W2 heavy melting scrap vs N10 light scrap — ferrous scrap classes

How does heavy melting scrap differ from light scrap? We explain the ferrous scrap classes W2 and N10: thickness, cleanliness, suitability for charging to the furnace and the effect on price. A practical guide to sorting steel before selling.

In ferrous scrap you will most often hear two designations: W2 heavy melting scrap and N10 light scrap. The difference is simple in essence: heavy melting scrap is thick, solid scrap ready to be charged straight into the steelworks furnace, while light scrap is thinner and lighter and needs more preparation. This distinction determines the class and the price.

What "suitability for charging" means

Steelworks remelt scrap in furnaces. Thick, solid material — "charge-ready" — can be loaded directly, without cutting and without the risk of it burning off or vaporising. Thin material, with a large surface area relative to its mass, is less convenient to melt and needs preparation. Hence the split into heavy melting scrap and light scrap.

W2 heavy melting scrap

W2 heavy melting scrap is the most common class of thick ferrous scrap: solid steel of adequate wall thickness (structural components, thick plate, flame-cut pieces, sections from dismantling). It is the highest-priced class of ordinary ferrous scrap, because the steelworks uses it practically straight away.

N10 light scrap

N10 light scrap is thinner and lighter scrap — thin sheet, profiles, small pieces, mixed scrap of lesser thickness. The material is fully valuable, but it needs more processing and has a lower yield per tonne, which is why it is classified separately and lower than heavy melting scrap.

How to sort steel before selling

Separate thick from thin — W2 heavy melting scrap from N10 light scrap. Thrown in together, they will settle as the lower class.
Remove large contaminants — concrete, rubber, plastics and non-metal parts.
Not sure about the class? We will assess it on acceptance; for larger batches it is worth confirming the details by phone.

Ferrous scrap is accepted at every branch. It is a complementary material alongside non-ferrous metals, so for a larger delivery it is worth confirming intake capacity and logistics in advance. The formalities of waste trading (BDO, KPO) we describe in a separate article on BDO and KPO when selling scrap.

Have ferrous scrap to settle? Check the quote — we separate heavy melting scrap from light scrap, so the thicker material is not settled as light small pieces.

Frequently asked questions

How does heavy melting scrap differ from light scrap?

Heavy melting scrap (charge material) is thick, solid ferrous scrap suitable for direct charging into the steelworks furnace without additional cutting or preparation (class W2). Light scrap is thinner and lighter — sheet, profiles, small pieces (class N10) — which needs more processing and is therefore priced lower.

What is W2 scrap?

W2 is the most common class of heavy charge scrap: solid steel of adequate wall thickness, ready to be charged into the furnace. It is the highest-priced class of ordinary ferrous scrap, because the steelworks uses it without additional preparation.

Which class do sheet and thin profiles fall into?

Thin sheet, profiles and small pieces are usually N10 light scrap. The material is light and has a large surface area relative to its mass, so it is settled separately and lower than heavy W2 scrap. Separating heavy melting scrap from light scrap before delivery raises the value of the batch.