documentation contact for these materials, not the mill — so the more precisely you state the form, grade, dimensions, standard and certificate you need, the faster and firmer the quote.
The RFQ checklist
| Include | What to send |
|---|---|
| Material form & grade | Product form (plate, sheet, bar, tube/pipe, strip, coil, profile or extrusion) and the material and grade (steel, aluminium, copper, nickel or titanium). |
| Dimensions & tolerances | Thickness, width, length, diameter or wall — with any tolerance requirement. |
| Applicable standard | The standard the material must meet — ASTM, EN, GB/T, JIS — or your own specification. |
| Quantity | Tonnage, or number of pieces / bundles. |
| Certificate & inspection | Which certificate you need (EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate, 3.2 where required, certificate of compliance) and any third-party or witnessed inspection. |
| Surface / finish / treatment | Any surface finish, coating or heat-treatment condition required. (Optional.) |
| Origin / approved mills | Any required or preferred country of origin, or an approved-mill list the project mandates. (Optional but speeds sourcing.) |
| Destination port | For freight and lead-time calculation. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving a grade but no standard, or a standard but no dimensions — both are needed to fix the material and price.
- Not stating the certificate type and any inspection up front — they affect which mill is selected and the lead time.
- Omitting quantity and destination port, which set freight and lead time.
RFQ FAQ
Does Zhongbo produce these metal materials?
No. Metal materials are an additional supply category — they are sourced from confirmed mills. Zhongbo confirms the mill, material grade, dimensions and origin before order acceptance and provides the mill documentation you require, acting as the supply and documentation contact rather than the mill.
Which certificate types can you provide?
An EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate is provided as standard; a 3.2 certificate or third-party / witnessed inspection is arranged where the project requires it. Confirm the certificate type in your RFQ so it is agreed before the order is placed.
