C-Beam | Hot-dip Galvanized Cold Formed C Purlin for Roof, Wall & PV Support
1. Product Overview
C-Beam, also known as C-channel or C purlin, is a cold-formed lipped channel light gauge steel. Roll-formed from high-quality steel strips at ambient temperature, this product is manufactured in strict compliance with GB/T 6725-2017 and GB 50018 national codes for cold-formed thin-walled steel structures. Featuring precise dimensional accuracy, neat section formation and zero welding residual stress, it serves as an optimized lightweight alternative to conventional hot-rolled channel steel.
Standard material grades cover Q235B and Q355B. Custom high-performance variants are available upon request, including Q355NL low-temperature impact-resistant steel, Q355GNH weathering steel and stainless steel grades. Widely adopted in industrial factories, storage warehouses, photovoltaic power stations and prefabricated municipal steel structures, C-beam acts as reliable secondary load-bearing and enclosure profiling for lightweight steel construction systems.
2. Specifications & Technical Parameters
Standard In-stock Models
Full series of standard sizes in stock: C80, C100, C120, C140, C160, C180, C200, C220, C250, C300. The figure indicates the beam web height, for example, C80 refers to 80mm web height.
Dimensional Range
Web Height: 80mm–300mm
Flange Width: 40mm–80mm
Lipped Edge: 15mm–20mm (custom edge sizes available)
Wall Thickness: 1.5mm–4.0mm; thicker plates over 4.0mm supportable via technical consultation
Standard Length: 6m, 9m, 12m. Custom fixed-length cutting, precision punching and special-shaped processing are available to match non-standard structural designs.
Surface Anti-corrosion Treatment
Hot-dip Galvanized: Double-sided zinc coating ≥180g/㎡, with single-side average thickness up to 12.7μm. Delivers stable anti-rust performance, supporting 15–20 years of outdoor service under normal environments.
Aluzinc Coating (AZ150): Produced per ASTM A792 standard with 55% aluminum-zinc alloy coating. Features outstanding acid, alkali and high-temperature resistance, ideal for coastal salt spray and heavy industrial corrosive scenarios.
Custom Paint Coating: Adopts epoxy zinc-rich primer plus topcoat composite anti-corrosion system. Cost-effective for indoor structural applications with customizable color options to meet project aesthetic requirements.
3. Custom Deep Processing Service
We provide full one-stop precision deep processing for customized C-beams. The whole workflow covers CNC fixed-length cutting, multi-type precision punching (round holes, slotted holes, elliptical holes) matching various bolt specifications, as well as bending, straightening, anti-corrosion coating and standardized finished packaging. All finished products are controlled within ±1.0mm conventional tolerance, with high-precision ±0.5mm tolerance available for high-standard projects. Prefabricated components support direct bolt assembly on site, eliminating secondary cutting and processing to improve construction efficiency.
4. Core Product Advantages
Lightweight Structure & Lower Comprehensive Cost
Compared with traditional hot-rolled channel steel, C-beam reduces self-weight by over 30% while maintaining equivalent or higher load-bearing capacity. It effectively lowers building dead load, reduces foundation stress and cuts overall project construction costs.
Stable Mechanical Performance & High Bearing Efficiency
Integral cold-formed forming delivers large radius of gyration and excellent comprehensive resistance to bending and torsion. It allows larger purlin spacing layout, reduces overall steel consumption and optimizes structural stress distribution.
Prefabricated Installation & Faster Construction
All standard and custom components are pre-punched and prefabricated in the factory. The whole site construction adopts pure bolt assembly without on-site welding or secondary fireproof treatment, greatly shortening project cycle and improving construction safety.
Multi-scenario Anti-corrosion & Strong Adaptability
Diversified surface treatment solutions adapt to dry inland, humid industrial and coastal salt spray environments. The profile maintains stable physical performance without rusting, deformation or structural failure during long-term outdoor operation.
High Dimensional Precision & Good Interchangeability
Unified manufacturing tolerance and standardized sizing ensure high part interchangeability. The product perfectly matches prefabricated light steel building systems and large-scale photovoltaic support projects, supporting standardized and modular construction.
5. Application Scenarios
Industrial Steel Structures: Industrial Steel Structures: Serves as roof purlins, wall girts and secondary supporting frames for factory workshops, industrial warehouses and logistics buildings. We also supply professional TPO Waterproof Membrane for roof waterproofing solutions.
PV New Energy Projects: Widely used for load-bearing and auxiliary support components of rooftop photovoltaic brackets and ground-mounted solar power station systems.
Prefabricated Light Steel Buildings: Applies to main frames, wall and roof enclosure structures of light steel villas, container houses and modular prefab buildings.
Warehouse & Mechanical Supporting Structures: Suitable for storage rack frames, equipment foundation supports and secondary beam structures of steel operation platforms.
Municipal Auxiliary Engineering: Ideal for outdoor canopies, parking shelters, pedestrian corridors, bus station shelters and small landscape steel structure projects.
6. Delivery, Packaging & Service Support
Stock Delivery: Full range of standard galvanized C-beams are in sufficient stock, with delivery arranged within 2–5 working days.
Custom Processing Lead Time: Custom thickness, special punching and non-standard sized products take 7–12 working days after order confirmation.
Packaging Solution: Standard bundling with skid reinforcement to prevent deformation. Supports domestic land transportation and standardized export sea-freight packaging.
Quality Assurance: Complete mill test certificates, galvanized layer inspection reports and full set of quality qualification documents are provided to support global project inspection and acceptance.
7. FAQ
Q1: What are the differences between C-beam and ordinary hot-rolled channel steel?
A1: C-beam is thin-walled cold-formed light steel with lighter weight and lower cost, mainly used for building enclosure and secondary support structures. It supports pre-punched hole design for fast bolt assembly. Traditional hot-rolled channel steel features higher overall rigidity and heavier weight, mostly applied for main load-bearing beams and columns.
Q2: Can you customize beam length and hole positions according to drawings?
A2: Yes. We support full drawing-based customization, including arbitrary cutting length, personalized hole spacing and special hole positions. All deep processing is completed in the factory to realize direct on-site installation.
Q3: What surface treatment is best for outdoor use?
A3: Conventional hot-dip galvanizing is applicable for general outdoor environments. For coastal areas and heavy industrial high-corrosion environments, aluzinc coating or high zinc coating (≥275g/㎡) galvanizing is recommended for extended service life.
Q4: How to choose between C purlin and Z purlin?
A4: C purlin is suitable for roof slopes ≤5°, featuring simple structure and convenient installation. Z purlin supports end overlapping connection for continuous spanning performance, adapting to roof slopes from 5° to 20°. The final selection shall comply with actual structural design and roof pitch parameters.
8. Product Summary
Manufactured per GB/T 6725-2017 and GB 50018 national standards, our C-beam takes Q235B and Q355B as standard materials, with low-temperature resistant, weather-proof and stainless steel optional for special working conditions. This high-precision cold-formed light steel features lightweight design, excellent bending resistance and stable structural performance. Equipped with multiple anti-corrosion treatments and one-stop factory deep processing services, it is widely used for steel structure roof purlins, wall girts and photovoltaic support systems, serving as a cost-effective and reliable structural solution for global industrial, new energy and municipal prefabricated projects.
