Stainless Structurals started in the United States to provide stainless steel profiles to match the available carbon steel profile shapes and sizes. We can also provide special shapes in metric sizes.
The Metric System – A World Leader
There are two basic standard systems of measurement that people use across the globe: The Metric System and the US Standard System. The metric system is by far the most popular. So it is an internationally agreed upon system used in almost every country but the United States. The metric system is a type of decimal system that makes it much easier to convert between units. For example, millimeters to meters. This system is also the assumed system of measurement in science and scientific fields.
US Stays With Its Standard System
The US standard system of measurement involves units such as pounds, inches and feet. The United States are the only country not using the metric system. So many researchers believe the US will eventually convert over. In some areas they are already using the metric system. Mainly for things like liters for drinks, millimeters for car parts, and milligrams for medicine. While some see a full conversion, others believe it would be too costly. Things from computer programs, original equipment, food packaging and more would have to be changed and the costs would be in the billions.
Production Technologies For Stainless Steel
With our laser fusion and custom stainless steel profile production technologies, we are able to produce both imperial and metric size shapes. One of the major benefits of laser fused profiles is that they are fully customizable with web and flange dimensions. With the strips being laser cut from plate, there is no restriction in cutting eighty millimeters wide. Whereas, if you only had the choice of imperial sizes, you would have to go down to three inches or up to four. The other benefit is with laser fusion there is no minimum production requirement. We will produce just one piece if necessary.
Benefits Of The Metric System
We also have hot rolling, cold rolling, and cold drawing production lines at our parent company in Switzerland. With these different technologies we can produce metric size custom shapes or imperial size shapes as well. The array of production methods that we offer, allow us to help you with any size needed, no matter the measurement standard used.
Metric Sizes And Product Availability
One unique aspect of Stainless Structurals is having the benefit of our parent company, Montanstahl, in Switzerland. Being in Europe they work with metric sizes all the time. We also have access to their floor stock which includes the European Standard Shapes like UPN, UPE, HEB, HEM, HEA, IPE and IPN. If your next design needs to be in metric sizes, we can help. If you need standard European stainless steel beams, we can help. Contact us today for stainless steel special shapes in any size you need.
