Advice for working with food-grade stainless steel

Having conducted tubing operations many times over, there isn’t much that our people cannot accomplish. Extensively trained and qualified in a slew of specialist services, including the likes of tube drilling, our technicians can help in meeting a host of unique requirements. Well priced and ideal for numerous applications, our services are ones you can rely on.

When it comes to sanitary food handling applications, no material steps up more than stainless steel does. Not only does the food-grade variant of the metal endure harsh temperatures, which would otherwise melt plastic, the oxide layer aids in halting the formation of rust. Just like with any other materials however, there are facts one must know before utilising this steel for their own purposes.

Stainless steel might be revered for its corrosion resistant characteristics, but a shiny and smooth surface doesn’t equal a food-grade metal. In order to match the primary sanitary standards, the steel’s finish has to abolish those surfaces that could lead to bacterial growths. It must also be simple to sanitise them.

When you need to drill stainless steel the concern is that it will result in jagged edges that could house bacteria. To avoid this, the tube drilling needs to be done with precision and holes should be deburred where possible.

One reason why holes can end up being jagged is because stainless steel gets harder to work with the more it is worked. As a result when drilling it is important to work carefully and patiently. We do just that and produce accurate, well finished holes.

At Multiform Tubes, using our specialist drilling gear, we are able to provide you with an expert cut using clamps. The result is a tube that isn’t bent or turned whilst being drilled. We have a great reputation for quality, achieved by using the right equipment and relying on the extensive skills of our team.

If we can assist you in any way, please get in touch with us.