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.
Tampa Sheet Metal Company
Tampa, FL | 813-251-1845Tampa Sheet Metal Company is a provider of metal fabricated products such as electronic enclosures, electronic metal cabinets, and many more. We provide unique metal fabrication solutions for markets such as food processing, pollution control and chemical. Our team are dedicated and highly trained to help bring your product from an idea to completion. To learn more, contact us today!
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.
Styme Industries, Inc.
Kimball, MN | 320-398-8486Styme Industries is a leader in precision metal engineering and fabrication. Our services including design, engineering, laser cutting, shearing, forming, metal fabrication, welding and packaging. Partnerships with our clients are top priority, and we make it our mission to work with our customers to come up with cost-effective solutions. For more information, please call or visit our website.
Versatility Tool Works and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Alsip, IL | 866-382-0482Versatility Tool Works located in Alsip, IL is a custom manufacturer of complex fabricated precision metal components and assemblies. Capabilities include design engineering, Qstep Quality System, lean manufacturing culture, prototyping, sheet metal fabrication, turret punching, press brake forming, combined laser and punching (up to ¼”), stamping (up to 250 ton), high stamping, tooling, and multi-axis CNC machining.
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.