English translation: non-grain-oriented electrical steel sheet(s)
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21:41 Aug 28, 2011
French to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.) / steel products
French term or phrase:"tôles mécaniques à grains non orientés"
The only context I have is that this was produced by a steel products manufacturer.
However, I know that this is non-grain-oriented sheet steel and the word that is troubling me is "méchaniques", which I take to mean that this is not electrical steel, but "mechanical" doesn't seem likely.
Explanation: I asked a steel client of mine about this, as it was my understanding from translating steel product data sheets that only electrical steels are grain-oriented or non-grain-oriented, and that the "mécaniques" mentioned here is simply a reference to the steel's mechanical properties (yield strength etc.). My client confirmed this morning that this is in fact the case. So I think the French is just obscurely phrased - perhaps in-house jargon.
Thanks Moira. This is rather odd, because it is in a non-technical document about disposal of part of a steel manufacturing business - so no technical context available. I find it hard to decide between your answer and Bourth's, but given your research with your client, I'll trust that. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
My credentials are not up to those of m or B, but an image search on "structural steel sheet" shows it being used in buildings, whereas "mechanical steel sheet" shows lots of watches and small items.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
10 mins confidence:
tôles mécaniques
structural steel
Explanation: Eliminating "à grains non orientés" which you know already, we're left with 'structural steel', as here:
Steel Production Initiatives: for ArcelorMittal (MT) - [ Traducir esta página ] www.wikinvest.com › MT › Topics - En cachéArcelorMittal will transfer its latest non-grain oriented and grain-oriented ... acquire Bayou Steel, a producer of structural steel products with facilities in LaPlace, ...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 mins (2011-08-28 21:53:01 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Explanation: I asked a steel client of mine about this, as it was my understanding from translating steel product data sheets that only electrical steels are grain-oriented or non-grain-oriented, and that the "mécaniques" mentioned here is simply a reference to the steel's mechanical properties (yield strength etc.). My client confirmed this morning that this is in fact the case. So I think the French is just obscurely phrased - perhaps in-house jargon.
MoiraB Local time: 10:02 Meets criteria Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks Moira. This is rather odd, because it is in a non-technical document about disposal of part of a steel manufacturing business - so no technical context available. I find it hard to decide between your answer and Bourth's, but given your research with your client, I'll trust that.
www.westplan.com.au/ - Cached
Westplan Drafting has been specializing in producing structural AND MECHANICAL STEEL detailing for local, national and international companies since 1980.
MECHANICAL STEEL FABRICATION is a specialty offered by both of our yards
MECHANICAL STEEL INCLUDES STATIC EQUIPMENT (SUCH AS TANKS, EXHAUST STACKS, BINS, CHUTES AND HOPPERS) AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF MOVING EQUIPMENT (SUCH AS SHIP LOADERS, UNLOADERS, STACKERS AND RECLAIMERS). MECHANICAL STEEL OFTEN REQUIRES PRECISE ALIGNMENT OF COMPLICATED WELDMENTS AND MACHINED PARTS. McConnell Dowell can guarantee the accuracy required for this type of steel work. http://macdowfabrication.com/capabilities_mechsteel.php?s=3
Any idea what this sheet steel is being used for? Tôles mécaniques are used in the automotive industry, for example.
Or might it be sheet steel used for fabricating mechanical steel pipes, i.e. pipes not intended to convey fluids, especially under pressure. Maybe the sort of thing riot-control barriers or stair handrails are made of.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 56 mins (2011-08-28 22:37:32 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Weldment - a standard term for a pièce soudée. The American Welding Soc. defines it as "An assembly whose component parts are joined by welding".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 9 hrs (2011-08-29 07:37:21 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Googling "steel for mechanical engineering" brings up ghits suggesting that this is largely a German concept (given the number of German sites), but one that has been taken up by producers in India, China, Vietnam, etc. presumably keen to capture the market!
Other sites suggest that in the English view of things, "steel for mechanical engineering" is a subset of "structural steel" rather than an entirely different set.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 days (2011-09-09 06:30:35 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Maybe this term is used to oppose electrical steel (oriented) from structural steel (non-oriented, by definition). Yes, mécanique and à grains non orientés would be mutually redundant, but the French are experts at that sort of thing.
Je postule donc qu'il se peut que ce soit éventuellement une possible redondance hypothétique.
xxxBourth Local time: 10:02 Does not meet criteria Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 190
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Bourth. That is odd because I did a search on "mechanical sheet steel", which came up with nothing. What on earth are "weldments"? A melding of welds and elements?
Asker: Thanks for the encyclopaedic coverage. I used "mechanical sheet steel".
The translation workplace 
