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.
Schantz Custom Fabrication
Highland, IL | 618-300-6016The range of services Schantz Custom Fabrication offers provides a creative, precise, and efficient process to design and build custom fabricated parts to the strictest of tolerances. SCF is an engineering and design-focused company with the ability to problem-solve your custom parts using Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360. With so many proficiencies and in-house capabilities, Schantz can provide a budget-friendly custom part or assembly with the promise of on-time delivery.
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.
Eldred Sheet Metal Works, L.P.
Houston, TX | 713-227-3251Eldred Sheet Metal Works is a custom sheet metal fabrication shop working in 3-inch and lighter carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum metal. We can make metal cabinets, bins and belt guards, to name a few. Eldred has been in business since 1946. Eldred: Your Sheet Metal Fabrication Shop.
O'Neal Manufacturing Services
Vestavia Hills, AL | 877-623-3344O'Neal Manufacturing Services supplies metal fabricated components serving the OEM industry. Our capabilities include steel fabrication, tube processing, laser cutting, punching, metal forming, machining, kitting & assembly, precision leveling, metal finishing and more. We also serve the industries for material handling, forestry, construction, mining, renewable energy, oil & gas and power generation.
Marmen
Trois-Rivieres, QC | 819-379-0443Founded in 1972, Marmen is a highly regarded subcontractor for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) specializing in high-precision machining, fabrication, mechanical assembly and auxiliary services for parts of all sizes. Marmen provides its services to companies operating in diverse markets such as aviation and aerospace, steam and gas turbines, wind and hydropower, mining and steel, oil and gas, military and medical industries.
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.