Food and Pharmaceutical
Hygienic equipment is judged on what it does not do: it does not shed metal into the product, it does not hold residue in a crevice, and it does not degrade under repeated cleaning. That drives the grade choice toward 316L and,…
What This Sector Is Up Against
Hygienic equipment is judged on what it does not do: it does not shed metal into the product, it does not hold residue in a crevice, and it does not degrade under repeated cleaning. That drives the grade choice toward 316L and, where the process is aggressive, toward 904L and pure nickel.
Pain Points
- Iron and chromium pick up contaminating a product stream
- Pitting from chlorinated cleaning water on 304 equipment
- Surface finish that traps residue and fails a swab test
- Weld zone corrosion in fabricated tanks and pipework
What Buyers Need
- 316L pipe, sheet and bar that can be welded without sensitising
- Polished surfaces specified by grit rather than by description
- Material that survives frequent cleaning and sterilisation
- Certificates for equipment that will be qualified
Products That Suit This Sector
316L Stainless Steel Pipe
316L stainless steel pipe is a hollow round steel bar used in petroleum, chemical, medical, food, light industry, machinery and…
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316L Stainless Steel Sheet
Grade 316 is the standard molybdenum bearing austenitic stainless steel, second only to 304 in importance. The molybdenum gives it…
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316L Stainless Steel Bar
316L is widely used in the chemical industry for its corrosion resistance. It is a derivative of 18-8 austenitic stainless steel…
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304 304L and 304H Stainless Steel Sheet
Grade 304 is the standard 18/8 austenitic stainless steel and the most widely used stainless grade, available in the widest range…
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Mirror Finish Stainless Steel Sheet
A mirror finish is a bright non directional surface polished with a 1000 grit abrasive belt and then buffed. EN 10088-2 classifies…
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Nickel 200 Seamless Pipe
Nickel 200 seamless pipe is commercially pure wrought nickel supplied to ASTM B161 under UNS N02200. It is the standard choice for…
View specifications →Typical Application Scenarios
- Dairy, brewing and beverage process piping
- Pharmaceutical vessels and clean utility lines
- Food equipment panels in mirror and hairline finish
- High purity nickel components where alloying elements must not migrate
Delivery Terms for This Sector
- 1 ton per specification minimum on 304 sheet, shipped 7 days after deposit
- Plastic protective film on polished and mirror finish sheet
- Loading at Shanghai by LCL, FCL or bulk
From Enquiry to Container
Step 1
Specify 316L rather than 316 wherever the part will be welded
Step 2
Fix the internal surface finish as a grit number, not a word
Step 3
Supply pickled or polished material with the finish recorded on the certificate
Step 4
Protect polished surfaces with film through shipping and installation
Step 5
Issue the mill test certificate with the delivery
Food and Pharmaceutical Questions
Why is 316L preferred over 316 for hygienic equipment
Which surface finish should I specify
Can 304 be sterilised
When would a food plant need pure nickel
How is polished sheet protected in transit
Supplying Food and Pharmaceutical
Tell us the medium, the temperature and the standard you work to and the grade recommendation comes back with the quotation.