Advances in the efficiency of steelmaking in the 17th century mark some of the most important points on the timeline of metallurgy; the discovery of stainless steel also ranks very high in importance in terms of its implications for industry and commerce. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Maysteel Industries, LLC
Allenton, WI | 262-251-1632Maysteel provides complex sheet metal fabrication with a focus on design for manufacturing. Founded in 1936, we combine our extensive engineering experience and market knowledge with an expanding supply chain footprint, allowing us to fabricate products that others can’t. We design, engineer and manufacture custom OEM sheet metal enclosures, kiosks, cabinets and racks. We have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as partnerships in Europe. For more information, visit www.maysteel.com.
O'Hare Metal Products/Concise Industries
Elk Grove Village, IL | 847-439-4550O'Hare Metal Products/Concise Industries has been instrumental in metal fabrication for a wide range of products. Our fully integrated capabilities enable us with our strategic location in the Midwest, with more than 100,000 square feet of manufacturing to provide complete product assistance from start to finish.
M & W Shops
Union Grove, WI | 262-878-4220At M & W Shops, our mission is to continually improve through the utilization of best practices, workforce empowerment and the latest technology in order to be your top source for metal fabrication. Since 1972, our team has proven ourselves over and over again with projects varying from CNC shearing to punching and burning. Call us today to apply our advantage to all your custom metal fabricating needs.
SLH Metals
Corunna, MI | 989-743-3467SLH Metals is located in Corunna, MI. We bring you quality customer service in plasma cutting, custom fabrication and welding services as well as online steel sales. We can provide you with your needs for angles, channels, pipes, wide-flanged beams, stainless steel sheet & plate and various other cold/hot finishing options. Contact us today.
Uni-Fab
Leamington, ON | 800-330-4649UNI-FAB has been serving industrial plants & manufacturers since 1991 with an array of modern technologies to produce high performance, durable metal fabrications to specs. Our reputation for quality products delivered on-time means our loyal customers depend on us for a variety of custom metal fabrications: mezzanines, ladders & platforms, machine enclosures, conveyors, hydraulic tanks, etc.
Stainless steel is defined as any steel with a minimum chromium content of 10.5%. Also known as corrosion-resistant steel, the defining feature of stainless steel is its resistance to oxidation, which is also known as rusting. This distinct advantage over low-chromium steel and cast iron, which rusts easily when exposed to the atmosphere, has made stainless steel an invaluable asset to metallurgists, metal fabricators and even sculptors.
For example, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is plated with stainless steel. It can be milled into coils and wire, bars, plates, tubes and sheets and can be used in applications ranging from household cookware fabrication to handgun manufacturing. Stainless steel is also recyclable; it can be recycled without degradation of strength, durability or corrosion resistance.
Stainless steel's versatility and other attractive properties make it a popular fabrication material for an expansive range of industries. For this reason, many fabrication processes have been developed to accommodate the fabrication of steel products. Stainless steel fabrication typically falls into two categories.
The first category is heavy fabrication, which can include the manufacturing of steel parts for large projects like ships and bridges. Light fabrication includes the production of parts for smaller operations like automotive manufacturing and for use in utilities like water tanks. Stainless steel fabrication operations include stamping, cutting, bending, laser cutting, and welding.
In some cases, steel can be extruded and even molded, but such processes are rare as steel is a very strong material and requires extreme heat to become pliable enough to be forced through a die or into a mold cavity. More commonly, shaped steel products are roll formed, often into channels or angles for use in construction contexts. Stainless steel can also be formed into enclosures, frames, brackets, panels, grills, cabinets and many more shapes.