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.
Sterling Process Engineering & Services, Inc.
Columbus, OH | 800-783-7875Since 1983, Sterling Process Engineering and Services, Inc. has provided dependable service to customers in a variety of industries, including dairy processing, food processing, pharmaceutical, beverage processing, chemical, biofuel, and more. Through our process and mechanical engineering services and stainless steel fabrication, we offer piping, conveyors, tanks, as well as many others.
U.S.F. Fabrication
Hialeah,FL | 800-258-6873At U.S.F. Fabrication, metal fabrication is what we do best. We provide aluminum fabricating and steel fabricating, as well as custom metal fabrication for any design that you desire. Not sure which design suits your needs? Let our design wizard lead you in the right direction. Contact us today!
Wisconsin Metal Parts, Inc.
Waukesha, WI | 262-524-9100Since our inception in 1988, our business has grown to include services such as punching, grinding, 3-d grinding, welding, bending, forming as well as machining. Other services include hardware insertion, welding, grinding, machining, turning and assembly. We work hard to save you money. Start with us and we will help you spend your money wisely. Our state of the art machinery offers extensive capabilities including 20-ton Punching with tolerances up to ±.001”.
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.