Stainless steel manufacturing process
The fabrication process of stainless steel is the series of transformations made from the melting of the raw material until the required thickness or diameter is obtained. It can be divided into three stages: melting shop, hot rolling shop and cold rolling shop.
The melting shop stage is the same no matter the product is finally obtained. From scrap, ferroalloys and other elements, the chemical composition desired is obtained and this will define the stainless steel grade.
In the hot rolling shop, the thickness or diameter is reduced taking advantage of the ductility of the material at high temperatures.
The cold rolling shop is the stage where the final thickness or diameter is obtained. The reduction takes place without pre-heating.
Stainless Steel Flat Product
The products within this category are defined by their size and they are plates, flat bars, coils, sheets and discs. Their fabrication starts with the slabs obtained in the melting shop and depending on their thickness they are made by hot rolling or cold rolling.
Stainless steel long product
These products are bars, profiles and wire rod. They are made from the billets obtained in the melting shop.
Stainless Steel Long Product (wire)
These products are made from the wire rod obtained after the hot rolling shop. Their fabrication depends on which will be the final application: welding, stamping, springs, coloring, etc..