Key Takeaways
Cold-rolled low-carbon coil is ordered by grade family and forming category: general, deep drawing or extra deep drawing.
JIS G3141: SPCC (general) → SPCD (deep) → SPCE (extra deep); surface finish is designated separately (e.g. 1B bright).
EN 10130: DC01 → DC03 → DC04 → DC05 → DC06 with increasing formability; the legacy DIN ST12/ST13/ST14 were replaced by DC01/DC03/DC04.
German automotive series VDA 239-100 uses CR1–CR6; equivalence between systems must be confirmed with the supplier
1. The JIS G3141 Family
JIS G3141 covers cold-reduced carbon steel sheet and strip. SPCC is the general-purpose grade for bending and light forming; SPCD adds deep-drawing capability and SPCE is the extra deep-drawing grade. Surface finish, such as 1B (bright), is designated separately from the grade, so a full designation looks like SPCC-1B. Use SPCD/SPCE where a drawn shape risks tearing in SPCC.
2. The EN 10130 DC Family
EN 10130 defines cold-rolled low-carbon steel flat products for cold forming as DC01 through DC06, where the number rises with drawability and chemistry control. DC01 is the general grade; DC03 and DC04 are deep and extra deep drawing grades; DC05 and DC06 serve the most demanding forming, with strictly limited carbon (typically around or below 0.02% for the highest grades - confirm the exact limit per the current standard). The older German designations ST12, ST13 and ST14 from DIN 1623 were replaced by DC01, DC03 and DC04 respectively.
3. The VDA 239-100 Series (Automotive)
German automotive specifications use VDA 239-100 with CR grades: CR1 for general forming, rising to CR3/CR4 for deep and special deep drawing, and CR5/CR6 for super-deep drawing of complex body panels. When an automotive drawing calls for a VDA grade, supply to that specification rather than assuming a JIS or EN equivalent.
4. Cross-Standard Comparison at a Glance
| Forming category | JIS G3141 | EN 10130 | Legacy DIN | VDA 239-100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | SPCC | DC01 | ST12 | CR1 |
| Deep drawing | SPCD | DC03/DC04 | ST13/ST14 | CR2/CR3 |
| Extra deep drawing | SPCE | DC04/DC05/DC06 | ST14+ | CR4/CR5/CR6 |
Equivalence varies by mill and by thickness; use the table for orientation and confirm mechanical properties, surface finish and the standard edition when ordering.
5. How to Order
- Define the forming operation (bending, deep drawing, super-deep drawing) and the thinnest section of the part.
- Choose the grade family and forming category; state surface finish (e.g. SPCC-1B or DC01-A per EN 10130).
- Confirm thickness, width, coil/sheet form and quantity; request the mill COA.
Packaging and Shipping
Actual photos of cold-rolled steel coil exports
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is DC01 the same as SPCC?
Broadly yes for general forming - DC01 (EN 10130) and SPCC (JIS G3141) are comparable general-purpose grades. Confirm properties per the current standard and COA.
Q2. What replaced ST12?
ST12 (DIN 1623) was replaced by DC01 under EN 10130; ST13 by DC03 and ST14 by DC04.
Q3. What is CR4 steel?
CR4 is a special deep-drawing grade in VDA 239-100 for extremely demanding deep drawing, positioned above CR3 in formability.