The 6 Steps in the Manufacturing Process of a Stainless Steel Product

Stainless steel | Tuesday, 20 September 2016

This article was updated on the 17th. March, 2022

Stainless steel is one of the most commonly used metals in modern construction.

Thanks to its corrosion resistance and pleasant appearance, this alloy is very common in the construction of decorative elements, especially in places with unfavorable atmospheric influences.

We basically see stainless steel all around us. Yet how many of us are familiar with the way this type of metal and its derivative products are made?

According to this article, there are six major steps in the production of stainless steel:

Here are 6 steps in the production of stainless steel

1. Melting and Casting 
   The raw materials that constitute a stainless steel item are placed together and melted in a giant electric furnace. Intense heat is applied rigorously for a period of 8 to 12 hours during this step. Once the melting is complete, the molten steel is cast into desired semi-finished forms. Some of the most common forms or shapes include slabs, blooms (rectangular shapes), billets (these could either be round or square), rods, and tube rounds.
2. Forming
   In the second stage, the semi-finished steel shapes undergo a series of forming operations. For instance, the stainless steel is hot rolled (heated and passed through enormous rolls). The blooms and billets mentioned above are converted to bar and wire. The slabs on the other hand are formed into plates, strips or sheets. It is very common to turn semi-finished steel shapes into bars, as it is the most versatile stainless steel form (it comes in all grades and sizes). You have round, squared, octagonal, and hexagonal bars, each suitable for a different type of application.
   
   
3. Heat Treatment
   The various stainless steel forms undergo a thorough annealing process during this step. Annealing is another name for heat treatment where the stainless steel is heated and cooled in a controlled environment. The purpose of this heat treatment is to relieve the pent-up stress inside the stainless steel and soften the material to make it more suitable for a wide variety of applications. The people in charge of carrying out the annealing process have to be very careful about the conditions as even the slightest of changes in the temperature, pressure, duration, or cooling rate could result in a faulty product.
4. Descaling
   During the annealing process, a certain amount of scale appears on the surface of the stainless steel. This scale can be removed using a number of different processes that are collectively known as descaling. Pickling is one of the more common methods of carrying out the descaling process.
   
   
5. Cutting
   The semi-finished, heat-treated, and descaled stainless steel forms are cut into specific shapes in this step. Mechanical cutting is performed with the aid of guillotine knives, blanking, nibbling, and high-speed blades.
6. Finishing 
   Finishing is applied to help the stainless steel product achieve its signature aesthetically appealing appearance. Finishes are also needed to make the stainless steel product smooth and easier to clean, which is a top requirement in sanitary applications.

Stainless steel fabrication and (re)passivation

Steel is delivered to construction companies and craftsmen in various forms – from bars to plates and sheets.

However, its installation and application in the production of various products (e.g. stainless steel tanks) generally require further fabrication and processing.

When we talk about stainless steel fabrication, we most often think of processes such as cutting and welding.

Unfortunately, both treatments destroy the protective layer on the surface of the steel, which significantly reduces its resistance to corrosion.

See our compressive article here to understand the science behind this process.

These unwanted side effects are eliminated by proper cleaning and re-passivation of the affected areas.

Among the various methods used for this purpose, the electrochemical method is singled out as the most beneficial one when factors such as efficiency and safety are taken into account.