A mill test certificate (MTC) is the identity document of a steel shipment. If you import steel, reading it properly is the cheapest quality insurance available.

Certificate types under EN 10204

• Type 2.1: a statement of compliance, no test results. Not enough for structural steel.
• Type 3.1: test results issued by the manufacturer's independent inspection department. This is the standard for our shipments.
• Type 3.2: validated by a third party inspector (SGS, BV, TUV) who witnesses the tests. Specify it for critical projects.

What to check, line by line

• Heat number: must match the markings stenciled on the plates, bundles or pipe ends.
• Chemical composition: C, Si, Mn, P, S against the standard's limits.
• Mechanical properties: yield and tensile against the grade minimums, plus impact energy if specified.
• Dimensions and quantity: thickness, width, length and net weight per bundle.

Common red flags

Mismatched heat numbers between certificate and material, missing test values, photocopied signatures and certificates issued after shipment without traceable heat numbers all justify an independent re-test.

What we provide

Every shipment leaves with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate per heat, and third-party inspection by SGS can be arranged before loading at the buyer's cost.

Related reading

• Hot Rolled vs Cold Rolled Steel: A Buyer's Guide
• Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel: How to Choose
• Stainless Steel Grades Explained: 201, 304, 316L, 430