Applications
More than a century of innovation
From small beginnings just over a hundred years ago, stainless steel has grown to be an integral part of our lives. Utilised primarily for its corrosion resistance, stainless steel is also found in applications where strength, innovation and aesthetics are important.
Using stainless steels for certain applications helps to protect our natural environment and our health.
The entire economic, social and political life of a modern country depends upon an efficient system of transport. Stainless steel plays a big role in making it possible to organise the transport of people and goods.
This sections looks into stainless steel applications in mining and quarrying, the chemical and petrochemical industries, power generation, electrical engineering and the food and beverage industries.
The architectural possibilities for stainless steel were recognised within only a few years of its discovery early in the 20th century. Highly-visible proof can be found in such well-known structures as the roof of the Chrysler Building in New York and the canopy of the Savoy Hotel in London. For a while, the relative high cost and limited availability of the material restricted is application to “flagship” buildings of this type for which the cost was a secondary consideration.
Once regarded as a very expensive material for everyday articles in the home and office, stainless steel has emerged in recent years as highly desirable and yet easily affordable. As the cost of stainless steel, in relation to that of competing materials, has reduced progressively over the years, so designers and manufacturers have exploited its attractive properties to provide all of us with countless functional products for use indoors and outdoors.
Many artists have sculptures made from stainless steels, because of the many advantages the material has.
To encourage the members of worldstainless to increase their work on market development, and to provide inspiration for new ideas, we present Awards at our Annual Conference for the Best New Applications for Stainless Steel in two categories: Best New Technology and Best New Development.