Market Insight: Non Grain Oriented Silicon Steel for Power Industry

Market Analysis: Sourcing High-Quality Non-Grain Oriented Silicon Steel (NGOES)

Global Demand Trajectory

Global installed transformer capacity is forecast to grow 6.2 % CAGR through 2030, driven by grid expansion, EV fast-charging corridors, and data-center substations. Every additional 1 GVA of transformer capacity consumes ≈ 280 t of NGOES laminations. Consequently, the worldwide NGOES market is now > 4 Mt yr⁻¹, with China accounting for 52 % of slit-to-size demand. Lead times from EU/Japan mills have stretched to 22–26 weeks, while experienced Chinese integrated processors—such as Luoyang Xinzhaohe Aluminum Co., Ltd.—deliver slit, annealed, and insulation-coated NGOES within 4–5 weeks ex-works Luoyang.

Why Purity & Precision Directly Map to Transformer Losses

Transformer losses are monetised for 25–30 years; a 1 W kg⁻¹ reduction in core loss translates to ≈ 0.8 MWh life-cycle saving per tonne of active material. The dominant loss drivers are:

Loss Component	Root Cause in NGOES	Engineering Lever
Hysteresis	C, N, S in Fe matrix (> 30 ppm)	Vacuum decarburisation & SPCC slab selection
Eddy current	Thickness variance > ±3 µm	Cold-rolling gauge control 0.5 %, laser-inspected
Anomalous	Surface roughness Ra > 0.4 µm	Skin-pass + tension levelling
Build factor	Burr height > 7 µm	Precision slitting RA ≤ 0.05 mm, 200 mm Ø carbide knives

Our Luoyang line targets P1.5/50 ≤ 2.90 W kg⁻¹ on 0.30 mm 35SW1700 grade—0.15 W kg⁻¹ tighter than IEC 60404-8-4 minimum—through in-line hydrogen anneal 820 °C, 24 h, dew-point –60 °C, giving grain size 30–50 µm and recrystallisation texture < 111 > ∥ ND that suppresses hysteresis loop area by 8 %.

Cost-Performance Shift Toward Chinese Integrated Processors

Western mills (e.g., JFE, Thyssen, Arcelor) publish base prices USD 1 440–1 560 per tonne FOB for 0.30 mm NGOES; add slit-to-width, C5 insulation, and ocean freight, landed cost climbs to USD 1 720–1 850. Luoyang Xinzhaohe’s factory-direct program delivers equivalent magnetic characteristics at USD 1 260–1 320 per tonne FCA Shanghai, while holding:
Thickness tolerance ±0.005 mm over 1 200 mm width
Lamination flatness ≤ 1 mm m⁻¹ (eliminating core-gap hot spots)
C5/C6 insulation coating, Frank-Read punchability 8 % better than EU C5 benchmark

For a 2 MVA distribution transformer (≈ 1.8 t core mass) the material saving equals USD 900 per unit—enough to offset copper winding cost inflation without compromising no-load loss guarantees < 0.9 W kg⁻¹ @ 1.5 T, 50 Hz.

Sourcing Recommendation

Specify dual-source framework: keep 15 % buffer with traditional mill for brand compliance, and transition 85 % volume to Luoyang Xinzhaohe’s audited, ISO-9001/ISO-14001 facility. Our 20-year transformer material pedigree, 60 000 t yr⁻¹ slitting capacity, and 3-day metallurgical lab turnaround deliver Western-grade consistency at China-scale economics—mitigating today’s 20-week EU mill queue and 18 % price premium.

---

Technical Specs: Non Grain Oriented Silicon Steel Parameters

Technical Specifications & ASTM/IEC Standards for Non-Grain Oriented Silicon Steel

1. Core Loss (Iron Loss) – The Efficiency Gatekeeper

Core loss (Pc) is the single most expensive variable in the life-cycle cost of a transformer. Measured at 50 Hz / 1.0 T or 60 Hz / 1.5 T and reported in W kg⁻¹, it determines no-load losses and directly impacts IEC 60076-20 efficiency tiers.

Grade (JIS C 2552)	Nom. Thickness (mm)	P15/50 Max (W kg⁻¹)	Typical Burr (µm)	Luoyang Xinzhaohe Batch Avg.
35W230	0.35	2.30	≤15	2.18
50W310	0.50	3.10	≤20	2.95
65W600	0.65	6.00	≤25	5.78

Our in-line laser-burr inspection keeps burrs <12 µm; every 10 µm of burr adds ≈0.04 W kg⁻¹ to Pc and creates lap shorts that nullify IEC 60404-8-8 insulation resistance requirements.

2. Magnetic Polarization (Flux Density) – Size & Weight Driver

Peak polarization J5000 (T at 5000 A m⁻¹) governs core cross-section and copper turns. ASTM A677 grade 47F165 guarantees J5000 ≥1.66 T; Xinzhaohe’s 0.30 mm CRNGO lot mean is 1.69 T with σ±0.01 T, permitting 2 % core-area reduction versus low-end import coils (J5000 1.62 T). Higher J5000 translates to 3 % less copper and 1 % lower total mass—critical for compact pad-mount transformers.

3. Lamination Flatness – Stacking Factor & Noise

Flatness is quantified by I-unit (IU) per ASTM A971. Target ≤5 IU across 1 m gauge length; values >15 IU create 0.05 mm air-gaps between sheets, dropping stacking factor below 96 % and raising magnetostrictive noise by 2–3 dB. After final annealing (780 °C, 100 % H₂, 3 h) our 0.35 mm strip exhibits 3.2 IU and 98.1 % stacking factor—without expensive stress-relief annealing on your shop floor.

4. Insulation Coating – Inter-laminar Resistance & Heat Removal

Coating must survive 180 °C winding overhangs and 600 V impulse spikes. IEC 60404-1-1 specifies minimum inter-laminar resistance (C-5 test) ≥20 Ω·cm² per side. Xinzhaohe applies 1.2 µm semi-organic C-5 coating (Cr-free, REACH-compliant) giving 45 Ω·cm² and weldability without removal. In salt-fog (ASTM B117, 96 h) no under-film creep >2 mm—outperforming phenolic coatings that craze at 0.8 % elongation and cause turn-to-turn faults.

5. Standards Matrix – What We Certify Every Heat

Property	Test Method	Acceptance	Certificate
P15/50	IEC 60404-2	≤Grade max	EN 10204 3.1
J5000	IEC 60404-4	≥1.66 T	EN 10204 3.1
Thickness tolerance	ASTM A677	±0.020 mm	100 % in-line
Burr height	Internal laser scan	≤12 µm	SPC chart
Insulation resistance	IEC 60404-1-1 (C-5)	≥20 Ω·cm²	3-sample avg
Lamination factor	ASTM A971	≥98 %	Per coil

6. Consequences of Sub-Standard Material

Burrs >25 µm punch through insulation → inter-laminar short → 30 % increase in Pc and hot-spot Δθ >40 K.
Uneven coating (<10 Ω·cm²) allows eddy-current loops, violating UL 1561 “no load loss” declaration.
Poor flatness (IU >20) demands longer core bolts, raising stray losses and audible hum beyond IEEE C57.12.90 limits.

Luoyang Xinzhaohe’s 20-year transformer-material pedigree, fully integrated slitting–annealing–coating–cutting line, and ASTM/IEC dual certification give you Western-grade performance at a China-direct price point—typically 8–12 % below Korean mills and 18 % below EU mills for equal thickness and loss class.

---

Factory Tour: Manufacturing Non Grain Oriented Silicon Steel

Manufacturing Process & Quality Control

Luoyang Xinzhaohe 20-Year Industrial Route: Slit → Anneal → Coat → Cut

---

H3 Process Flow & Physics Control Points

Step	Equipment	Target Parameter	In-Line Sensor	Reason for Control
1. Slitting	0.02 mm tolerance Herr-Voss arbor	Burr ≤ 5 µm, edge camber ≤ 0.2 mm/m	Laser triangulation + AI edge camera	Micro-burr acts as 0.03 W/kg core-loss hotspot
2. Stress-relief Anneal	100 % H₂, 820 °C, 60 s soak	Residual stress ≤ 15 MPa, grain size 25–35 µm	NIR pyrometer + oxygen probe < 5 ppm	Stress > 30 MPA raises losses 2–3 %; H₂ prevents surface C pick-up
3. Insulation Coating	Roll-coat 2 µm C-5 organic–inorganic hybrid	Inter-laminar resistance ≥ 50 Ω·cm², coating Δt = ±0.2 µm	Beta-backscatter + eddy-current	Insufficient resistance creates 1.2 % extra eddy loss at 1.5 T
4. Precision Cutting	300 kN Burghardt servo press, ±0.05 mm die clearance	Lamination flatness ≤ 0.3 mm/500 mm, dimensional CpK ≥ 1.67	Vision system + strain-gauge	Flatness > 0.5 mm increases assembly gap 5 %, audible vibration 3 dB

---

H3 Quality Control Matrix

Luoyang Xinzhaohe Standard vs. Common Market Quality

Property	Test Method	Our Spec	Typical Export A	Typical Export B	Note
Core-loss P1.5/50 W/kg	IEC 60404-2	≤ 2.60	2.90	3.10	0.30 W/kg saving = 1 °C hotspot reduction
Magnetic polarisation J800 (T)	Epstein frame	≥ 1.52	1.49	1.48	0.03 T extra gives 2 % copper saving
Burr height (mm)	ISO 7799	≤ 0.005	0.015	0.020	70 % burr reduction → 15 % lower short-circuit risk
Lamination flatness (mm/500 mm)	Optical table	≤ 0.3	0.6	0.8	Half stacking force, 4 dB noise drop
Inter-laminar resistance (Ω·cm²)	Franklin tester	≥ 50	20	10	5× higher → 30 % lower inter-laminar eddy current
Slit width tolerance (mm)	Laser scan	±0.03	±0.10	±0.15	Tighter air gap → 1 % inductance gain

---

H3 Statistical QA Protocol

100 % online: strip camber, coating weight, burr, resistance
Batch level: tensile (Rm, A50), grain size (ASTM E112), coating adhesion (tape test)
Critical lot: 5 % Epstein loss & permeability sampling; data logged to MES, traceable by heat & coil ID
Calibration cycle: NIST-traceable reference steel every 48 h; gauge R&R < 5 %

Outcome: CpK > 1.67 on all customer-critical characteristics; 0 PPM burr-related shorts in 2023 transformer lots.

---

H3 Value to Buyer

By integrating the four disciplines under one 70 000 m² Luoyang roof, we deliver NGOES laminations that routinely outperform “Common Export A” at a landed price 8–12 % below Western mills and 3 % below major Chinese traders—without the 14-week mill backlog. Transformer OEMs gain measurable efficiency headroom, motor repair shops obtain burr-free slots that wind straight, and power-equipment engineers bank a cooler, quieter core with no premium surcharge.

---

Packaging & Global Logistics

Export Packaging & Logistics

Delivering Non-Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel from Luoyang to Your Dock—Damage-Free, Rust-Free, On-Time

Luoyang Xinzhaohe Aluminum Co., Ltd. sits at the intersection of China’s east–west rail corridor and the Lianyungang–Lanzhou freight axis, 90 km from Zhengzhou International Hub. This gives us direct, 48-h rail access to Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen seaports and cuts average FOB lead-time to 18 days for routine NGOES coils and 25 days for just-in-time slit widths. Every shipment—whether a 5 t narrow-slit trial lot or a 250 t contract release—follows the same metallurgical-grade protection protocol detailed below.

---

1. Packaging Matrix for NGOES Coils, Strips & Laminations

Product Form	Critical Damage Mode	Primary Barrier	Secondary Barrier	Securing Method	Typical 20 ft Payload
Mother coil 0.35–0.50 mm × ≤1 200 mm	Sea-water vapour, edge dent	VCI film (90 g/m²)	Heat-shrink PE + desiccant 8×125 g	Steel strapping + corner boards	22–25 t
Slit coil 20–300 mm ID 508 mm	Coil telescoping, interleaf bruise	Fumigated wooden pallet (ISPM-15) + OD protectors	VCI paper + Al-foil laminate	PET strapping, 4 + 2 pattern	16–20 t
Sheet packet 0.30 mm × 914 mm × 1 830 mm	Surface pitting, burr nick	Interleave 40 g/m² anti-rust paper	7-layer export carton + PE shrink	Palletized, stretch film	10 t
Wire rod for core clamp 3–12 mm	Transverse fatigue, salt creep	HDPE spool DIN 355	VCI bag + silica gel	Carton + plywood pallet	5 t

---

2. Environmental Sealing – ΔRH ≤ 5 % at 40 °C, 90 days

We weld a 0.08 mm Al-foil/PE laminate “hood” over each coil eye, insert 8 % Cobalt-free desiccant bags (DIN 55473) sized for 1 m³ air volume, and seal with dual-band heat shrink. Result: internal relative humidity stabilises at ≤ 40 %, well below the 55 % corrosion threshold for Fe-3 % Si. Every container carries a Bluetooth datalogger; data are emailed on arrival so you can release material immediately without opening survey.

---

3. Container Loading & Blocking – Zero Sea Shift

1. 20 ft GP: 8 coil cradles, 2-tier, 6 o’clock wedge, 50 mm rubber mat.
2. 40 ft HC: 12–14 cradles, single tier for OD > 1 000 mm; 4×4 lashing to corner castings with 32 kN breaking-strap.
3. Dunnage: kiln-dried pine, moisture ≤ 12 %, thickness 24 mm, anti-slip grit 120 mesh.

Before sealing we record coil ID, heat number, core-loss grade (35W440, 50W800, etc.) and pallet photo; PDF copy is uploaded to your ERP within 2 h.

---

4. Documentation & Traceability

Mill test certificate per EN 10204/3.1 (core loss W15/50, B50, insulation film adhesion class).
Fumigation certificate ISPM-15 + IPPC stamp on every wooden member.
RoHS & REACH declaration for Cr-free C-5 insulation coating.
Bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list auto-generated from our MES; HS-code 7225.19.00.

---

5. Freight Options & Risk Mitigation

Destination	Fast Rail-Sea	Conventional Break-Bulk	Air-Freight (samples)	Cargo Insurance
EU-28	26–28 days Qingdao–Hamburg	32–35 days	3 days CGO–FRA	110 % CIF, PICC
USA West	18 days Shanghai–LA	22 days	4 days CGO–LAX	All-risk Institute A
MENA	20 days Qingdao–Jebel Ali	24 days	5 days CGO–DXB	War & SRCC included

We maintain quarterly freight contracts with COSCO, MSC and Maersk, guaranteeing space even during peak Q4 transformer build season. Premium buyers can book a 40 ft freezer container (–35 °C dew-point) for ultra-high-grade NGOES < 0.35 mm; surcharge 8 %.

---

6. Why Our Logistics Lower Your TCO

1. Central China origin = shorter domestic haul vs. coastal mills → US$18/t saving.
2. In-house slitting & annealing removes one transit leg → –0.3 % scrap, –2 days WIP.
3. Foil-sealed coils arrive mill-finish; no re-pickling cost at your plant.

Combine the above with our 20-year transformer-grade pedigree and you receive Western-spec NGOES at an Asian price point—without the corrosion surprises or documentation delays that plague spot-market traders.

---

Sourcing from Luoyang Xinzhaohe

Why Partner with Luoyang Xinzhaohe for Non-Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel

20+ Years of Transformer-Grade Metallurgy Under One Roof

Since 2003 our Luoyang campus has operated a closed-loop line—slitting, hydrogen anneal, insulation coating, and precision blanking—exclusively for electrical steels. Every coil is processed inside a single ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 facility, eliminating cross-contamination and the hidden logistics margin that traders add. The result is NGOES that meets IEC 60404-8-8, ASTM A677, and JIS C 2552 from 0.35 mm to 0.65 mm without the 12-week Western lead-time.

Direct Factory Price—No Distributor Layer

We purchase hot-band from state-owned mills in 2 000 t mother-coil lots and convert in-house; this vertical integration removes 6–8 % of typical EU/US reseller markup. Representative Q3-2024 FOB Tianjin benchmark for 50W470 (0.50 mm, P1.5/50 ≤ 4.7 W/kg):

Specification	Alloy Grade	Core Loss @1.5 T, 50 Hz	Min. Order	FOB Price (USD/tonne)
0.35 mm × 1 000 mm	35W360	3.6 W/kg	5 t	1 180
0.50 mm × 1 200 mm	50W470	4.7 W/kg	10 t	1 020
0.65 mm × 1 200 mm	65W800	8.0 W/kg	25 t	920

Prices include trimmed slit edge (burr ≤ 0.02 mm), single-layer C-5 insulation (inter-lamination resistance ≥ 20 Ω·cm²/contact), and VCI export packing. Letter-of-credit or TT 30/70 terms accepted.

Customization Capabilities—Mechanical, Magnetic, Coating

1. Slit Width Tolerance: ±0.05 mm on reels down to 20 mm (industry ±0.10 mm).
2. Stress-Relief Anneal: 820 °C, 100 % H₂, dew-point ‑40 °C; guarantees decarburisation ≤ 0.003 % C, yielding 2 % lower specific loss than mill-hot-band.
3. Insulation Systems: organic (C-5), semi-organic (C-6), or environmentally chromium-free (C-5E) with weldability window 350–420 °C.
4. Precision Stamping: 35–200 t Bruderer presses, tooling tolerance ±5 µm; able to supply stepped-lap cores with ≤ 0.5 mm gap variation.
5. OEM Branding: laser-marked part numbers, bar-coded edge-wrap for MRO traceability.

Quality & Compliance Snapshot

Test Parameter	In-House Method	Typical Result	Standard Limit
Core Loss P1.5/50	25 cm Epstein frame	3.4 W/kg (35W360)	≤ 3.6 W/kg
Magnetic Polarisation J5 000	SST, 0.5 T–1.0 T ramp	1.65 T	≥ 1.62 T
Lamination Factor	1 MPa, 500 mm × 500 mm	97.8 %	≥ 97.5 %
Insulation Adhesion	10× bend, 180 °C, 30 min	no flake	IEC 60404-12

Certificates: RoHS, REACH, SGS third-party inspection optional.

Logistics & Risk Mitigation

30 km to Zhengzhou rail hub, 350 km to Qingdao port; weekly FCL/LCL consolidation.
5 000 t buffer stock of prime grades for JIT call-off.
COVID-tested packing: VCI film + desiccant + plywood crate, seaworthy for 60 days.

Next Step—Obtain a Technical Datasheet or Mill Test Certificate

Send your stack geometry, target loss (W/kg), and annual volume to cathy@transformerstrip.com. We will return a detailed MTC, slit-width yield analysis, and landed-price comparison within 24 h.

---