
Why the food industry loves stainless steel
The food production industry has strict requirements that must be met to avoid contamination. Operating in a sanitary and hygienic environment is more important than ever, as the nation strives to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
Commercial kitchens require machines that meet UK hygiene standards, and this is why the majority of catering equipment is manufactured using stainless steel fasteners and components.
Why use stainless steel?
Most food contact equipment is produced from stainless steel grade 316 because of the material’s excellent resistance to corrosion and oxidisation.
The composition of stainless steel 316 includes 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. It’s the molybdenum that is added to increase the resistance to corrosion from chlorides such as salt.
Stainless steels are much more resistant to scratches and abrasions than softer metals such as aluminium, which is why you’ll often see stainless work surfaces in a commercial kitchen. The material is also tough enough to withstand cleaning with chemical detergents and abrasive cleaning equipment to keep the surfaces hygienically clean.
The food industry is reliant on stainless steel
It’s not just in a commercial kitchen that food-grade stainless steel is making waves—30% of all stainless steel is used in the wider food and beverage industry— from agricultural equipment and food processing plants to vending machines and cutlery.
Choosing the correct fasteners
When installing a commercial kitchen, it’s important that the correct stainless steel fasteners are used – otherwise this could prove to be a weak spot in the design as inferior quality fixings will rust and degrade.
We work with a wide range of product designers to produce high-quality components for the commercial kitchen industry. With our machining capabilities, we can produce fasteners to your drawing to meet the requirements of even the most complex of food and beverage processing installations.
Contact us today or call 07507 606 472 for a free and friendly chat about your food-grade stainless steel fastener requirements.