What is S690QL steel plate?
S690QL is defined by EN 10025-6 (high-yield-strength structural steels in the quenched and tempered condition): S for structural, 690 MPa minimum yield up to 50 mm, Q for quenched and tempered, L for impact tested at −40 °C (Q alone means −20 °C, QL1 means −60 °C). Material number 1.8928. The steel is a low-carbon (≤ 0.20 %) fine-grain alloy with chromium, molybdenum, nickel and boron, water-quenched after rolling and tempered to a tough tempered-martensite structure. That gives twice the yield of S355 with elongation still above 14 % and full weldability — the reason it is a *structural* grade with CE marking and Eurocode design rules (EN 1993-1-12), where AR wear plate is not. In a bending or buckling-governed design a member in S690QL can be made about 40–50 % lighter, which pays for itself many times over in a crane boom (longer reach for the same counterweight), a trailer (more payload), a telehandler or a mining structure. Brand names dominate the market: Strenx 700 and Weldox 700 (SSAB), Dillimax 690 (Dillinger), XABO 690 and N-A-XTRA 700 (thyssenkrupp), Raex Optim 700, Aldur 700 (voestalpine); all certify to S690QL and the certificate is what we quote against. Thickness runs 4–160 mm at the mills; we hold and cut 6–60 mm.
Chemical composition
| Element | C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr | Ni | Mo | V | B | Cu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| max. % (ladle) | ≤ 0.20 | ≤ 0.80 | ≤ 1.70 | ≤ 0.020 | ≤ 0.010 | ≤ 1.50 | ≤ 2.00 | ≤ 0.70 | ≤ 0.12 | ≤ 0.005 | ≤ 0.50 |
CEV ≤ 0.65 (≤ 50 mm) by EN 10025-6; brand steels typically 0.40–0.55 for ≤ 20 mm, which is what makes them weldable with modest preheat.
Mechanical properties
| Thickness | Yield ReH min (MPa) | Tensile Rm (MPa) | Elongation A / impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–50 mm | 690 | 770–940 | A ≥ 14 %; KV ≥ 30 J at −40 °C (QL) |
| > 50–100 mm | 650 | 760–930 | A ≥ 14 % |
| > 100–150 mm | 630 | 710–900 | A ≥ 14 % |
| S690Q | same | same | KV ≥ 30 J at −20 °C |
| S690QL1 | same | same | KV ≥ 30 J at −60 °C |
| Hardness (typical) | — | ≈ 240–290 HB | not a wear grade |
Equivalent grades
| System | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EN 10025-6 | S690QL (1.8928) | the standard |
| SSAB | Strenx 700 E / Weldox 700 | brand |
| Dillinger | Dillimax 690 T | brand |
| thyssenkrupp | XABO 690, N-A-XTRA 700 | brand |
| voestalpine | Aldur 700 QL | brand |
| ASTM | A514 Grade Q / A709 HPS 100W (approx.) | US Q&T structural |
| JIS | SHY685 / HW700 (approx.) | |
| GB | Q690D / Q690E | Chinese |
Weight saving vs S355
| S355J2 | S690QL equivalent | Weight saving | Typical part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mm | 6 mm | 40 % | trailer side member |
| 15 mm | 8 mm | 47 % | crane boom plate |
| 20 mm | 10 mm | 50 % | lifting beam flange |
| 25 mm | 12–15 mm | 40–50 % | excavator boom, outrigger |
| 40 mm | 20–25 mm | 38–50 % | mining structure, press frame |
Where deflection or buckling governs, the saving is smaller (stiffness E is the same for all steels) — check with EN 1993-1-12; fatigue-critical welded details also do not benefit from the higher yield.
Thickness range and stock sizes
| Thickness | Widths × lengths | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 6–12 mm | 2 000 / 2 500 × 6 000 / 12 000 | stock brands |
| 15–30 mm | 2 000 / 2 500 × 6 000 | stock and mill |
| 40–60 mm | 2 000 / 2 500 × 6 000 | mill order 5–8 weeks |
| Cut parts | laser ≤ 25 mm, plasma ≤ 60 mm, per DXF | from 500 kg |
Weight per m² and per plate
| Thickness | kg/m² | 1 500 × 6 000 (kg) | 2 000 × 6 000 (kg) | 2 500 × 12 000 (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mm | 47.1 | 424 | 565 | 1 413 |
| 8 mm | 62.8 | 565 | 754 | 1 884 |
| 10 mm | 78.5 | 707 | 942 | 2 355 |
| 12 mm | 94.2 | 848 | 1 130 | 2 826 |
| 15 mm | 117.8 | 1 060 | 1 413 | 3 533 |
| 20 mm | 157.0 | 1 413 | 1 884 | 4 710 |
| 25 mm | 196.3 | 1 766 | 2 355 | 5 888 |
| 30 mm | 235.5 | 2 120 | 2 826 | 7 065 |
| 40 mm | 314.0 | 2 826 | 3 768 | 9 420 |
| 50 mm | 392.5 | 3 533 | 4 710 | 11 775 |
| 60 mm | 471.0 | 4 239 | 5 652 | 14 130 |
Nominal weights — mill tolerance to EN 10029 class A adds up to +4 % on thin plate; invoiced on theoretical weight unless agreed otherwise.
Welding, cutting and forming
Weld with low-hydrogen processes (MAG solid or metal-cored wire, basic electrodes, SAW) and matching-strength consumables (G 69 / E 69 class) where the joint must reach 690 MPa, or undermatching (G 46–55) for less critical welds with better toughness; preheat 75–125 °C above about 15 mm plate or combined thickness 40 mm, interpass ≤ 200 °C, heat input 0.8–2.0 kJ/mm — too much heat softens the HAZ below 690 MPa. No post-weld heat treatment; never normalise or flame-straighten above 550 °C. Cold-bend at ≥ 3 × t transverse (4 × t longitudinal) with ground edges; plasma and laser cut without preheat up to 20 mm; drill with HSS-Co or carbide.
Where it is used
- Mobile and crawler crane booms, jibs and outriggers
- Lightweight trailers, tipper chassis and truck bodies
- Telescopic handler and access platform booms
- Lifting beams, spreaders and hoisting equipment
- Mining, quarrying and tunnelling structures
- Presses, machine frames and heavy-duty transport equipment
S690QL vs S355J2 vs AR400
S355J2 is the everyday structural plate; S690QL gives twice the yield for about 60–80 % more per ton, so the weight saving pays whenever the structure moves or lifts. AR400 is harder (400 HB vs ≈ 260) but has no guaranteed yield and no CE mark — use it for wear, S690QL for load. For thin coil-based parts, S700MC (thermomechanical, ≤ 12 mm) is the coil alternative at similar strength.
Price
S690QL is quoted per plate or per cut part rather than from a list band; brand, thickness, tonnage and certificate (3.1 or 3.2) set the price, which follows the European Q&T mill lists. Send the size list and we return a firm offer within a working day.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
Export packing of S690QL steel plate is by skid: up to 5 t per pack, steel straps, corner boards, stencilled heat numbers and a pack list that references the 3.1 certificates. One 40' HC carries 24–25 t of 6 m plate; short plate goes 20 t to a 20'. Long and heavy plate is shipped flat-rack or breakbulk via Derince. HS code 7208.51 / 7208.52.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 1 plate (cut parts from 500 kg) |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau |
| Lead time | Stock 3–7 working days; mill order 5–8 weeks |
| Packing | Plates on bearers, banded, heat stencilled; cut parts palletised |
| Container / truck | 20' ≈ 20 t; 40' HC ≈ 24 t of 6 m plate |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 on request), certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP / PVoC on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight for orders above 100 t |
Certificates and testing
S690QL steel plate is delivered with the mill certificate EN 10204 3.1 — heat number, ladle analysis, tensile and impact results and the delivery condition. Third-party 3.2 certification (Lloyd's, BV, TÜV, SGS), ultrasonic testing to EN 10160 and extra Charpy tests at a lower temperature are ordered per lot.
How to order
Specify S690QL (or QL1 / Q, or a brand), thickness × width × length or DXF, quantity, certificate (3.1, or 3.2 for lifting equipment), and note any welding-procedure or impact requirements beyond the standard.
Standards
- EN 10025-6 — S690QL (1.8928), S690Q (1.8931), S690QL1 (1.8988)
- EN 1993-1-12 — design of high-strength steel structures
- EN 10029 tolerances
- EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: S690QL · S355J2 · S460MC
Frequently asked questions
What is S690QL steel?
A quenched-and-tempered structural steel to EN 10025-6 with 690 MPa minimum yield and 30 J impact at −40 °C (material 1.8928) — twice the strength of S355 for cranes, trailers, booms and lifting equipment.
What does QL mean in S690QL?
Q = quenched and tempered delivery condition; L = impact tested at −40 °C (Q alone is −20 °C, QL1 is −60 °C).
What is the equivalent of Strenx 700 / Weldox 700?
Both are SSAB brands certified to EN 10025-6 S690QL; Dillimax 690, XABO 690, N-A-XTRA 700 and Aldur 700 are equivalents from other mills.
Can S690QL be welded?
Yes, with low-hydrogen processes, controlled heat input (0.8–2 kJ/mm), preheat above about 15 mm and no post-weld heat treatment; matching or undermatching consumables depending on the joint.
What is the difference between S690QL and Hardox 400?
S690QL is a structural grade with guaranteed yield and CE marking, about 260 HB; Hardox 400 is a wear grade at 400 HB with no guaranteed yield. One carries load, the other resists abrasion.
What is the price of S690QL plate?
About 60–80 % above S355 per ton, quoted per plate on request — send the size list.