There are many fabrication businesses in Melbourne that specialise in custom sheet metal projects. For each project, fabricators choose from many metals praised for their different unique qualities — aluminium for its lightness, cast steel for withstanding sudden impacts. However, when it comes to making the final choice for quality finishes, stainless steel consistently comes out on top. Here are the four key benefits our Aston Precision team has in mind when using stainless steel.
1. A Non-Corrosive Material
It is common knowledge to all stainless steel fabricators that stainless steel is one of the few metals that won't rust. Any piece of stainless steel has a chromium content of at least 10.5%. When exposed to oxygen, this chromium forms a thin layer of protection on top of the metal — a barrier that prevents further oxidisation and corrosion. Stainless steel's natural rust-defence is a large benefit for both fabricator and customer, especially in Australia's varied climate conditions.
2. Cost-Saving in Metal Coating
Stainless steel has its own natural corrosion-resistance, which means money doesn't need to be spent on metal-coating processes. These processes — galvanizing, powder coating, zinc coating, etc. — are used on metals that will rust when left bare. With stainless steel, the money that would have been used to conduct these coating processes is saved. This can do a lot for any metal fabrication business's bottom line.
3. Amazing Finished Look
Most stainless steel fabricators believe that this type of steel provides a great finished look. The bright surface of stainless steel looks sophisticated and modern, and it is easily maintainable — if it were to be dirtied over time, you can easily renew it to its original state. Stainless steel has a stylish aesthetic that can suit a large number of design styles, from industrial to contemporary.
4. A Very Strong Competitor
Compared to most of its metal competitors, stainless steel is quite strong. Steel is the second strongest metal type in the world, falling behind only tungsten. Among the wide variety of steel types, stainless steel ranks around third strongest. Its tensile strength ranges from 515 MPa to 625 MPa. Stainless steel can not only withstand strong impacts but can also remain functional in both extremely high and low temperatures — making it a very reliable material.
Working with Stainless Steel at Aston Precision
Our team at Aston Precision works extremely well with stainless steel. We typically work with stainless steel, aluminium, and mild steel — but if you have a special request, we can work something out to make it happen; we are custom metal fabricators for a reason!
Come visit us at our Hallam office, or explore our services through our website. We're always happy to help bring your project to life.