Stainless steel for elevator design and equipment

Nowadays, all major lift and escalator manufacturers, their partners and contractors offer stainless steel cladding elements and accessories in a wide variety of designs.

Stainless steel sheets and plates are used for:

• Elevator doors
• Wall and ceiling cladding of lift cabins
• Floors
• Pressplates
• Control and display panels
• Handrail systems
• Architraves
• Shaft cladding

Inox steel is also a very suitable material for any cladding in the lobby, entrance, or reception area of buildings (residences, hotels, airports, museums, etc.).

mirrorINOX – our range of stainless steel finishes and colours for lifts and escalators

For the lift and escalator industry, mirrorINOX offers one of the most comprehensive product ranges in the decorative stainless steel segment which includes a wide variety of finishes, textures and colours, as described below:

• Grit-polished stainless steel sheets: polished in longitudinal and perpendicular directions, HAIRLINE, Scotch Brite, vibration polished, Angel-Hair, brushed in different roughness grades and others
• Bead-blasted sheets of various surface roughnesses
• Mirror-polished sheets, for example, Super Mirror No.8, also in colour
• Embossed, patterned and hydroformed sheets, also in an unlimited variety of colours and finishes
• PVD/TiN-coated sheets in the following colours:

Black-TiN (Charcoal, Anthracite, Onyx, Nero, Noir)
Champagne-TiN (Champagner, Champagne Nickel)
Gold-TiN (Gold Prestige, Oro, Or)
Brass-TiN (Messing, Ottone, Laiton)
Bronze-TiN (Quarz Bronze, Bronzo)
Rose Gold-TiN (Prestige Rosy Gold, Rosso, Rosa, Rame)
Other colours and colour tones are available on request

• PVD/TiN coating for small parts such as railings, handrails, handrail supports, sign holders and other accessories in the colours mentioned above
• nanoINOX® AFP/ETC-coated stainless steel plates with unique AFP (AntiFingerPrint) and ETC (Easy-To-Clean) functional properties in the transparent CLEAR nanoINOX® AFP/ETC version and a wide range of colours such as:

Champagne Classique nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
Gold Rosé nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
Abyss Black nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
Abyss Black Matt nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
Black Electrum nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
Blue Electrum nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
Green Electrum nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
White nanoINOX® AFP/ETC
uniqueSURPHACE®
and many other colours and customised solutions on request

The nanoINOX® AFP/ETC coating not only contributes to the aesthetics. It increases the robustness and thus the service life of the inox surfaces, as well as their hygiene conditions. Such surfaces are easy to clean and provide significant savings on cleaning and maintenance costs, which in turn add value to the product and the application/project.

While the purely constructive elements are largely made of less decorative materials such as steel and aluminium, architects and designers prefer our high-quality materials with their functional surfaces in addition to alternative materials such as wood, stone, composites or glass (in panoramic lifts) for:

• Door and shaft cladding
• Handrails
• Control and display panels

Thus creating an image of the lift and escalator that leaves a lasting impression on the visitor and passenger.

The benefits of stainless steel elevators

Inox metal applications in lifts and escalators are characterised by their:

• Functionality
• Robustness
• Durability
• Hygiene aspects
• Environmental friendliness

In addition, the different types of stainless steel grades and finishes grant architects, designers and builders an almost unlimited number of possibilities and creative solutions for indoor design and decoration.

Why is stainless steel the best metal for elevators?

Due to their exposed position and close contact with passengers, lifts are "the business card" of every building. An excellent finish, high quality materials and an aesthetic and functional surface inside and around the lift give the user an impression of timeless modernity, being up to date with technology and quality, as well as a feeling of comfort and safety, and increase the property’s image, prestige and value – public or residential buildings, company offices, shopping malls, etc.

Stainless steel in the form of custom-sized sheets or parts and accessories is the ideal material for a variety of applications in the lifts and escalators industry.

Stainless steel has many advantages and properties:

• Very good resistance to high temperatures, moisture and corrosion
• Attractive, high-quality appearance
• Long service life and durability
• Robustness against mechanical and chemical influences
• Good resistance to weather conditions, UV radiation and high and low temperatures
• High hygiene standards, which can be further improved by applying the nanoINOX® AFP/ETC coating. This makes cleaning more effective and ensures that the surface becomes even more hostile to germs and bacteria
• Low cleaning and maintenance costs
• Low water and cleaning agent consumption = environmentally friendly
• Fire protection due to the fire resistance of the material
• Sustainability: stainless steel consists of 80% recycled material and is 100% recyclable itself.

It is therefore not surprising that all leading elevator manufacturers use stainless steel as a material for their passenger and cargo lifts and escalators. Furthermore, the use of inox steel in lifts is advised and, in some cases, even required by building regulations in many projects and buildings in:

• Public areas
• Private and social residential buildings
• Offices
• Business and shopping centres
• Medical facilities

mirrorINOX stainless steel products and finishes offer optimal solutions for all these requirements.

The advantages of stainless steel escalators

When it comes to the materials, the most important requirements for the construction of stainless steel escalators are important aspects such as:

• Safety
• Fire protection
• User comfort
• Visual appearance
• Durability
• Hygiene
• Cleanliness
• Ease of maintenance

As an integral part of many buildings, especially shopping malls or business centres, the escalator is often located in the centre of the entrance area as well as of each floor and is used by almost all visitors and seen close up. For this reason, visual and haptic impressions of the surfaces are also playing an increasingly important role.

The metal and surface quality as well as the design aesthetics are therefore decisive factors to stand out in today's competition.

This is where the advantages of the stainless steel finishes from mirrorINOX described above come into play and can offer escalator manufacturers and architects new, highly attractive solutions in the design and construction of escalator elements.

Stainless steel from mirrorINOX is also the optimal material here, fulfilling all the above-mentioned requirements and more.

On this page, you will find examples of escalators whose cladding elements have been made from our stainless steel sheets.

mirrorINOX: expertise in the manufacturing of high-quality stainless steel lift and escalator materials

Even before mirrorINOX was founded, our staff worked for many years with lift and escalator manufacturers and provided advice and assistance to architects, designers and manufacturers during the implementation of many larger and smaller projects.

This extensive experience and expertise are combined with the latest technology, the most modern production lines and customised stainless steel products for elevator and escalator construction. These include:

• Super Mirror No.8 and other mirror-polished sheets for wall and ceiling cladding,
• R11 anti-slip sheets for lift floors,
• Our transparent CLEAR nanoINOX® AFP/ETC protective coating or the coloured nanoINOX® AFP/ETC coating with AFP (AntiFingerPrint) / ETC (Easy-To-Clean) properties

to name just a few. In addition to our nanocoating, our range of stainless steel surface treatments for lifts, escalators and other architectural applications also includes many interesting solutions such as polishing, brushing, bead blasting, PVD/TiN coating and many others. We are happy to provide our customers with further information and advice on stainless steel materials and their processing.

As elevator and escalator applications, our stainless steel finishes welcome millions of passengers and passers-by every day in commercial and residential buildings, airports and railway stations, hotels and cruise ships – in short, wherever people and architecture meet.

Through their appearance and function, they contribute to the reputation and image of the building, its architect, builder and, of course, the proprietor.

The ever-increasing number of satisfied mirrorINOX customers from this and other industries is clear evidence that our quality, performance, reliability and, last but not least, prices are rather up-lifting.

Yachts: stainless steel for marine applications

mirrorINOX: marine grade stainless steel for boats, yachts and accessories

At present, we mainly manufacture products made of marine grade AISI 304 and AISI 316 stainless steel for yacht and shipbuilding, but we are also able to treat and process other alloys such as duplex stainless steel, which are even more corrosion-resistant to salt water and other stresses.

mirrorINOX offers its customers an almost unlimited range of refined metal surfaces, both for the marine sector and in many other areas of construction, architecture and industry as well.

Marine grade stainless steel: properties and applications

Just over a hundred years ago, the materials most commonly used "on board" in boat, ship, yacht and other marine construction were wood and brass.

Nowadays, steel, aluminium and stainless steel sheets are mostly used for marine applications. This is very often for technical and practical reasons, such as:

• Durability
• The high number of possible uses
• Weldability
• Corrosion resistance, with inox steel in particular

But it is not only its rust resistant attributes that make stainless steel a material in demand for boats and yachts.

Stainless steel (e.g. 304 or 316 marine grade stainless steel sheets) is found more and more frequently in the field of boat, ship and yacht equipment as a material for accessories such as:

• Anchor bags
• Fascia boards
• Fresh water tanks
• Boat fittings
• Railings
• Panelling
• Handrails
• Handholds
• Push buttons
• Swim ladders
• Tubes
• Window and door profiles
• Stair stringers and steps
• Lights
• Furniture
• Lettering
• and countless other decorative applications

Its aesthetic quality and the wide range of surface finishing options are highly appreciated by naval architects, designers and boat or yacht owners – for example:

• Mirror-polishing or high-gloss polishing
• Circular-polishing
• Bead-blasting
• Embossing or pattern-rolling
• PVD-coating
• And many more

mirrorINOX – Your partner for marine grade stainless steel sheets and other surfaces

As a leading expert in the surface treatment of stainless steel and other metals, mirrorINOX is the specialist company and contact when it comes to consulting and the requirements in areas of boat and yacht building, equipment and accessories where marine grade inox steel can be applied.

mirrorINOX is constantly receiving enquiries from naval architects, designers and shipyards who plan, design and build cruise ships as well as mega yachts, super yachts and smaller crafts like sailing boats or motorboats.

The steadily increasing number of metalworking companies that manufacture sub-assemblies for the aforementioned industry or produce products for them and which come to mirrorINOX show us that we are their first choice in terms of the quality and innovativeness of our range of marine grade stainless steel plates and surfaces.

The mirror-polished inox surfaces segment is just one example of many:

In recent years, the product Marine Mirror No.9 produced by mirrorINOX has established itself with many manufacturers and suppliers from the boat, yacht, boat equipment and accessories sectors in terms of the highest quality and has redefined the standard.

mirrorINOX produces its marine grade stainless steel sheets for the entire marine industry for applications in and on leisure sailing boats or motorboats of all models up to the very largest cruise ships and the most prestigious mega-yachts.

Stainless steel boat fittings: small parts, larger parts and lettering

Our inox metal surfaces are correspondingly versatile for the large field of equipment, accessories and construction for boats, ships and yachts.

Mirror-polished surfaces

In the qualities Super Mirror No.8, Marine Mirror No.9 and Perfect Mirror No.10®, lengths of up to 16,000 mm, widths of up to 4,000 mm and thicknesses of up to 30 mm are produced – which is unique worldwide!

More information here.

PVD/TiN coatings

mirrorINOX not only coats custom-sized metal sheets in dimensions up to 6,000 x 2,000 mm.

Small parts are also PVD/TiN coated on our special small parts coating line, such as:

• Profiles
• Fittings
• Cleats
• Blocks
• Angles
• Hooks
• Handles
• Brackets
• Other boat accessories
• Letters for lettering in any size made of stainless steel
• and much more

More information here.

nanoINOX® AFP/ETC coatings

These unique nano-coatings were developed by mirrorINOX with AntiFingerPrint/Easy-To-Clean properties and fascinating colours and finishes. They protect the substrate from pollution and environmental influences, setting completely new design accents, for example with the new Antique uniqueSURPHACE® surfaces.

More information here.

Art: stainless steel metal sheets for art installations and sculptures

The choice of materials for art projects, such as sculptures, wall art and art installations, is almost unlimited. Numerous installations and art objects are made from materials such as:

• Stone
• Wood
• Steel
• And other metals

In recent years, artists such as Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Anish Kapoor, Olafur Eliasson, Arik Levy and others have discovered stainless steel as an ideal material for art projects in its variety of forms and surfaces.

They successfully use inox metal sheets, which enable the creation of art projects with unique effects and impressions, in the realisation of their fascinating and impressive artistic works.

mirrorINOX: combining artistic ambitions with new technologies and craftsmanship

These last years of working with artists have proved to us many times that stainless steel is the ideal metal for art sculptures, installations and other art applications:

• Wall art on buildings, in museums, airports, etc.
• Indoor sculptures in malls, business centres, hotels
• Outdoor installations in parks, squares, or on streets

Therefore, the state-of-the-art equipment and stainless steel surface treatment technologies used by mirrorINOX are also specially configured for these requirements.

For instance, we designed and built a unique mirror-polishing line for a renowned artist who needed mirror-polished stainless steel plates for his largest and most spectacular work. No other surface manufacturer worldwide was able to produce metal sheets in such dimensions and quality, because a machine of this size did not exist before we created it.

This is just one example showing that mirrorINOX takes on the challenges of artists and implements them with motivation and passion in terms of consulting, development of solutions, manufacturing of inox and other metal sheets and elaboration of surface concepts.

Why stainless steel and art go so well together: idea, design and material

Stainless steel is an extremely versatile material that can be processed and formed in a variety of ways. Its surface can also be treated and refined using a large number of methods, such as:

• Gloss polishing
• Mirror polishing
• Design rolling
• Bead blasting (sand and glass)
• PVD/TiN-coated
• Colouring
• Etc.

It is a strong, sustainable, environmentally friendly and durable material that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Stainless steel is much more reflective than any other material and has a certain authenticity and sensuality in its visual appearance and haptics.

Inox steel is therefore a highly suitable metal for art objects and installations.

Metal sheets for artwork – mirrorINOX leads the way in stainless steel installations and sculptures

The number and variety of enquiries and orders for inox metal plates that mirrorINOX receives from artists all over the world reflects, on the one hand, artists’ vast creativity and, on the other hand, the versatility and performance of our manufacturing, products and finishes:

• Stainless steel metal sheets for smaller art objects and individual pieces in residential homes and gardens
• Larger volume projects of unique materials for artworks in public spaces, temporary installations, large sculptures for squares, parks and museums of metropolises worldwide
• Custom-made stainless steel plates polished and/or PVD/TiN-coated on one or both sides for artworks starting at 2 square metres up to individual sheets measuring 14,973 x 3,347 x 16.0 mm and a single weight of 6,415 kg (!) in Perfect Mirror No.10® quality
• Polished stainless steel plates of a total weight of over 60 tons for a single metal sculpture
• PVD/TiN coating and nanoINOX® coating of several tens of thousands of stainless steel bells in various sizes and colours

These are just a few examples of the artistic projects for which mirrorINOX has supplied mirror-polished, bead-blasted, grit-polished or brushed and PVD/TiN- or nanoINOX®-coated stainless steel sheets, plates and other parts.

Machinery: stainless steel for appliances

An ever-increasing number of customers are using stainless steel as their material of choice when it comes to the design, construction and manufacturing of appliances, devices or machines in:

• The kitchen
• The bathroom
• The household in general
• Gastronomy
• Medical technology
• or in many other areas of industry

This ideal and fascinating metal has become indispensable in many areas due to its unique properties, both in terms of function (corrosion resistance and others) and attractive appearance and feel.

Stainless steel appliances and machinery: what are the benefits?

In contrast to steel, aluminium and other metals, inox steel not only impresses with its properties such as:

• Corrosion resistance
• Durability
• Chemical resistance

It is also easily mechanically deformable during production and processing, as well as during assembly, and can be easily welded.

Stainless steel consists of up to 80% recycled material and is 100% recyclable.

In addition, the high quality and exclusive appearance of the inox material and other functional attributes of the metal play a decisive role in the design and purchase decision of stainless steel for appliances and machines for:

• General machinery and mechanical engineering
• Special machinery and mechanical engineering
• Plant engineering
• Commercial kitchen appliances (e.g., food processing, storage tanks, brewing equipment, etc.)

Effectively suitable inox steel appliances of the highest quality

In terms of appliance construction, such as at kitchen appliances, machines, apparatus and components, the following stainless steel grades are used:

• AISI 430
• AISI 304
• AISI 316
• and other grades

The applications of modern stainless steel surfaces in appliance construction and machinery engineering are just as varied as the numerous individual stainless steel surfaces themselves. A large number of manufacturing companies and their partners use stainless steel for example for:

• Parts of refrigerators, cookers, grills, microwaves, ovens
• Other kitchen appliances such as coffee machines, toasters, etc.
• Medical, technical and analytical devices
• Apparatus and fittings in the biotechnology, medical, pharmaceutical, measuring and laboratory technology
• Packaging, cleanroom and air-conditioning technology
• Cleaning, semiconductor, food-processing and chemical industries
• Other industrial equipment, such as lift or scissor tables

mirrorINOX: high-quality manufacturing equipment and stainless steel finishes for machinery engineering

mirrorINOX's customers are market leaders and pioneers in their machinery industries. This is where our stainless steel surfaces are increasingly used and applied.

Therefore, it is not only about the expert sheet metal processing of the stainless steel material to the highest level quality and efficiency. We also provide both new and proven innovative solutions in stainless steel for appliances and other applications, created with a great deal of experience and extensive expertise.

Across all industries, the inox metal sheets and plates manufactured and surface finishing services offered by mirrorINOX meet the highest quality standards in terms of processes, machinery and equipment.

You can find out more about our various stainless steel surface finishes, including:

• Mirror polishing
• Ra polishing
• Brushing
• Bead blasting
• Pattern rolling
• Fluid forming
• PVD/TiN coating
• nanoINOX® AntiFingerPrint/Easy-To-Clean-coating
• and many others

We look forward to talking to you about your stainless steel treatment needs!

Stainless steel in tank, vessel, silo and container construction

Since its invention, stainless steel has become particularly popular in the field of tank, silo and container construction and now plays a leading role in this area due to its numerous positive and beneficial properties.

What are the reasons for using stainless steel in tank, vessel, silo and container construction?

There are a number of good reasons for using stainless steel, especially in tank and vessel construction:

• Good availability
• Versatile range in alloys, dimensions and thicknesses
• Excellent workability for cutting, laser cutting, forming, deep drawing, welding, etc.
• High degree ofmetallic purity
• Corrosion resistance
• Chemical resistance
• In many cases, stainless steel no longer needs to be additionally coated
• The surfaces can be highly improved by polishing, mirror polishing or grit polishing, both in terms of the technical parameters (Ra values) and the more attractive appearance of the containers and apparatus
• Reduced bacterial colonisation
• Last but not least, the recyclability and the resulting sustainability speak in favour of stainless steel as an ideal material

Which tank, vessel, silo and vessel construction applications can be carried out in stainless steel?

Considering the above-mentioned advantageous properties of stainless steel, it is not surprising that it is used in such a large number of areas of tank, vessel, silo and container construction.

It can be found in applications such as

• Pressure vessels
• Process vessels
• Agitator vessels
• Pilot plant vessels
• Mobile vessels
• Mixing tanks
• Fermentation tanks
• Horizontal storage tanks
• Vertical storage tanks
• Conical storage tanks
• Vacuum tanks
• Flat bottom tanks
• Process tanks
• Heat exchangers
• Reaction columns
• Filter vessels
• Separators
• Absorbers
• Reactors
• Treatment tanks
• Batching tanks
• Crystallisers
• and many others

For which applications is stainless steel the ideal material in the tank, vessel, silo and vessel construction industry?

In general, stainless steel is the perfect material for applications in all areas of water treatment and waste water treatment, in those of the chemical, cosmetic, food, beverage, paint & coatings, oil & gas and pharmaceutical industries, to name just a few examples.

Customers in the pharmaceutical industry in particular value surfaces with the lowest possible Ra values and are therefore increasingly using stainless steel sheets with 2R surfaces and also very finely grit polished or polished or mirror-polished surfaces.

mirrorINOX - The expert in surface treatment for stainless steel in the tank, vessel, silo and container construction

mirrorINOX polishes, mirror-polishes and grit polishes sheet metal on state-of-the-art production facilities for use in the construction of vessels, silos, apparatus and tanks.

In doing so, the surfaces are improved enormously.

For example, mirrorINOX is able to polish or mirror-polish sheets in dimensions of up to 16,000 x 4,000 x 30.0 mm, which is unique worldwide.

Impressive Ra values of up to < 0.1 can be achieved!

In addition, mirrorINOX simplifies the reworking of tanks, silos and vessels or other parts by polishing and grit polishing beforehand, which means less time and costs for the customer and additional increases of the surface quality as a result.

mirrorINOX processes sheet metal in the stainless steel grades AISI 304 (1.4301), AISI 316 (1.4401), AISI 316L (1.4404), 1.4435, even the special materials Duplex and Hastelloy®.

If you have any further questions on the subject of "stainless steel surfaces", please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail or phone.

You can also find more information at www.mirrorinox.de/en/products

Stainless steel + Automotive

We know stainless steel as an extremely versatile material that is becoming more and more popular in numerous fields and applications due to its outstanding properties in terms of both function and design.

If we look at the range of materials used in the manufacturing of automobiles, materials such as aluminium, steel, plastics, fibreglass, carbon and even coconut fibre first come to mind. However, below we will discuss the possibilities of using stainless steel, both technically and design-wise, in automotive applications:

Stainless steel and cars – will that work?

Every car owner, and especially those who own an older model, not only has to pay attention to the care and condition of the engine and transmission only, but is also constantly faced with the problem of rust and corrosion of the sheet metal and other parts.

Who has not dreamed of driving a car made of stainless steel that will never rust again?

In the past, there were always "stainless steel cars", where the body of the vehicle was made of stainless steel, and of which one or two models even achieved cult status.

In such a car, the sheet metal could now no longer rust, but for reasons of cost and weight, this type of application was not considered ideally and never became established in a large-scale production series.

However, there are a number of alternative applications in automotive engineering where stainless steel as a material makes a lot of sense. For example, in

• Exhaust systems
• Exhaust trims
• Door sill trims
• Trim strips
• Protective strips
• Trims
• Loudspeaker covers
• Loudspeaker grids
• Covers for batteries
• and many more

The advantages of stainless steel in automotive applications

In addition to their excellent corrosion resistance, stainless steel sheets also have a stability and strength, that is very high compared to alternative materials. They are also characterised by good scratch resistance and, when used in thin thicknesses, are relatively light.

In addition, stainless steel is an extremely attractive and fascinating material in terms of high value look and feel, which inspires designers and customers alike.

A variety of different types of surface finishes can be used to create both functional and design highlights of the car.

mirrorINOX: Stainless steel surface treatment for automotive and more

mirrorINOX creates with surface treatments of stainless steel such as polishing, mirror polishing, grinding, brushing, glass bead blasting, PVD/TiN coating, nanoINOX® AntiFingerPrint/Easy-To-Clean coating, pattern rolling and fluid forming, and with combinations of the finishes, an almost unlimited range of surfaces from which designers, developers, engineers, technicians and users are able to choose.

This applies to the automotive sector as well as to the fields of architecture in general, façade construction, exhibition construction, shop fitting, elevator and escalator construction, yacht and ship building, container-, vessel-, silo-, plant and machinery engineering, the household and electrical industry, medical-, food- and pharmaceutical processing technology, for applications in aerospace, for art objects and much more.

Talk to the surface specialist – talk to mirrorINOX!

Stainless steel for medical and surgical applications

In contrast to ordinary steel and other materials, stainless steel is also playing an increasingly important role in the field of medical and surgical technology:

• Hospital furniture
• Medical equipment
• Surgical tools
• Pharmaceutical devices
• Etc.

Due to its many positive properties, this versatile metal is being used more and more frequently in healthcare and is used by many manufacturers to meet the highest demands.

mirrorINOX: we manufacture high-quality stainless steel for medical technology

No matter whether you want to use stainless steel products with one of the following finishes:

• Grit-polished
• Mirror-polished
• Glass-bead-blasted
• Pattern-rolled
• PVD/TiN-coated
• nanoINOX® AntiFingerPrint/Easy-To-Clean-coated

When it comes to stainless steel treatment finishes in medical, surgical and pharmaceutical technology, you will find the optimal customised solution at mirrorINOX.

With us, you will receive complete advice, new and proven surfaces from our own R+D (Research & Development) and production of the highest quality, reliably produced and delivered by our stainless steel / inox specialised company!

Why is stainless steel used in medical technology?

Stainless steel is used in modern medical technology in many areas in which the high quality of the material is guaranteed even under great strain.

Its properties make inox steel one of the most processed metals in the field of medical technology:

• High corrosion resistance
• Strength
• General chemical resistance
• Very good formability
• Polishability
• Manufacturing precision
• Excellent hygiene properties
• Colourfast
• Full, thorough cleaning is possible
• The material can be reused
• Has particularly good antibacterial properties
• Is made from up to 80% recycled material
• Is 100% recyclable

Which stainless steel for the medical and pharmaceutical industries?

For medical applications, mirrorINOX predominately processes stainless steel in the grades:

• AISI 304
• AISI 316
• AISI 316L

But other grades such as AISI 301, 1.4435, 1.4462 and many more can be processed and surface treated as well.

At mirrorINOX, for example, stainless steel sheets for medical and pharmaceutical container construction are Ra grit polished, Ra gloss polished and mirror polished (down to below Ra 0.1 is possible) in large quantities.

Even for similar applications, where the customer previously used sheets with 2R mill-finish surfaces and can only obtain these now with great difficulty or not at all, mirrorINOX has extremely interesting alternatives to offer - and this in dimensions of up to 16,000 x 4,000 x 30.0 mm, which is unique worldwide!

These large stainless steel sheet dimensions are extremely beneficial for tank, vessel, silo and container construction and represent great technical and economic advantages.

Stainless steel grades for surgical applications

Surgical stainless steel is widely used in the manufacturing of medical equipment due to its strength and resistance to corrosion. Predominately the grade AISI 316 is the material of choice. However, in some cases the costs of raw material are a more important factor, certain manufacturers consider lower price grades, for example, AISI 304 and AISI 409.

Surgical steel is used for manufacturing of:

• surgical instruments (clamps, forceps, retractors, scalpels, needles, scissors, etc.),
• dental instruments (dental probes, scrapers, chisels, curettes, etc.),
• prostheses (artificial limbs and dentures),
• stents,
• surgical equipment,
• surgical trays and bowls.

The final requirements for stainless steel, its chemical composition and quality are established by the medical regulations in force in the country of use.

Food industry: food-safe stainless steel

In general, stainless steel is nowadays used in many areas of architecture, building construction, machinery, medical industry, art and everyday life, and it is impossible to imagine life without it.

Stainless steel materials have also taken on an increasingly important role in the food industry.

mirrorINOX: surface treatment of food-safe stainless steel

mirrorINOX's range of stainless steel treatments and finishes for the food industry is as versatile as the industry itself:

• Grit-polished, brushed-polished, gloss-polished and mirror-polished inox steel surfaces are produced for extremely low Ra values (< 0.1) or as an alternative to 2R/BA sheets in thicknesses up to 30 mm and dimensions up to 16,000 x 4,000 mm
• Fluid-formed and pattern-rolled surfaces for function and design
• PVD/TiN and nanoINOX® AFP/ETC coatings for specific applications in the hospitality, gastronomy, catering and retail/consumer sectors

mirrorINOX is the ideal partner when it comes to new and proven solutions for the top-quality treatment of food-safe stainless steel surfaces, especially for customers in the food industry (processing, storage, transport, etc.).

Please do not hesitate to consult us!

Our range of food-safe stainless steel grades

The experts at mirrorINOX process and refine the following stainless steel alloys in particular for the food industry:

• AISI 304
• AISI 316
• AISI 316L

For higher demands, even more resistant materials like AISI 2205, AISI 254SMO and various other alloys are possible.

Why is stainless steel a suitable material for the food industry?

The benefits stainless steel / inox for food use

In the past, wood, glass, copper, brass, steel and later also plastics were traditionally the materials used for the production, processing, storage, transport, presentation and consumption of various foodstuffs.

While the use of these traditional materials was fairly limited, with the introduction of stainless steel it quickly became clear that its properties offered many advantages such as:

• Corrosion resistance
• Durability
• Availability
• Workability
• Sustainability
• Recyclability

The protective, smooth and very stable chromium oxide layer not only provides a high level of corrosion protection, it also makes the material easy to clean and resistant even to aggressive fluids such as fruit and other acids, as well as cleaning agents.

Bacteria, fungi or germs therefore have no surface to attack and this leads to a very high standard of hygiene.

Inox steel can be processed and worked excellently, and its good formability and weldability contribute to the versatile applications and the problem-free food use of stainless steel.

Food-safe stainless steel: additional properties through surface treatment and finishing

Furthermore, stainless steel can gain additional functionality through the right treatment and processing of its surface.

For example, polishing to achieve good Ra values or rolled-in or fluid-formed surface textures and structures, which can prevent or reduce the adhesion of food. This increases the flow of goods in production and packaging processes, improves productivity and reduces unnecessary and costly shutdowns or stand-stills.

Likewise, these finishes and other surface treatments contribute to making the visual appearance of stainless steel more attractive, which is a great asset for use:

• In the food industry (processing tanks, silos, etc.)
• In the gastronomy and catering industry (containers, trolleys, etc.)
• For food wholesalers and retailers (food storage and transport)
• At home in private, daily use (kitchen wall panels, cladding sheets, appliances)

Food-safe stainless steel thus combines functionality and design and fulfils even the highest requirements in both areas.

Which stainless steel is EU-compliant and approved for the food industry?

The requirements for materials used in the food industry and intended to come into contact with food are defined by EU Regulation 1935/2004/EC.

This stipulates that they must not contain or release into the food any harmful substances that endanger human health. At European level, it is very well documented that stainless steel fulfils this requirement.

Further information on this can be found at https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/.