term applied to metal sheet or plate that has been brought to final thickness and finish being passed, unheated, between heavy rollers.

The term cold rolled is used to describe materials which have been rolled at a temperature below the recrystallisation temperature. As a result of cold rolling the product is extremely hard, and in the great majority of cases it is necessary to anneal it before it has any commercial value. The product so produced is characterised by a good surface and enhanced thickness tolerances. Such a product is also referred to as 'cold reduced'.

Section produced by continuous rolling process from thin steel.