Sheet metal surface finishes simply explained

All surface finishes from our range, simply explained. For purchasing, with standard, typical Ra value and code. Orderable online from 1 piece, everything else on quotation.

What suits me?

It should shine2R bright-annealed →
Fingerprints should hardly showBrushed K240 →
Robust, clean, easy to clean2B cold-rolled →
For outdoors, without paintGalvanised or weathering →
Secure footing on steps and floorsChequer or tread plate →
Finished in colourPainted or anodised →

2B – cold-rolled, matt

2B EN 10088-2 Ra 0.1–0.5 µm*

The standard surface for stainless steel: light grey, satin and smooth. Easy to clean. The right choice for most parts.

Technical: Cold-rolled, annealed, pickled, lightly skin-passed.

Typical: Tanks, housings, mechanical engineering, food sector.

Stainless steel
2R – bright-annealed

2R EN 10088-2 Ra < 0.2 µm*

Bright and highly reflective, almost like a mirror. For visible parts that should shine.

Technical: Cold-rolled and bright-annealed under protective gas.

Typical: Trim strips, panels, reflectors, kitchens.

Stainless steel
Brushed K240

2G · grit 240 EN 10088-2 Ra 0.2–0.5 µm*

Fine lines in one direction, as on a fridge door. Fingerprints and scratches are less noticeable.

Technical: 2B sheet, brushed on one side with grit 240.

Typical: Visible parts, cladding, furniture, lifts.

Stainless steel
Decorative finishes

Special finish

A finish as a design element, for example in circles or without direction. For fronts that should stand out.

Technical: Swirl-finished or vibration-finished, on one side.

Typical: Design panels, shopfitting, fronts.

Stainless steel
Pattern & embossing

2M EN 10088-2 (stainless steel)

A pattern is rolled into the sheet. Scratches and dents are hardly visible on it. Ideal for heavily used surfaces.

Technical: Pattern applied during rolling or embossing.

Typical: Wall protection, lift cars, facades, furniture.

Stainless steel · Aluminium
Chequer & tread plate

Chequer · tread · R12 EN 1386 (aluminium), DIN 59220 (tread)

Raised ribs or teardrops give secure footing. For steps, floors and ramps.

Technical: Pattern rolled in during hot or cold rolling.

Typical: Steps, floors, ramps, vehicle construction.

Aluminium · Stainless steel
Mill finish

mill finish

Aluminium as it comes from the rolling mill: bright and metallic. For most aluminium components.

Technical: Rolled, without further surface treatment.

Typical: Components, covers, electrical, roof and facade.

Aluminium · Copper & brass
Stucco

Stucco

A fine, rough embossing like orange peel. Hardly reflects and hides small scratches.

Technical: Embossed with a texture roller.

Typical: Insulation jacketing, cold rooms, cladding.

Aluminium
Hammered

hammered

Looks as if hammered by hand. Brings light and liveliness to counters and decoration.

Technical: Rolled with a hammered pattern.

Typical: Decoration, shopfitting, counters.

Aluminium · Copper & brass
Anodising quality

G15 · G27 · Alpha1

Particularly uniform aluminium. The right choice if you have your parts anodised afterwards.

Technical: Selected sheets for a uniform anodised appearance.

Typical: Starting material for anodising and visible parts.

Aluminium
Anodised

E6/EV1 DIN 17611

Aluminium with a hard, protective layer. Natural or coloured, scratch-resistant and easy to care for.

Technical: Pickled (E6) and anodically oxidised, EV1 = natural.

Typical: Facades, panels, signs, furniture.

Aluminium
Painted (RAL)

RAL 9016 · 7016 · 8014 · 9006 RAL

Finished in colour. You do not need to paint anything.

Technical: Factory-painted, colour to RAL.

Typical: Parapets, cladding, window construction.

Aluminium
Film-coated

film on one side

A protective film protects the good side until installation. Afterwards, simply peel the film off.

Technical: The protective film protects during cutting, bending and assembly.

Typical: All visible parts; peel the film off after installation.

Stainless steel · Aluminium
Hot-rolled

hot-rolled

Dark grey with firm mill scale. Robust and inexpensive, ideal for parts that you paint.

Technical: Hot-rolled, uncoated.

Typical: Brackets, frames, components for painting.

Steel
Cold-rolled

cold-rolled EN 10130

Light grey and smooth. Good for parts that you bend and then coat.

Technical: Cold-rolled, smooth surface, uncoated.

Typical: Housings, bent parts, parts for coating.

Steel
Hot-dip galvanised (Sendzimir)

Z275 EN 10346

Protected against rust with zinc. For outdoors and damp rooms.

Technical: Continuously hot-dip galvanised, 275 g/m² zinc (both sides together).

Typical: Ventilation, covers, outdoor areas, bent parts.

Steel
Weathering (patina)

Patina EN 10025-5

Forms a red-brown patina over time. It protects the steel and needs no paint.

Technical: Weathering structural steel forms a protective red-brown patina outdoors.

Typical: Gardening, facades, planters, art.

Corten steel for the garden: lawn edging, raised bed, stele →

Steel

Net prices for an example part 500 × 500 mm, 1 piece, thinnest gauge. Green chips can be ordered online.

Stainless steel codes: what do 1D, 2B, 2E and 2R mean?

The codes for stainless steel are defined in EN 10088-2. The digit shows how the sheet was rolled: 1 stands for hot-rolled, 2 for cold-rolled. The letter shows the treatment afterwards.

Code	In simple terms	Production to EN 10088-2	Usual thicknesses
1D	Matt, grey and somewhat rough. For thick sheets and technical parts.	hot-rolled, annealed, pickled	from about 3 mm
2E	Matt grey and somewhat rougher than 2B. For technical parts of medium thickness.	cold-rolled, annealed, mechanically descaled, pickled	about 3 to 6 mm
2D	Uniformly matt, without gloss. Good for heavy forming.	cold-rolled, annealed, pickled	thin sheets
2B	Satin and smooth. The standard surface.	cold-rolled, annealed, pickled, skin-passed	about 0,5 to 6 mm
2R	Bright and reflective.	cold-rolled, bright-annealed	about 0,5 to 2 mm
2G	Fine brushed lines in one direction.	brushed	mostly up to 3 mm
2J	Like brushed, but finer and more uniform.	brushed or matt-polished	mostly up to 3 mm
2M	A pattern is rolled into the sheet.	pattern-rolled	mostly up to 2 mm

Thicknesses are typical ranges, not standard values. The finish stated in the inspection certificate is binding.

Textured sheets in photos

Close-ups of the goods from our range. Colour and gloss may vary by batch and lighting.

Technical comparison

Surface finish	Code	Standard	Ra µm*	Appearance	Material	Price
2B – cold-rolled, matt	2B	EN 10088-2	0.1–0.5	satin, grey	Stainless steel	Quotation
2R – bright-annealed	2R	EN 10088-2	< 0.2	reflective, smooth	Stainless steel	Quotation
Brushed K240	2G · grit 240	EN 10088-2	0.2–0.5	satin, longitudinal grain	Stainless steel	Quotation
Decorative finishes	Special finish	–	–	circular or non-directional finish	Stainless steel	Quotation
Pattern & embossing	2M	EN 10088-2 (stainless steel)	–	rolled pattern	Stainless steel · Aluminium	Quotation
Chequer & tread plate	Chequer · tread · R12	EN 1386 (aluminium), DIN 59220 (tread)	–	raised ribs or teardrops	Aluminium · Stainless steel	Quotation
Mill finish	mill finish	–	–	metallic bright, light rolling marks	Aluminium · Copper & brass	Quotation
Stucco	Stucco	–	–	irregular orange-peel texture	Aluminium	Quotation
Hammered	hammered	–	–	dents as if hammered by hand	Aluminium · Copper & brass	Quotation
Anodising quality	G15 · G27 · Alpha1	–	–	mill finish, uniform	Aluminium	Quotation
Anodised	E6/EV1	DIN 17611	–	satin, natural or coloured	Aluminium	Quotation
Painted (RAL)	RAL 9016 · 7016 · 8014 · 9006	RAL	–	coloured, smooth	Aluminium	Quotation
Film-coated	film on one side	–	–	protective film on the visible side	Stainless steel · Aluminium	Quotation
Hot-rolled	hot-rolled	–	–	dark grey, mill scale	Steel	Quotation
Cold-rolled	cold-rolled	EN 10130	–	smooth, light grey	Steel	Quotation
Hot-dip galvanised (Sendzimir)	Z275	EN 10346	–	silver grey, spangle possible	Steel	Quotation
Weathering (patina)	Patina	EN 10025-5	–	red-brown patina	Steel	Quotation

* Ra = typical value from manufacturer data, not a guaranteed property. EN 10088-2 does not specify an Ra value for 2B and 2R.

Frequently asked questions

What does 2B mean for stainless steel?

2B is the standard surface to EN 10088-2: cold-rolled, annealed, pickled and lightly skin-passed. It is satin and smooth.

What is the difference between 2B and 2R?

2R is bright-annealed under protective gas and is therefore reflective. 2B is more matt. 2R suits visible parts with gloss, 2B technical parts.

What do 1D and 2E mean for stainless steel?

1D is hot-rolled, annealed and pickled. 2E is cold-rolled, annealed, mechanically descaled and pickled. Both are matt and slightly rougher than 2B. They are used mainly for thicker sheets for technical parts.

Which stainless steel surface suits the kitchen?

For splashbacks and covers, brushed K240 sheet is suitable because fingerprints are less noticeable. 2B is smooth and easy to clean. 2R shines and looks elegant.

Which side of a brushed sheet is brushed?

K240 is brushed on one side. You state the grain direction or visible side in the configurator.

I cannot find my surface online. What should I do?

We also supply every version in the sheet metal range on quotation. Select it under Sheet metal and send an enquiry.

Entire sheet metal range · Sheet metal cutting · Materials & data sheets · Stainless steel grades compared

Sheet metal surface finishes simply explained

What suits me?

2B – cold-rolled, matt

2R – bright-annealed

Brushed K240

Decorative finishes

Pattern & embossing

Chequer & tread plate

Mill finish

Stucco

Hammered

Anodising quality

Anodised

Painted (RAL)

Film-coated

Hot-rolled

Cold-rolled

Hot-dip galvanised (Sendzimir)

Weathering (patina)