Profile Cutting: Methods, Materials & Applications

Profile cutting is an essential process in the steel fabrication industry. It involves cutting precise shapes and components from sheet or plate metal, usually for use in construction, engineering or manufacturing. 

At Patrick Steel Ltd, we offer a wide range of profile cutting services from our facility in Coventry, delivering high-quality results for clients across the Midlands and the rest of the UK.

What Is Profile Cutting?

Profile cutting refers to the process of cutting custom shapes or outlines from metal plates, typically following a design or CAD file. Whether it’s simple rectangles or complex engineering patterns, profile cutting plays a crucial role in creating parts for structural and mechanical applications. The process relies on highly accurate cutting methods, making it ideal for both large production runs and smaller, bespoke orders.

Comparing Profile Cutting Methods

There are several ways to carry out profile cutting, each with its own benefits depending on the material type and thickness. At Patrick Steel Ltd, we specialise in flame cutting and CNC plasma cutting, offering versatile and reliable solutions for a wide range of projects.

Flame Cutting

Flame cutting is best suited to thicker mild steel plates and can handle material up to 300mm thick. Our four CNC flame cutting machines are ideal for heavy-duty industrial applications and can produce large profiles quickly and accurately.

Plasma Cutting

Plasma cutting on the other hand, is ideal for cutting thinner metals such as mild steel, aluminium and stainless steel, with thicknesses ranging from 1mm to 30mm. Our high-definition CNC plasma machine provides excellent precision, with tolerances of up to ±0.5mm, making it a great choice for more detailed or technical jobs.

While laser cutting is another method often used in the industry, we do not offer this service. However, our flame and plasma cutting capabilities are suitable for the vast majority of industrial profile cutting requirements.

Materials / Grades Available

We work with a wide selection of steel grades, including S275 (43A), S355 (50B), and EN8. These materials are commonly used across various industries and are stocked in a range of thicknesses from 5mm to 300mm. All materials can be supplied with full certification on request, guaranteeing traceability and quality standards for every project.

Why Choose Our Profile Cutting?

With decades of experience, Patrick Steel Ltd is trusted by businesses across the UK for dependable profile cutting services. Our Coventry-based workshop is equipped with advanced CNC machinery and supported by CAD/CAM systems, meaning we can work from engineering drawings, DXF files or even reverse engineer existing parts using our optical scanning technology.

As an ISO 9001 accredited company, we are committed to delivering consistently high standards and fast turnaround times, making sure your order is completed accurately and efficiently.