What is Steel Box Girder and Column ?
Box columns and box beams refer to welded box section members by steel plates, which have large closed rectangular or square section profile. Box section shape steel columns hand girders are featured with high torsional stiffness and good anti-buckling properties. They are often used in projects that require a smaller section height or an aesthetically good appearance.
- Common forms of steel box girders/beams include 3 types: Square Column，Rectangular Box Beam, Tapered Box Beam, which are used as main beams, secondary beams, span beams and truss beams.
- Steel Box Columns common forms are Square Column and Built-up Composite Column. They are used as building columns, bridge pylons, support columns, equipment brackets in prefab building construction.
Box Section Steel Girder and Column Detail
AGICO has been supplying steel box girders, beams and columns in materials of mild steel box section, galvanized box section, stainless box sections, here are the most frequently used steel grades and sizes for reference:
Common steel grades: Q345B / Q355B / S355JR / ASTM A572 Gr.50 / A36; weathering steel or stainless steel may also be used depending on project requirements.
Steel Box Section Size range:
- Cross-sectional dimensions (external width × external height): 150 × 150 mm → 1200 × 1200 mm+ (depending on the project)
- Steel Plate thickness: 6 mm → 40 mm+ (critical webs and flanges are designed based on strength requirements)
- Box Section Member Length: Based on transportation/assembly, generally ≤ 12 m per piece (can be factory assembled or welded on-site).
Note: The above values are typical for illustration purposes only – final calculations will be based on structural design and engineering specifications supplied from customer.
Steel Box Girders and Columns Fabrication Process
1. Steel Plate Cutting
2. Plate Edge Beveling
3. Assembly & Pre-Welding
4. Welding & Finishing
5. Surface Treatment
6. Painting & Coating
Box Section Member Product Export
Middle East Market: We provide high-specification box girder products that withstand harsh environments for oil and gas field development, large-scale energy projects, and modern port expansions in the Middle East, ensuring long-term and stable operation.
European and American Market: We also strictly adhere to stringent European and American building codes and quality standards, providing precision-machined, high-quality box girder products for high-standard railway bridge projects, complex public buildings, and customized, non-standard projects, meeting your ultimate demands for quality and safety.
Hot Sale Steel Box Girders and Columns
AGICO has deeply involved in China’s modern infrastructure and industrial upgrading. We also provide efficient and cost-effective box girder products and technical support for manufacturing base construction, industrial park expansion, and infrastructure connectivity projects in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to regional economic development.
- Factory columns and roof beams for industrial plants and workshops.
- Truss node members and long-span girders for trusses and spatial structures.
- Box girders and columns for bridges.
- Crane girder supports and runway beams.
- Architectural and structural columns for high-rise and commercial buildings where reduced section height matters.
- Frames and tower foundations for power, port, tower and heavy-industry frameworks.
Advantages of Box Section Steel Member
Box Section steel members show excellent engineering advantages in the following aspects, it’s the reason why they are widely used in large building and platform structures:
- Improved torsional rigidity and buckling resistance: The closed cross-section makes it more stable than I-beams of similar mass under axial compression and eccentric loads.
- Enhanced control of cross-section height (reduced floor headroom): A shorter cross-section can be used to meet stiffness and strength requirements under bending.
- Aesthetics and architectural integration: Exposed box columns can be used directly as facade elements or for cladding.
- Suitable for internal wiring/piping or concrete infill (CFST): Box columns can be filled with concrete to increase stiffness (concrete-filled steel tube) or used as buried equipment.
Welded Steel Box Girders and Columns Types
AGICO supplies tailored made heavy duty steel box sections with large size, which are made of cut-to-size steel plates and steel sections by welding, Here are types of steel box girders and columns.
Welded Plate Box Columns
Built-Up Box Columns
Concrete-Filled Box Member
Standards and Quality Analysis in Steel Box Section Fabrication
AGICO has made a series of inspection and testing measures from the steel material to cutting, welding, surface treatment, we only fabricate high quanlity steel box section girders and columns for your project.
- Certification: Europe/Exports to the European market typically follow: Fabrication: EN 1090 / AWS D1.1 / GB/T 19804 (Component Execution and CE Marking Requirements) – Manufacturers exporting to the EU market generally require EN 1090 certification.
- Structural Design References: EN 1993 (Eurocode 3), AISC, or China GB/T / GB50017, etc.
- Welding and Nondestructive Testing: ISO 3834 / AWS D1.1, WPS/PQR system. NDT testing such as VT/MT/UT/RT can be performed upon contract (for critical welds or high-stress areas).psum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat.
- Surface Finish Acceptance: ISO 12944 / ASTM A123 (Hot-dip Galv.) Grit blasting grade (Sa2.5), dry film thickness (DFT) testing, hot-dip galvanizing layer thickness testing, etc.
Box Steel Section Members Package and Delivery
- Packaging: Waterproof and anti-collision protection is provided according to sea/land transport standards, with reinforced ends and anti-rust coating. Large box-shaped components are packaged in sections, with joint locations marked.
- Transportation: Oversized/overwidth items require an oversized transportation permit in accordance with local regulations. Minimize the length of each section to facilitate loading and unloading.
- Installation: Embedded components/bases must be verified in advance. On-site welding and splicing is recommended to be performed in a sheltered/controlled environment, with non-destructive testing of the welds.
