What grade of stainless steel should I specify for my sheet metal component?

There are 3 main commercial grades of stainless steel that we would manufacture your components from, they are 316, 304 and 430. The 316 grade of stainless steel is used where a superior corrosion resistance is needed e.g. the marine industry. The material is more expensive that either 304 or 430 stainless steels and therefore need only be specified when using in an external environment or where corrosion resistance above that of 304 is required. The 304 grade of stainless steel is a good commercial grade used in most applications. It also has excellent corrosion resistance if not quite to the level of 316 it is still suitable for many applications and is cheaper than 316. The 430 grade of stainless steel is the cheapest grade detailed here and has similar properties to 304 but has the ability to attract magnets. All 3 stainless steel grade can be welded and painted. Please have a look at our design data section where we have more data on these materials and their uses, treatments and finishes.