Stainless steel channels can come in a variety of sizes and specifications. One of those specific types are stainless steel U profiles. This custom section is available for your application.
What are Stainless Steel U Profiles?
There are several types of stainless steel channels available at Stainless Structurals. These include bar channels, standard channels and miscellaneous channels. Most of these sizes of channels are in stock at our facility in Conroe, Texas. One special type we offer are stainless steel U profiles, which one might also know by the name U channel. Stainless steel U profiles are a special type of a stainless steel channel in its simplest form, in the shape of a U. Furthermore, they can be tapered or non-tapered depending on the production method.
Stainless Steel U Profiles and C Channels Compared
It is very similar and sometimes people confuse it with the standard stainless steel C channel. The base of the U is the web or height of the channel and the parallel sections are the flanges or width. The height and width dimensions of this profile help distinguish between a C channel and a U channel.
Production of Stainless Steel U profiles
Stainless steel U profiles are available in hot rolled sections but are more commonly produced by the laser fusion method. Laser fusion technology allows for the sharp, square corners without a taper. This method also allows for a much larger size availability than the hot rolled method would.
With our laser fusion method, Stainless Structurals can produce custom U profiles in a vast size range and many different alloys. This includes 304/L as well as 316/L, 2205 and many others. So we can produce our stainless steel U profiles from 4 inches up to 20 inches tall and from 2 inches up to 8 inches wide. Just like our other structural stainless sections, stainless steel U profiles are available in lengths from 10 feet all the way up to 40 feet. We can also produce these sections in metric sizes.
Applications for Stainless Steel U Profiles
Industries and Construction
Stainless steel U profiles are mainly used for certain industrial and construction applications. Constructors use these channels for framing and edging, especially edge protection. This is one of the benefits that the sharp corners of a laser fused channel provides. These stainless steel channels can also be posts or supports for building corners, industrial racks, pipe supports, conveyor lines and more. Another area that uses custom stainless steel u profiles for tracks or slides for doorways or processing equipment, mainly is the heavy industry.
Water Industry
However, they can also be used in other industries we serve, like architecture and especially water control. One can see stainless steel U profiles as gate guides and stop logs in water control applications and waste water treatment plants. Because these industrial environments are prone to corrosion and can be harsh on other metals, stainless steel is the best choice of material to use for these tracks and slides. The full customization of sizes and alloys is available by our laser fusion method for these stainless steel u profiles. Hence, we can work with almost any design and application.
Here are several examples of custom stainless steel channel projects we have done:
Stainless Clean Room Structures in Cape Canaveral
In this application, custom channels are a part of the construction of a mobile platform that was built around rockets on the launch pad.Custom Stainless Steel Channels for Flood Gates
These custom channels became slide gates for the 17th Street Canal pump station and flood gates.Manatee Gates – Protecting Endangered Species with Stainless Steel
Larger 12 inch and 15 inch stainless steel channels were designed to produce custom manatee protection systems for use in South Florida. There they protect the endangered manatee.Stainless Steel for Conveyor Lines
There is no better material to keep clean and sanitary for food processing equipment than stainless steel. So our U profiles are a perfect option for this application.Stainless Steel Channels
A nice summary of one our most popular products, custom and standard stainless steel channels.
Stainless Structurals: Ready to Assist!
As you can see, stainless steel U profiles can be used in many different industries and applications. When your design calls for a shallow or deep channel, where a sharp edge is critical, Stainless Structurals can assist. Our state of the art production technology, Laser Fusion, can make these designs a reality. However, we encourage you to think outside the box. Together we will explore all available avenues and methods to get you what you need. Maybe stainless steel U profiles are not the best option? We can also produce stainless steel beams, angles, stainless steel tees, and custom sections that could be a better option for your design all with this same technology. Large or small, short or long, stainless or carbon steel, all options are available from Stainless Structurals America. Contact us today for more information.
