EN8 Steel

EN8 steel plate is a medium-high carbon engineering steel for manufacturers, machinists, maintenance teams and fabricators producing components that need more strength and wear resistance than mild steel can provide. It offers a practical balance of strength, toughness and machinability for shafts, axles, pins, gears, tooling and replacement parts.

At P&D Northern Steels, we have supplied steel plate since 1972. We hold EN8 at our Oldham site and cut plate to size in-house, helping customers reduce waste, limit preparation work, and order the dimensions their job requires. We supply single plates, repeat orders and larger production requirements across the UK.

What Is EN8 Steel?

EN8 is commonly associated with the former BS 970 080M40 steel designation. It typically contains between 0.35% and 0.45% carbon, which gives the material more strength and hardness than many mild steel grades.

Manufacturers use EN8 when a component needs to withstand mechanical load, repeated movement or moderate wear while remaining suitable for machining. The material can be turned, drilled, milled and ground to produce components with controlled dimensions and detailed features.

EN8 is usually supplied in an untreated or normalised condition. The required condition and mechanical properties should always be checked against the design, manufacturing process and working environment of the finished component.

EN8 Steel Properties

EN8 provides a balanced set of mechanical and processing properties:

1. Strength and toughness: EN8 offers greater tensile strength than common mild steel grades while retaining useful toughness. It is suited to components exposed to load, shock or repeated movement.
2. Machinability: The material can be machined into accurate parts using suitable tools, cutting speeds and feed rates. This makes it useful for components with tight tolerances or detailed features.
3. Wear resistance: EN8 provides better hardness and resistance to moderate wear than mild steel. A dedicated abrasion resistant grade should be considered for severe sliding, impact or abrasive conditions.
4. Heat treatment: Normalising, hardening and tempering can adjust the balance of strength, hardness and toughness. Flame or induction hardening may also be used to increase surface hardness for certain parts.
5. Weldability: EN8 can be welded, but it requires more control than mild steel. The correct welding procedure will depend on the plate thickness, joint design, level of restraint and required performance.
6. General engineering suitability: The grade is widely used for machinery, automotive components, agricultural equipment, tooling and industrial repair work.

These properties can vary according to plate thickness, supply condition and heat treatment. Any required values should be included in the purchase specification.

EN8 Steel Plate for Machining and Manufacturing

EN8 plate gives machinists and manufacturers a flat starting material for producing strong, accurate components. It is often selected for parts that would place greater mechanical demands on mild steel but do not require a more expensive alloy grade.

We can cut EN8 plate into sizes suited to the component or machining allowance. Ordering cut pieces reduces the amount of excess steel that must be stored, handled and removed during production.

Customers should allow for any material that will be removed during machining and any dimensional changes that could occur during heat treatment. Final tolerances and processing allowances should be agreed by the manufacturer responsible for the finished component.

Common Uses of EN8 Plate

EN8 plate can be used to manufacture:

• Machine components and equipment parts
• Shafts and axles
• Pins, studs and keys
• Gears and sprockets
• Jigs and fixtures
• Tooling components
• Agricultural machinery parts
• Brackets and equipment supports
• Base plates
• Repair and replacement components
• Parts exposed to moderate wear
• Components subject to repeated mechanical loading

Suitability depends on the load, impact, temperature, corrosion exposure and manufacturing process involved. Our team can discuss the grade and available plate sizes, but the final material specification should be confirmed by the customer or project engineer.

EN8 Compared With Mild Steel

Mild steel is easy to form, fabricate and weld, making it suitable for general structures and components with moderate performance requirements. EN8 is usually considered when the finished part requires greater strength, hardness or resistance to wear.

Compared with a typical mild steel grade, EN8 may provide:

• Higher tensile strength
• Greater hardness
• Better performance under repeated load
• Improved resistance to moderate wear
• Good machinability
• Greater scope for heat treatment

EN8 is not automatically the better option. Its increased carbon content makes it less straightforward to weld and form. It is also not corrosion resistant, so components exposed to moisture or outdoor conditions may need paint, plating, oil or another suitable form of surface protection.

The choice should be based on the component design and working conditions rather than strength alone.

Is EN8 the Same as C45 or AISI 1045?

EN8 is often compared with C45 steel and AISI 1045 as they are all medium-high carbon engineering steels with similar uses. However, they should not be treated as exact equivalents without checking the relevant specification.

Differences in chemical composition, mechanical properties, testing requirements and supply condition may affect whether one grade can replace another. If a drawing or specification names EN8, 080M40, C45 or AISI 1045, that requirement should be clearly stated when requesting a quotation.

Machining EN8 Steel

EN8 is suitable for turning, drilling, milling and grinding. The correct tooling and machining parameters will depend on the condition of the steel, the required finish and the amount of material being removed.

Components that will be heat treated after machining may require an additional machining allowance. Where tight final dimensions are important, the production sequence should account for any distortion or dimensional change caused by heat treatment.

We supply the steel plate and provide cutting to size in house. Customers should arrange detailed machining with their chosen engineering or manufacturing specialist.

Welding and Heat Treatment

EN8 can be welded, but the process needs to reflect its medium-high carbon content. Depending on section thickness and joint design, the welding procedure may require preheating, suitable consumables, controlled heat input and controlled cooling. Post weld heat treatment may also be required.

Critical welded components should be assessed by a qualified welding specialist. EN8 should not be treated as a direct replacement for mild steel in a welded assembly without reviewing the procedure and performance requirements.

Heat treatment can increase hardness or change the balance between strength and toughness. The correct process will depend on the finished component, its dimensions and how it will be used.

EN8 Plate Cut to Size

We provide gas cutting to size at our Oldham site. This allows customers to order EN8 plate in dimensions closer to their manufacturing requirements rather than purchasing more material than they need.

When requesting a quotation, please provide:

• The required grade or standard
• Plate thickness
• Length and width
• Quantity
• Required supply condition
• Delivery postcode
• Certification or traceability requirements
• Testing requirements
• Any offloading restrictions

Providing this information allows us to check stock, cutting requirements, documentation and likely lead times accurately.

Testing and Additional Services

We do not claim that every piece of EN8 steel is tested or certified to the same level. Documentation and testing requirements vary according to the material, application and customer specification.

If additional testing is required, we can arrange it through our sister company. Other specialist services can be organised through external partners where available. Tell us what is required during the enquiry stage so we can confirm the appropriate options before your order is processed.

Why Choose P&D Northern Steels?

We have supplied steel plate to UK and overseas customers since 1972. Our customers include machinists, engineering companies, equipment manufacturers, maintenance teams and fabricators that need dependable access to plate in practical sizes.

As experienced steel stockholders, we provide:

• EN8 steel plate from our Oldham site
• In-house cutting to size
• Support with grade, size and availability enquiries
• Supply for one-off and repeat requirements
• UK and overseas delivery options
• Testing through our sister company when required
• Access to additional services through external partners

Our quality and industry credentials include ISO 9001, BS EN 1090, NHSS 3B, UKCA and NSA. Certification, traceability and testing requirements should still be stated for each order so we can confirm what is available.

Contact Us About EN8 Steel Plate

To check stock, request plate cut to size or discuss an EN8 specification, contact us. Send us the grade, thickness, dimensions, quantity and delivery postcode. We will review the requirement, confirm the available options and provide a quotation.

Frequently Asked Questions About EN8 Plates