We are a business that is known for its high calibre tubing services. One of the solutions on offer here is tube swaging. A rotary swaging process, what we do is use it to create circular concentric reductions or regular forms. Examples include hexagonal and square. We do this at one end of the tube or both of them, or through the full section. It is a useful service because it can make the tubes suitable for even more applications.

While they are both made of steel, there are plenty of differences that keep food grade 304 stainless and industrial steel tubes apart. They may be stainless variants. However, there is a gap in the application field. Their usage dictates the implementation standards, surface, and process needs of the two. In this post, we will be diving more deeply into the unique properties they have.

Heavy metal content

Firstly, we want to discuss the heavy metal content. The primary difference between the two tubes is that with 304 steel tubes, they have a much lower total if you compare to industrial tube. It is a requirement, according to set standards, for 304 steel tubes to dissolve lead content ≤0.05. This is under acetic acid soaking. With industrial tubes though, no clear regulation exists for the lead content of the steel.

The surface

This is where the most obvious distinction lies. For food grade tubes, the surface has to be BA at minimum. It is a bright surface. As for industrial products, again there are no requirements. Surfaces for these tubes are typically rough, with you needing to have high corrosion resistance here. If you need tube swaging services, please let us know.

Process requirements

With food grade tubes that come into direct contact with products, the finish within the tube is essential. For the inner wall of your tubing, you must brightly anneal and polish it. This is so you can make the interior of the tube wall smoother. It can stop clogging and prevent deposits.

On the other side, industrial tubes often find their use in polluted settings. As a result, the requirement for anti-oxidation performance is higher. Due to this fact, pickling passivation treatment is normally performed. This can create a dense oxide film on the exterior of your tube. It improves its corrosion resistance considerably.

Start using our beneficial tube swaging services

The work we do at Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd is incredibly beneficial. One of the main advantages would be the shorter cycle times. You will receive your end product more rapidly with us. In addition, no matter what the shape of your interior is, you will end up with smooth, finishes on the tube’s exterior. There is no loss of material or impact on the tolerances either.

So, if you wish to work with us, feel free to contact the team. You can ask us questions about tube swaging and get suggestions for any project.