31st Mar 2025
Choosing the right Stainless Steel for your manual handling equipment needs is an important factor in both your design and manufacturing thought process . Here are some key considerations:
- Operating Environment:
It’s important to always give consideration to the external / internal conditions. Stainless steel is known to perform well in high temperatures and retains its strength and corrosion resistance. SS 316 is an important choice in ATEX rated environments and is suitable for Zone 0 – Zone 2 areas in minimising the risk of explosion in potentially hazardous environments.
- Corrosion Resistance:
Stainless steel is stain-less, not stain-proof. It resists corrosion due to its self-healing passive oxide layer. Alloys like 304 and 316 are commonly used for their excellent corrosion resistance. SS 316 is also the ideal choice for marine environments where high salt laden atmospheres exist.
- Strength and Durability:
Stainless steels tend to have higher tensile strength than mild steels. Austenitic grades (e.g., 303, 304, 316) offer toughness and ductility. Nickel content enhances these properties. This is an important factor when designing equipment of lifting heavy items.
- Cost and Availability:
The user should always balance cost against the desired performance of their manual handling equipment. As expected, some stainless-steel grades are more expensive than others. Decision making should be based on your budget and availability but fundamentally on health and safety grounds.
- Aesthetic Appeal:
Stainless steel offers a sleek, modern look and is therefore often a popular choice within a wide variety of industries
- Hygiene & Regulatory Considerations:
Stainless steel’s smooth surface makes it easy to clean, wipe down and maintain, making it suitable for trolleys intended for use in both medical and food processing environments.
Users also need to ensure compliance with any relevant standards such EU or FDA regulations for both medical and food use. Grades such as SS 316 are typically specified due to their excellent corrosion resistance properties and safety.
- Recyclability:
Stainless steel is 100% recyclable, contributing to your company’s sustainability goals.
Common Stainless Steel Grades and associated Properties
- 304 Stainless Steel: Good All Purpose and clean particularly used in kitchen
- Corrosion Resistance: Good in most environments.
- Strength: Adequate for most applications.
- Formability: Excellent.
- Cost: Moderate.
- 316 Stainless Steel: Surgical and marine grader
- Corrosion Resistance: Superior, especially in chloride environments (Salty).
- Strength: Comparable to 304.
- Formability: Good.
- Cost: Higher than 304.
- 430 Stainless Steel:
- Corrosion Resistance: Moderate, commonly used for indoor applications.
- Strength: Comparable to 304.
- Formability: Good.
- Cost: Lower than 304 and 316.
- 440C Stainless Steel: Aviation Grade Stainless, Good for machining not Forming
- Corrosion Resistance: Good, but not as high as 316.
- Strength: High hardness and strength.
- Formability: Poor, more difficult to work with.
- Cost: Higher than 304 but varies.