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.
OEM Fabricators, Inc.
Woodville, WI | 715-698-2111Why go to another machine shop when you can get excellent CNC machining, design assistance, fabrication, welding, assembly & finishing, plus micro capabilities, all from us? For machining, milling, turning, grinding, Swiss Style, Lathe & more, we have OEM needs covered for more successful components. Since 1986 OEM Fabricators has been the one stop shop for delivering a quality product & on time.
Chicago Metal Fabricators
Chicago, IL | 877-400-5995Let Chicago Metal Fabricators custom fabricate your metals for you! If you need plate rolling, CNC punching, welding, laser cutting or any other metal fabrication done, give us a call. We can handle anything from components to 30-ton assemblies and have been since we started in 1908.
Mainstay Manufacturing
Brownsburg, IN | 317-975-1056Mainstay specializes in precision metal fabrication. State-of-the-art capabilities include 4000 watts of flat laser cutting, 30 tons of CNC punching, 130 tons of precision 6 axis back gauge bending. Linear stock processing and welding services are also available. We are ISO 9001:2015 Certified. Visit our website today!
Product Fabricators, Inc.
Pine City, MN | 651-674-0007Up-to-date metal fabrication technology, Product Fabricators offers the highest quality manufacturing when doing metal fabricating. From start to finish we offer aluminum fabricating, stainless steel fabricating, copper, & tin. Cutting, punching, forming & bending to 0.200" thick, we offer short - long runs. If given the chance to save you time and money, we will try our best. We guarantee it!
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.