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The importance of stainless steel in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals ISSN 0306 2988 For all your stainless steel news worldwide Vol 37 No: 215 February 2009

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Page 1: FEB09SSI

The importance of stainless steel in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals

ISSN 0306 2988

For all your stainless steel news worldwide

Vol 37 No: 215 February 2009

Page 2: FEB09SSI

To advertise here contact us on: +44 (0)1753 885968 You might be pleasantly surprised at the price!!

Page 3: FEB09SSI

4 Alan’s Angle—A look at Martensitics 7 Pharmaceutical Engineering demands the highest quality in stainless steel by Mark Lock, Midas Technology 9 Production of neutral micro pellets for the pharmaceuti-cal industry by Centro Inox, Italy 10 Laser Tube Ireland providing strategic solutions to some of today’s market problems 11 Putting stainless steel in the front line of the war against infection by Dave Crowley of Anopol Ltd

12 Electropolishing of stainless steel surfaces by Herr Siegfried Piesslinger-Schweiger CEO Poligrat GmbH 15 Stainless Restoration has much to offer Industry News: 17 Ticaret invests in new warehouse 17 North American Stainless starts annealing line 17 Sandvik cuts lag seamless surcharge time 17 AK cost cutting measures 17 Growth in third quarter output 18 Midas builds giant fingerprint 18 Electropolishing with a difference 18 Outokumpu cutbacks 19 Product and Services Guide Front Cover: Courtesy of Anopol Ltd

EDITOR: Frank Russell Tel: 01753 885968 Fax: 01753 882980

[email protected] Mobile: 07710 066804

BSSA Editorial contact:

Laura Willcox 0114 267 1260

Annual Subscription 2009:

Europe inc UK: £175.00 (€230) Rest of World: £180.00 (€240)

Airmail: £20.00 (€40) extra Copyright © 2008

Modern Metals Publications Ltd BRITISH STAINLESS

STEEL ASSOCIATION

CHAIRMAN: Mark Perrins

Tel: +44 (0)114 267 1260 Fax: +44 (0)114 266 1252

E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.bssa.org.uk

Stainless Steel Advisory Service

Tel: 0114 267 1265 E-mail: [email protected]

UK Steel Association

(EEF) Tel: 020 7222 7777 Fax: 020 7222 3531

National Association of

Steel Stockholders Tel: 0121-632 5821 Fax: 0121-643 6645

� Stainless Steel Industry is published six times a year by Modern Metals Publications Ltd, PO Box 1187, Gerrards Cross, SL9 7YP, UK; E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.stainless-steel-ind.com It is read by purchasing officers, design engineers, metallurgists, architects and other executives in a wide variety of companies in the stainless steel producing and consuming industries worldwide. It is the official magazine of the British Stainless Steel Association. PRINTED BY: GPEX LTD, TATLING END, GERRARDS CROSS, SL9 7BJ.

www.stainless-steel-ind.com

For all your On-Line Stainless News

Contents Vol: 37 Issue No 215 February 2009

For all your stainless steel news worldwide

ISSN 0306 2988

February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 3

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4 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

EN number Generic Name

C Cr Mo Ni V Max Dia (mm)

HT Condition

0.2% PS (MPa)

UTS (MPa)

El (%) Min

Impact (J)

EN 10088-3 Standard Martensitic Grades

1.4005 416 0.06/0.15 12.0/14.0 160 +QT650 450 650/ 850

15 25

1.4006 410 0.08/0.15 11.5/13.5 160 +QT650 450 650/ 850

12 -

1.4021

420

0.16/0.25

12.0/14.0

160 +QT700 500 700/ 850

13 25

160 +QT800 600 800/ 950

12 20

1.4028 420 0.26/0.35 12.0/14.0 160 +QT850 650 850/ 1000

10 15

1.4031 420 0.36/0.42 12.5/14.5 160 +QT800 650 800/ 1000

10 12

1.4034 420 0.43/0.50 12.5/14.5 160 +QT800 650 850/ 1000

10 12

1.4419 0.36/ 0.42

13.0/ 14.5

0.60/ 1.00

No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4116 0.45/0.55 14.0/15.0 0.50/0.80 0.10/ 0.20

No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4110 0.48/0.60 13.0/15.0 0.50/0.80 < 0.15 No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4104 0.10/0.17 15.5/17.5 0.20/0.60

60 +QT650

500

650/ 850

12

160 10

1.4122

0.33/0.45 15.5/17.5

0.80/1.30

60 +QT750

550

750/ 950

12

20

160 14

1.4057 431 0.12/0.22 15.0/17.0 1.50/ 2.50

60

+QT800 600 800/ 950

14 25

160 12 20

60

+QT900 700 900/ 1050

12 20

160 10 15

1.4313 F6NM 0.05 max 12.0/14.0 0.30/0.70 3.5/ 4.5

160

+QT700 520 700/ 800

15 70

250 12 50

160

+QT780 620 780/ 980

15 70

250 12 50

160 +QT900 800 900/ 1100

12 50

250 10 40

1.4418 0.06 max 15.0/17.0 0.80/1.50 4.0/

6.0

160

+QT760 550 760/ 960

16 90

250 14 70

160 +QT900 700 900/ 1100

16 80

250 14 60

EN 10088-3 Special Martensitic Grades

1.4029 0.25/0.32 12.0/13.5 160 +QT850 650 850/ 1000

9

1.4035 0.43/0.50 12.5/14.0 No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4109 0.60/0.75 14.0/16.0 0.40/0.80 No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4123 0.35/0.50 14.0/16.0 1.00/2.50 1.5 max

No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4125 440C 0.95/1.20 16.0/18.0 0.40/0.80 No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4112 440B 0.85/0.95 17.0/19.0 0.90/1.30 0.07/ 0.12

No properties defined in Quenched and Tempered condition

1.4415 0.03 max 11.5/13.5 1.50/2.50 4.5/

6.5 0.10/ 0.50 160

+QT750 650 750/ 900

18 100

+QT850 750 850/ 15 80

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February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 5

When we think of stainless steel the chances are that the first thing that springs to mind is a austenitic or ferritic application, in 304 316 or 430. There has also been a lot activity devoted to duplex stainless steels in recent years. Yet, it is worth remembering that Harry Brearley’s stainless steel was a martensitic type. Martensitic stainless steels tend to be forgotten, perhaps because they are not made in large quantities compared to austenitic and ferritic grades. They are not as “exciting” as some of the newer duplex grades. However, marten-sitic stainless steels play a huge and often unseen part in our modern world. The intention of this short article is to remind us just how important they are. Basic Metallurgy

Martensitic stainless steels work in the same way as many low alloy steels. Car-bon is the key element. Nor-mally, when steels are heated they transform from ferrite to austenite. On slow cooling the steel transforms back to ferrite. However, with fast cooling through quench-

ing in water, oil or sometimes even air, the carbon atoms become trapped in a somewhat distorted atomic matrix. This is known as body-centred tetragonal. The distortion of the atomic matrix leads to the hard martensitic struc-ture. The higher the carbon level the harder is the mart-ensite. In the as-quenched condition, martensitic steels are virtually useless as they have insufficient impact toughness. Occasionally, lower carbon martensitic steels can be used in the as-quenched condition for wear resis-tance. The most usual treatment following quenching is tempering. Tempering involves heating the steel to some-where between 200 and 700 deg C. The temperature and length of time at temperature determines the final proper-ties of the steel. Tempering imparts a useful a useful combination of strength and toughness.

The graph (at the foot of the previous column) shows how the tempering temperature affects the strength of the steel. Carbon levels can vary from less than 0.1% to over 1% in the martensitic stainless steels. In combination with other elements, this wide variation allows a wide range of prop-erties to be developed for specific applications. In low alloy steels elements such as chromium, nickel and mo-lybdenum are used to improve the “hardenability” of the steel. Hardenability is a measure of the maximum section size which will transform to martensite on cooling. This is related to the “ruling section”. In stainless steels, chro-mium is present in large amounts and so have excellent hardenability. Nickel and molybdenum are also used. Mo has the added advantage of increasing the corrosion re-sistance. Mechanical Properties of Martensitic Grades The European standard for long products EN 10088-3 has a wide range of martensitic grades, summarised in the table opposite. Machinable grades with sulphur are designated in red. Some interesting points can be concluded from this table: 1.1.4005 (416). This is the standard free-machining mart-ensitic grade with sulphur. Millions of small components have been machined from this grade. Note that there is no EN equivalent to 416Se which uses selenium as the free-machining element. 2.Note the series of 12% chromium with increasing levels of carbon from 1.4021 to 1.4034. Note the increased strength coupled with loss of impact toughness. 3.Grade 1.4057. This is the nearest equivalent to the old BS 970 431S29. This grade is very commonly used, hav-ing an excellent combination of strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. The nickel content gives improved hardenability and impact toughness compared to the straight chromium steels. In many cases, the old BS 970 grade in condition T is still specified due to its higher nickel content of 2.0-3.0%, giving better properties. 4.1.4313 and 1.4418. These low carbon martensitic grades have the benefit of being more weldable than other martensitic grades. Poor weldability is normally seen as a downside of martensitic steels due to their gen-erally high carbon content, which requires pre and post heat treatment in welding. These steels are much better in this respect. 5.In many cases, in particular the very high carbon grades, the standard does not attempt to specify the me-chanical properties which can be achieved in the hard-ened and tempered condition. The reason for this is not clear as the whole purpose of these steels is to provide high hardness usually for wear resistance. For these steels other sources of information must be consulted. For example, what kind of properties can be obtained from the highest carbon content of all the grades 1.4125 (440C). One convenient source of information is on the AZOM (A to Z of Materials) Website www.azom.com.

ALAN’S ANGLE: Martensitic Stainless Steels

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6 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

We can now clearly see what sort of strength and hard-ness levels this material is capable of. 6.It is also true that standards tend to be conservative in the mechanical properties that can be achieved. Take for example, 431. The table below again from AZOM shows that much higher levels of strength can be obtained than would be implied by the EN standard alone. Of course, section size is important and these properties would only be achievable on small diameter bar.

Of course, martensitic grades can also be obtained as flat products mainly for blades of various kinds. Most of the grades listed in EN 10088-3 are also found in EN 10088-2. Details of these can be found at http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=65 The class of martensitic creep-resisting steels of the 1.49xx type are found in EN 10302. These are generally of the 9-12% CrMoV type often with additions of other elements such as niobium and tungsten. A summary of these steels can be found at http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=155 Composi-tions http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=405 Properties These steels are used in the power generation industry. Corrosion Resistance of Martensitic Grades The corrosion resistance of martensitic stainless steels is generally lower than for the other types of stainless steel. However, with at least 11.5% chromium, they are genu-ine stainless steels giving a significantly improved corro-sion resistance compared to low alloy steels. One only

Mechanical properties of Grade 440C Stainless Steels has to think of kitchen knives to realise that martensitic stainless steels are corrosion resistant in moderate condi-tions. The higher Cr grades such as 1.4057 (431), 1.4122 and 1.4418 offer corrosion resistance just below or compara-ble to that of 1.4301 (304) in many environments. No martensitic stainless steel can compare with 316 or higher grades for corrosion resistance. Applications of Martensitic Stainless Steels The combination of high strength, good toughness and moderate corrosion resistance allow martensitics to be used in a wide variety of applications including: Razor strip Blades and cutting tools Surgical instruments Gears Valves Pumps Shafts Offshore oil and gas components Bearings Mixers and stirrers Turbine parts Aerospace Many of these applications are hidden to most of us which probably explains why martensitic stainless steels do not have a prominent public profile. It is good to re-mind ourselves that much of our modern world rests on martensitic stainless steels quietly doing their job behind the scenes. Summary Martensitic stainless steels have a long history stretching right back to Harry Brearley’s invention in 1913. Their combination of strength, toughness and moderate corro-sion resistance makes them ideal for a wide range of ap-plications. Although not used in large quantities com-pared to austenitic and ferritic grades, they are a vital part of the stainless steel “armoury”.

Courtesy of AZOM

Courtesy of AZOM

Mechanical properties of Grade 431 Stainless Steels

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February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 7

half of the global pharmaceutical market, with $289 billion in annual sales followed by the EU and Japan. Emerging markets such as China, Russia, South Korea and Mexico outpaced that market, growing a huge 81 percent. The engineering and fabrication sectors specialising in stainless steel and special alloys such as Duplex, hastel-loy and Inconel have a huge market to serve, however Quality Assurance is a pre requisite and the administra-tion in respect of supporting documentation for design and manufacture should not be under estimated and therefore manufacturing periods, material lead in should be taken into account. Stainless steel and other material Mill test certification will be required together with weld procedure and welder ap-proval certification by an approved third party inspection authority such as Zurich. Welded systems may also be subject to NDT (Non Destructive Testing) via X-Ray The Table below and the one on the following page show the 20 largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies ranked by healthcare revenue. Some companies (eg, Bayer, Johnson and Johnson and Procter & Gamble) have additional revenue not included here. The phrase Big Pharma is often used to refer to companies with reve-nue in excess of $3 billion, and/or R&D expenditure in excess of $500 million. Market leaders in terms of sales The top ten pharmaceutical companies by 2006 sales are:

NB The top 25 Pharmaceutical Company lists produced by Wood-Mackenzie for the years 2004-2006 can be found at: http://www.p-d-r.com/ranking/ranking.html on the P-D-R website.

Rank Company Sales

($m) Grow

th (%)

Mar-ket

Share

(%)

Based/Headquar-tered in

1 Pfizer 45,983 2.1 7.3 US

2 GlaxoSmithKline 37,034 9.7 5.9 UK

3 Sanofi-Aventis 35,638 5.0 5.7 France

4 Novartis 28,880 18.0 4.6 Switzerland

5 Hoffmann–La Roche 26,596 21.8 4.2 Switzerland

6 AstraZeneca 25,741 10.5 4.1 UK/Sweden

7 Johnson & Johnson 23,267 4.2 3.7 US

8 Merck & Co. 22,636 2.8 3.6 US

9 Wyeth 15,683 2.4 2.5 US

10 Eli Lilly and Company 14,814 7.5 2.4 US

Most of today's major pharmaceutical companies were founded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Key discoveries of the 1920s and 1930s, such as insulin and penicillin, became mass-manufactured and distributed. Switzerland, Germany and Italy had particularly strong industries, with the UK, US, Belgium and the Netherlands following suit. The industry remained relatively small scale until the 1970s when it began to expand at a greater rate. Legislation allowing for strong patents, to cover both the process of manufacture and the specific products, came in to force in most countries, together with The US FDA regulations such regulations being due to the Thalidomide crisis in the 1960’s. The pharmaceutical industry entered the 1980s pres-sured by economics and a host of new regulations, both safety and environmental, but also transformed by new DNA chemistries and new technologies for analysis and computation. Drugs for heart disease and for AIDS were a feature of the 1980s, involving challenges to regulatory bodies and a faster approval process. There are now more than 200 major pharmaceutical com-panies, jointly said to be more profitable than almost any other industry, and employing more political lobbyists than any other industry. Advances in biotechnology and the human genome project promise ever more sophisti-cated, and possibly more individualized, medications. The cost for discovering, developing and launching (which factors in marketing and other business expenses) a new drug (along with the prospective drugs that fail) rose over a five year period to nearly $1.7 billion in 2003. With the rapid growth and sophistication the engineering sector has had to try and keep pace without the high profit margins that the Pharmaceutical companies gener-ate themselves. More sophisticated materials have been developed (visit www.bssa.org.uk for dates and analysis) together with better finishing processes such as auto-mated polishing, electropolishing (visit www.polgrat.co.uk for more information). For the first time ever, in 2006, global spending on prescription drugs topped $643 bil-lion, even as growth slowed somewhat in Europe and North America. The United States accounts for almost

Pharmaceutical Engineering demands the highest quality in stainless steel By Mark Lock Managing Director Midas Technologies (GB) Ltd & Aquavent UK Limited

8000litre vessels in foreground are 2 transportable extractor/percolator vessels, supplied to Ransom’s of Hitchin

Page 8: FEB09SSI

Stainless Steel Products for the Pharmaceutical sector include but are not restricted to:- Pressure Vessels, process vessels, conveyors, hygienic and WFI (water for injection) pipe work systems, handling equipment, trolleys, bespoke R&D equipment.

Products evolve from the pharmaceutical industry as its Doctors and Project Managers come up with ideas for their product development and process requirements. Quality planning is essential and identification of stainless steel grades during the design process. Where pressure vessels are being designed and manufactured latest regulations must be adhered to. The designer and manu-facturer should give careful consideration to welded joints where welds will need to be smooth, crack and crevice free when in contact with product and for CIP (Cleaning in place) systems. Material finish (Ra) should be given such there is no misunderstanding and the finished prod-uct will be fit for purpose and easily cleaned in service. At Midas Technologies we have conducted our own re-search on finishing stainless steel fabrications from stock materials – sheet, plate and sections to establish the best base material stock finishes to use for high quality and economy of manufacture. For instance utilising a stainless steel grade 316L cold reduced sheet (2B) for a vessel body and then electropolishing it gives a superior finish with no mechanical polishing required other than weld seams. Initial stock holder PV protection and careful handling of stainless steel is extremely important so as to minimise scratching and damage that would have to be mechani-cally rectified by polishing adding unnecessary cost to the

Mixing vessel for cancer drug development showing spray ball for CIP

8 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

Page 9: FEB09SSI

product manufacture. Equipment and benches must be clean and free from steel/iron where it could contaminate the material, in any event final mechanical polishing and/or electro polishing will remove any surface contamina-tion, the product then should be immediately packaged to stop any contamination via air-born oxides or local activi-ties. A common contamination is where un familiar fabri-cators grind carbon steel close to stainless steel products and should be avoided at all cost. Stainless steel and carbon steel can be fabricated in unison with the correct process and manufacturing procedures in place (¹) Client’s should assess fabricators capabilities and avail-able facilities, companies who are ISO 9001:2000 regis-tered will normally be fully compliant with Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance Requirements. The BSSA can help on materials choice and also run fab-rication courses with technical information available off the web site, membership is very cost effective. (¹) This is the authors opinion, some clients will not place contracts unless stainless steel is the only material being used for fabrication in the works. Useful information available from web sites at :- www.bssa.org.uk www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg261.pdf www.fda.gov www.asme.org www.standardsuk.com www.bre.co.uk www.pharma-info.com

Bulk extract vessel engineering drawings

Processing vessels natural extracts for cough mixtures, gripe water etc

The production of micro pellets (saccharose and wheat starch) is carried out according to GMP regulations and is used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of special modified-release medication. Their processing requires bacterial count control and quality requirements which can only be guaranteed by means of physical separation, in vacuum, between the mechanical parts of the coating kettles (revolving cups for product mixing) and the finished product collection outlet. In a company from San Giuliano Milanese, which manu-factures “sugar spheres”, a purpose-provided department has been fitted out with 14 coating kettles inserted in stainless steel walls. The entire structure is made up of the following components, for which EN 1.4404 (AISI 316L) stainless steel was used: •Tubular base frame • T and L section supporting structure, series PT5050T and PT5050L • Connecting crossbeams made of sections • 1.2 mm thick wall panels, with Scotch Brite finish, se-cured with stainless steel screws • Panel applied on the outlet • Intake pipe manifold made of 114.3 mm diameter tube, complete with clamps • Push-button controls for the coating kettles built into the stainless steel structure. Two sealed stainless steel doors allow an easy access to the technical compartment. ▌Client: I.P.S., San Giuliano Milanese MI / Stainless steel walls made by: Senna Inox Srl – I-26813 Graffignana LO

– Viale Marcora 15, Loc. Cesolone, phone +39 0371 209193, fax +39 0371 88466, [email protected], www.sennainox.it / Stainless profile sections: Palladio Trading Srl - Via A. Boito 25/31 – I-31048 San Biagio di Callalta TV, phone +39 0422 7969, fax +39 0422 796969, [email protected], www.palladiotrading.com

PRODUCTION OF NEUTRAL MICRO PELLETS FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY From Inossidabile 166 - December 2006

February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 9

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10 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY December 2009

With many companies in the stainless industry struggling under what appears to be the perfect storm in economic terms, proper use of emerging technologies can provide some solutions to the myr-iad of problems out there. While the use of laser technology to cut flat stainless plate materials is well established and integrated into manufacturers and fabricators work practices, the next generation of laser cutters capable of cutting tubu-lar and hollow section materials

have yet to reach their full potential. Market forces are demanding companies adjust all their overhead levels. The knock on effect of these decisions can leave companies weak strategically as they no longer have the ability to operate as efficiently, to the same qual-ity standards or capacity levels previously possible. La-ser tube Ireland is working with companies to overcome these challenges. By providing our clients with accurately cut, ready to use assemble parts, companies have the ability to reduce and control their costs, guar-antee lead times, and in many cases increase the quality of their finished products, thus turning a difficult situation into a strategic advantage over their competitors. Laser cutting is faster, cleaner, and more accu-rate than anything that can be produced by traditional manufacturing methods. Literally any shape can be machined onto the end of tube or along its’ length. Sawing, deburring, drilling, punch-ing, milling, notching etc can all be completed in a single fully automated operation. By adopting our capabilities into their business our clients have been able to decrease not only their daily running costs but also capital costs by reducing their existing ma-chinery levels as they can now get finished parts in the quantities they require, within agreed leads times, at set cost levels. It also means customers can take on work without the need for capital investments (even if they could get access to credit) thus not adding capital repay-ment pressure on the business. We have worked with companies R & D departments on how to get more from the stainless materials they are using, reshaping their thought process on how to achieve

best practice, more efficient results, and more profitable results, this is particularly true for high volume production. Adoption of the technology can change the strategic thinking of companies as they can now gain access to the markets and tender for work that would have previously been impossible because of their size or lack of technol-ogy. Integrating the technology into work practices means companies can effectively leapfrog their competitors stra-tegically, financially and in the quality of finished product. No matter what the specific industry you are in, if you use circular or tubular hollow section stainless materials, laser technology can work for you. It may initially take some research but we are here to assist you in any way we can with, pricing, prototypes and advice. Laser Tube Ireland was first to the market in Ireland, we would welcome the opportunity to illustrate our capabilities and how we can make a difference to your business. Please visit our website www.lasertubeireland.com to see the obvious advantages of the technology and the parameters of ma-terials that can be used.

Laser Tube Ireland providing strategic solutions to some of today’s market problems

Page 11: FEB09SSI

February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 11

may greatly enhance the anti-bacterial properties of this metal in medical environments. The agency was originally looking at stainless steel and its use in the food processing industry – concerns had been raised about the possible build up of salmonella bacteria during the processing of chickens – and they examined the differences in bacterial build up on the stainless surface post a number of different treatments. Polishing, sandblasting and grinding were all found to re-duce the numbers of bacteria, but one treatment was found to be way more effective than all the others; namely electro-polishing. In very simple terms electropolishing involves the compo-nent/piece being submerged in a bath of specific chemicals through which an electrical current is passed. The combina-tion of current/chemical removes a microscopic layer from the surface of the part, leaving the finished piece both

smoother and cleaner than by any other polishing/grinding method where dirt can become entrapped. When bacteria accumulate on a surface, they develop an increasingly com-plex matrix by attaching to one another and forming a bacte-rial film which stubbornly resists conventional washing pro-cedures. It has been known for some time that irregularities on the surface can allow bacteria to obtain a ‘tighter grip’ and accelerate their spread; however, the electropolishing procedure prevents proliferation by offering only a smooth, clean surface with fewer areas for the bacteria to easily take hold. Of course, electropolishing is only of use as long as a strict cleaning regimen is followed post installation. In simple terms though; if an item has already been treated to be more resistant to bacteria taking hold on its surface, then it’s rea-sonable to assume any cleaning errors would be far less likely to have serious consequences. Electropolishing may not be necessary for all stainless steel components or items, but the evidence demonstrates that it can certainly give us a head start in the war against infection in many medical and pharmaceutical scenarios. SOURCES: Daily Telegraph onlineHealth Protection Agency – Epidemi-ological Data: Healthcare Associated Infections “Commentary for MRSA Bacteraemia December 2008” United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Re-search Service “Bacterial Bio-films Less Likely On Electro-polished Steel” (Judy W. Arnold) http://www.nobelprize.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki With grateful thanks to Louise Mansergh at Spire Healthcare for data.

Consider this; in 1928, Alexander Fleming isolated an ex-tract from mould of the genus Penicillium – he named it penicillin. After his discovery, Fleming was unsure as to the suitability of penicillin for use in vivo – it took the efforts of others such as Ernst Chain and Norman Heatley to turn the Scotsman’s remarkable discovery into something of practical purpose in the treatment of human disease. And yet Fleming still made another discovery – the use of too little of the new drug or for too short a period of time would be disastrous. He cautioned in many speeches against these parameters as they were exactly the requirements under which the bac-teria would be able to develop resistance to antibiotics. MRSA may feel like a new concept to the general public at least, but in actuality, it has been around for almost as long as antibiotics themselves. Medical professionals are now actively encouraged not to give out antibiotics unless it’s absolutely necessary in an effort to prevent further strains of medically resistant bacteria developing. Naturally, this is a sensible step to try and stem future problems – but what of the now, what of bacteria that are already able to cope with the strongest antibiotics we have available to throw at them? Walk into any hospital in the UK and the answer is on al-most every wall you approach – cleaning. Personal cleanli-ness, cleanliness of instruments and equipment and of course, the state of the wards themselves and the furniture contained within. Without wishing to put too fine a point on it, it would appear that intensive, well managed cleaning does actually work in preventing the spread of infection. “PRIVATE HOSPITALS DON’T GET MRSA” James Bartholomew, author, ‘The Welfare State We’re In’ writing in The Daily Telegraph, July 2004. Ok, so the above statement may be a slight exaggeration – but only slight; these are infection rate comparisons for 2007. *Spire Healthcare is one of the UK’s largest operators of private hospitals – they acquired Bupa’s UK hospitals in 2007. Granted, the NHS has more hospitals under its umbrella, but

still – on average, 7500 people a year are contracting poten-tially life threatening, bloodstream infections in state hospi-tals. Whilst it’s important to stress that it’s obviously not pos-sible to state that this could be prevented with a better sys-tem of cleaning, the facts would seem to at least strongly suggest that it certainly wouldn’t make the figures any worse. Which brings us to stainless steel; as a material, it’s used for a wide range of medical and pharmaceutical applications, ranging from very small coronary stents, all the way through to furniture found in operating theatres and wards. It has been known for some time that stainless steel is much eas-ier to clean than some alternative surfaces. Research by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Re-search Service (USDA-ARS) suggests that a further step

Spire Healthcare* NHS

C Difficile (per 10,000 bed days)

0.45 12

MRSA (per 10,000 bed days)

0.1 1.5

Putting stainless steel in the front line of the war against infection by Dave Crowley of Anopol Ltd

Comparative photographs showing bacterial build up. Left – electropolished stainless steel. Right - non-electropolished stainless steel (Magnified 500x approx).

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12 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

Electropolishing enables a stainless steel surface to be produced which will satisfy the highest levels of purity and cleanliness. The effects of electropolish-ing on the different criteria for hygiene are explained and its practical applications are shown with exam-ples from industry. A prerequisite for ensuring opti-mum electropolishing results is the careful harmoni-sation of the material, the construction technique and the fabrication process. PROBLEM DEFINITION Stainless steels in the sense of this report can be taken as non-rusting steels with a minimum of 13% chromium in the alloy. More generally, the chrome content is above 17%, together with additions such as nickel and molybde-num being usual. The microstructure can be ferritic, aus-tenitic, or duplex. Increasingly, austenitic chrome-nickel-molybdenum steels are being used in systems with critical purity de-mands, where the surface treatment is of decisive impor-tance to the attainable operational results. Electropolish-ing has proved itself to be an operationally safe and eco-nomic process capable of meeting these demands. PURITY CRITERIA The suitability of surfaces for use in systems with high purity demands is dependent on two properties: the surfaces themselves should not transfer any sub-stances to the contact media. no external impurities should adhere to the surfaces, nor should the surfaces enter into catalytic interaction with surrounding substances. The first property termed ‘internal’, the second ‘external’ purity of the surfaces. The internal purity of surfaces is principally determined by the corrosion resistance, the particle emission properties and the diffusion properties of the material. With non-rusting steels these properties are to a large extent deter-mined by the condition of the sub-surface material layer and they can be influenced and significantly improved by electropolishing. With external purity, the adhesion and cleaning properties of stainless steel surfaces and similarly their passivity and catalytic behaviour are largely determined by the energy condition and microstructure of the surfaces. Both properties can be directly influenced to a high de-gree by electropolishing. EFFECT OF ELECTROPOLISHING During the course of fabrication, engineering surfaces are subjected to a series of treatments, the effects of which lead to alterations in topography, structural texture, alloy composition, purity and energy condition. At the end of the fabrication process the surface produced is generally

one, which, in structure and properties, differs considera-bly and, in most cases, adversely from the base material. Ground Surface Grinding Defect

These damaged surface layers can be removed, without any further stress by electropolishing down to a depth at which the material is still in a pure, undisturbed form. The surface properties are thereby improved in their en-tirety, in one single processing stage to an extent not possible with any other process.

Geometry and topography The structure of a stainless steel surface is principally altered on a micro scale by electropolishing. All rough-ness and hairline cracks in the structure are smoothed out and removed. At similar roughness index values, the electropolished surface compared with a mechanically fabricated surface, shows a reduction in surface area of approximately 80% with a corresponding reduction of interaction with the environment. Whilst on a micro scale the surface is smooth and closed, on the macro scale it shows a certain residual waviness depending upon the initial surface condition. At the same time it is free of burrs, wafers, doubling and material scal-ing. Internal purity Mechanical processing produces surface impurities up to a depth of several micrometers. These impurities can only be removed effectively by breaking down the con-taminated material layers by electropolishing. The sur-faces thus produced will correspond to the degree of pu-rity in the base alloy.

ELECTROPOLISHING OF STAINLESS STEEL SURFACES by Herr Siegfried Piesslinger-Schweiger CEO Poligrat GmbH

Finishing for High Purity and Pharmaceutical demands

Micrograph before Electropolish

Micrograph after Electropolish

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February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 13

Material structure After removal of the damaged surface layers, the electro-polished surface is formed from undisturbed basic struc-ture with its characteristic texture and its original proper-ties. There is an almost complete absence of crystal dis-location as centres for adhesion, desorption, local ele-ments, corrosion nuclei and catalytic reactions. Energy condition With electropolishing, the distressed surface layers are removed without any further energy being introduced into the surface by the treatment. The electropolished sur-face subsequently exhibits a minimum of potential energy and as a result, a high passivity and resistance to corro-sion. Deposit formation as a result of adhesive and cata-lytic processes is also considerably reduced. Diffusion The diffusion of gases from a surface is largely caused by impurities in the actual surface layers. What principally determines the rate of diffusion is the type of impurity and the frequency of diffusion paths in the form of dislocations in the structure. Experience has shown that the majority of impurities are concentrated the immediate in sub-surface layers and these are removed by electropolish-ing. Electropolishing will also reduce to a minimum the number of diffusion paths in the form of structural defects. PASSIVATION & CORROSION RESISTANCE The corrosion resistance of stainless steel depends, to a large extent, on the formation of a homogenous and dense corrosion-inhibiting layer of chrome oxides, which is commonly known as the passive layer. This requires a metallically pure surface with sufficient chrome content and a ready supply of oxygen. Both of these require-ments are ideally met by electropolishing: The electropolished surface is metallically pure and even displays a slight enrichment of chrome in comparison with the base structure. During electropolishing oxygen is released from the ma-terial surface, which leads immediately after completion of the electropolishing process to the formation of a ho-mogenous passive layer. Electropolished stainless steel surfaces accordingly show clearly improved corrosion properties in comparison with surfaces treated differently. For demanding applications such as the pharmaceutical industry, corrosion resistance can be further improved by

the use of recently developed chelating passivation tech-niques, such as POLINOX Protect. An organic passiva-tion fluid is applied to the existing passive layer to form a stable complex with the substrate which gives optimum corrosion resistance.

The highest level of corrosion resistance is given by sub-sequent controlled heat treatment of the passive layer at approximately 150oC for 5 minutes.

APPLICATIONS Pharmaceutics and biotechnology Particle-free, fibreless and pyrogen-resistant surfaces are required for high-grade pharmaceutical and bio technical production plants. Extensive research and tests aimed at optimising material and surface quality showed high-grade electropolished stainless steel surfaces to be the most operationally safe solution to the problem. Pyro-gens (ie. impurities which cause fever) arise principally from protein residues on linings, which evade the effect of the cleaning process. The use of electropolished stainless steel surfaces can ensure a pyrogen-free envi-ronment in continuous production. The effectiveness of the measure is dependent on a high-grade electropolish-ing quality with a material removal of at least 40 µm at every point in the system, including the welding joints.

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14 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

Container Reactor Vessel Head

Vacuum technology In high vacuum and ultra high vacuum conditions, highly pure electropolished surfaces show clearly reduced de-sorption and gas purifying rates in comparison with me-chanically polished, pickled or blasted surfaces. The pumping time necessary to produce the vacuum can be reduced by a factor of ten and the attainable vacuum quality can be improved correspondingly. A spectacular example of the use of electropolished surfaces in a vac-uum is the inside of the JET, the European Plasma Fu-sion Research Centre in Culham, Great Britain.

QUALITY CRITERIA If carried out correctly, electropolishing can significantly enhance the surface quality of the base material and its operational performance. Great care must, however be taken with regard to the design and construction of the component and the electropolishing process itself. Highly pure stainless steel surfaces can only be effec-tively achieved by electropolishing if the relevant factors are carefully considered. The choice of electrolyte, process parameters and appa-ratus construction, including pre- and post-treatment, must be carefully matched to the actual material and the required end result. All relevant operational criteria should be carefully monitored and logged.

The material to be processed should be trialed and cho-sen on the basis of its suitability for electropolishing. A homogenous structure and even distribution of the alloy-ing elements are just as essential as processing condi-tions for successful electropolishing. Non-metallic impuri-ties such as clinker and carbide need to be kept to an absolute minimum in the structure. For this reason un-stabilised materials with low carbon content are preferred to stabilised materials. Component construction and jigging will have a decisive influence on the electropolished result. Essentially, the component needs to be capable of being held without gas traps and of draining fully after processing. Particular attention should also be paid to welding technique and mechanical preparatory work before electropolishing. By consulting with your finishing company at the design stage, electropolishing and passivation can make a real contribution efficiency and success of your components.

Rpt Poligrat SSI Dec 06 page 13

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DOCUMENTATION A full documentation package is presented before and after a contract should the client require. For in-house work a Procedure and Certificate of Conformity are of-fered. For site work, typically a document pack would comprise: • Procedure • Method statement • MSD (manufacturer safety data sheets for chemicals) • COSHH data sheets • Certificate of Conformity • Copy of public and product liability insurance certificate • Personnel training certificates (confined space etc) • Process rinse water removal certificates Other documents might include a log of the“grab sample” for any air monitoring that has been conducted during the contract. PHARMACEUTICAL "DEEP CLEANING" (SWAB CLEANING) The pharmaceutical industry has exacting standards when it comes to cleanliness and Stainless Restoration Ltd are well accustomed with these standards. Indeed, SRL have helped some of the major pharmaceu-tical companies and their contractors to design and es-tablish suitable cleaning procedures. SRL offer a "deep cleaning", or SWAB cleaning proce-dure, to the pharmaceutical industry. This procedure is particularly important following the installation or commis-sioning of new equipment or plant that has undergone a mechanical polishing operation to achieve a desirable Ra um finish. The newly polished surface will often contain deep, ground in dirt, fat or mineral oils that are difficult to re-move with the CIP systems found in plant and equipment. The CIP systems are not designed for "deep cleaning" but for removing light, superficial product lightly clinging to the surface. A full documentation pack is available on request. ELECTROPOLISHING Stainless Restoration Ltd offer an electropolishing service to the stainless steel fabrication / manufacturing indus-tries. The electropolishing work undertaken cuts across all market sectors; from small casting and component manufacturers to fabrications for the food industry to more sophisticated items such as vessels for the pharma-ceutical sector. Electropolishing’s Key Advantages are: • Bright and aesthetically pleasing finish • Chemically passive surface • Surface roughness reduced - smoother ‘micro’ surface with fewer cracks • Corrosion resistance maximized by enrichment of the chromium oxide layer • Reduced bacterial growth and easier cleaning due to less build up of product on the surface of the material. A documentation pack is available on request for all in-house contract electropolishing services. Tel: 0161 368 6191 Fax: 0161 366 9790 [email protected] www.stainrest.com

Stainless Restoration has much to offer

February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 15

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16 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

BSSA NEWS: February 2009

The BSSA Annual Lunch and AGM will take place on Thursday 2nd April at the familiar venue of the Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield. The lunch will be preceded by the BSSA Annual General Meeting which will begin at 10.30 a.m. and is open to all member companies. If you would like to attend please complete the booking form available from the BSSA website at www.bssa.org.uk or contact Lucy Gubbins at the BSSA office Tel: 0114 267 1260 or email: [email protected]

BSSA Annual Luncheon & AGM, 2nd April 2009

BSSA Starter Workshop: 19th March 2009, EEF, Sheffield The next starter workshop will take place on the 19th March at EEF, Sheffield. The workshop will give you a com-prehensive introduction to stainless steel whether you are new to the industry or looking for a refresher on the basics. Topics include grades, finishes, corrosion, mechanical properties and applications. For further information contact Lucy Gubbins at the BSSA on 0114 267 1260 or email: [email protected]

BSSA & Metskill Partnership The BSSA is working in partnership with Metskill. Led by metals employers, Metskill manages skills training for small to medium businesses in the metals sector, enabling employers to easily access a wide range of high qual-ity training and funding. Metals industry skills development programmes are designed tested and monitored by employers to deliver real business level results. For more information visit www.bssa.org.uk/training.php

BSSA Buying Group The BSSA has joined forces with Independent Buyers Ltd, a leading procurement support business to run a pur-chasing consortium on behalf of our members. They already run several such consortia across the UK and are able to offer advice and support on all areas of procurement, and give members access to their existing purchase agreements. For more information visit www.buyinggroups.co.uk/bssa.html

This years guest speaker Richard Caborn

Date Event Location

4th Feb Marketing & Technical Committee Meeting Broomgrove, Sheffield 19th Feb BSSA Starter Workshop NMC, West Bromwich 24th Feb BSSA Council Meeting Broomgrove, Sheffield 26th Feb Surface Finishers Meeting Federation House, Birmingham 5th Mar Getting The Best Out of Stainless Steel Seminar NMC, West Bromwich 11th Mar Getting The Best Out of Stainless Steel Seminar Broomgrove, Sheffield 19th Mar BSSA Starter Workshop Broomgrove, Sheffield 2nd Apr BSSA Annual Luncheon & AGM Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield 7th – 9th Apr 5th Stainless Steel Congress Brno, Czech Republic 8th Apr Euro Inox Marketing Meeting Brno, Czech Republic 14 Apr Special Steel Product Group NAMTEC, Rotherham

Events Diary 2009

Getting the Best Out of Stainless Steel Seminars Ensuring the final customer is not disappointed with how stainless steel performs in a particular application re-quires a clear understanding of the intended use. The BSSA ,in conjunction with the CBM, is organising two workshops “Getting the Best Out of Stainless Steel” which will focus on the key questions that should be asked to help bring about a satisfactory outcome; the first will be held on Thursday 5th March at the National Metal Forming Centre, West Bromwich and the second on Wednesday 11th March at EEF Sheffield.

BSSA Buying Group The BSSA has joined forces with Independent Buyers Ltd, a leading procurement support business to run a pur-chasing consortium on behalf of our members. They already run several such consortia across the UK and are able to offer advice and support on all areas of procurement, and give members access to their existing purchase agreements. For more information visit www.buyinggroups.co.uk/bssa.html

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Industry News

The project will cost around 120 Million USD and this amount may increase in case of further expansion. Investment will be carried on during 2009 till 2011. Current facilities will also be kept in process. Saritas was founded in 1957 and dealing with stainless steel since 1970’s. We are focusing on stainless steel flat products since 1980’s and invested on the first service center in 1998 in Dudullu Industrial Area, Istanbul. The company supplies stainless steel with wide range of stock from 0,40 mm to 100 mm thickness and has the capability of cutting to length, slitting, grinding, brushing and plasma cutting. Saritas is also ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified by TUV Sud. Our company is independent and 100% belongs to Saritas family.

Ticaret invests in new warehouse Saritas Celik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. the largest stainless steel service center of Turkey, East Europe and Middle East has started a new major investment project in Gebze Industrial Zone near Istanbul. The objective is to ensure the company keeps its leading position in the region and become one of the largest stainless steel service and distribution centers worldwide. The new investment is located in the most advanced and prestigious industrial zone in Gebze on a total 160.000 sqm property. The groundbreaking ceremony took place with high level of participation on 15/01/2009. New investment will consist of a high capacity stocking system with high stock level in a wide range of stainless grades including duplex series and new processing lines with latest technology and maximum capabilities.

Stay informed Visit

Stainless Steel Industry

On-line at www.stainless-steel-

ind.com

Acerinox, in its subsidiary, North American Stainless (Kentucky, USA) has started up the new No.4 AP production line. This line of annealing and pickling for hot rolled coils, has an annual production capacity of 1.2 million metric tons and is capable of processing coils between 1.5mm and 13mm thickness. This investment is included in the NAS expansion plan of 320 million USD. In September of 2008, it was increase the Melting Shop capacity to 1.4 million metric tons with the start up of No.2 AOD converter. The new No.4 AP line will be followed by the construction of the No.5 Sendzimir Mill (ending first quarter 2009) and will increase the cold rolled annual capacity of NAS to 830.000 metric tons

The world produced 6.3 mmt of stainless steel in the third quarter of 2008, 6.8% higher than for the same quarter of 2007. Growth came mainly from Europe and the Americas. Asian production remained flat with China showing a decline in stainless steel production compared to both the previous quarter and, for the first time, when compared to the same quarter in the previous year. The Western Europe/Africa region shows the most significant increase in production during 2008. Production in the region has reached 6.8 mmt for the year to date, a 4.9% increase on the same period of 2007. Production in The Americas region decreased in the same period by 2.1% to 1.9 mmt. The Central & Eastern Europe region increased production slightly on low volume. Production in the Asia region has reached 12.1 mmt for the year to date, a drop of 1% compared to the first nine months of 2007. With the exception of China, all Asian countries have reduced their stainless production significantly. Even China, which produced 5.5 mmt of stainless in the first three quarters of 2008, could not compensate for the losses of the other countries in the region. Japanese production is down by 3% to 2.9 mmt. The quarter by quarter figures have shown a clear upward direction in stainless steel production so far this year. After Quarter 1, global output was 2.8% lower than in the same period of 2007. By the end of Quarter 2 production was just 0.4% below the previous year. Production increased by 6.8% in Quarter 3. The trend is unlikely to be sustained.

In response to the recent unanticipated and major downturn in the economy, which has resulted in sharply lower de-mand for some of the company's prod-ucts, AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) announced today that it is implementing a salaried employee cost reduction program. Among the elements in the program were plans to implement an indefinite 5% pay reduction for salaried employees on January 1, 2009. The pay reduction will affect all salaried employees, including the company's CEO and all executive officers. The company said it plans to implement other salaried workforce cost reductions, including freezing the defined benefit plan for salaried employees and replacing it with a defined contribution retirement benefit, and offering tempo-rary incentives for voluntary retirements. The temporary retirement incentive pro-gram will end on February 6, 2009. The company said it could not rule out the need for involuntary salaried job reduc-tions if the pay reduction and voluntary retirements do not produce adequate cost savings. AK Steel currently employs about 1,500 salaried employees. The company's salaried employees are lo-cated in its West Chester headquarters, Middletown, Ohio research center, field sales offices and in seven steel opera-tions in four states. The company said that about 350 salaried employees are currently eligible for a company-provided retirement benefit. "Unfortunately, this extraordinary global economic downturn requires significant and rapid measures to reduce our costs in light of sharply lower order levels from our customers," said James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO.

Growth in third quarter output

North American Stainless starts annealing line

Sandvik Materials Technology is to re-duce the time lag on its alloy surcharge model for seamless tubular products. The change will come into effect from January 1st, 2009 when the rates from November 16th to December 15th, 2008 will be debited. The new formula will be based on the average alloying costs for one month. Sandvik established the cur-rent European alloy surcharge model for its stainless steel products in 1993 in order to better reflect fluctuating alloy material prices. Once calculated, the alloy surcharge is added to the base price of stainless steel. The source of the individual alloy rate is taken from Metal Bulletin’s, LME, average ‘midday’ rate. By reducing the time lag Sandvik be-lieves it will make the alloy surcharge model more transparent and a closer reflection of current market price trends.

Sandvik reduces lag time on surcharge

Cost cutting measures at AK

February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 17

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18 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

Electropolishing with a difference

It is a strange fact that Anopol in Birmingham seems to thrive better when the world of finance is preaching doom and gloom. One cannot find a plausible reason for it, but in all those much publicised years of pending recession, Anopol has experienced increases in activity. This applies particularly to the current crisis of confidence, insofar that 2008 produced record turnover months. August proved to be the best month, due in the main to an extremely complicated on-site project. A large complex stainless steel processing machine had shown problems in service due to corrosion. Following sample tests a decision was

made to electropolish it in its entirety, but there was a problem. The building housing the piece of equipment had been erected around the machine and removing it was not possible within the tight time-scale required. Anopol’s solution was to construct a large plastic tank in-situ, within the walls of the building and fill it with electropolishing solution. Due to the intricate shape of the machine, specially shaped cathodes required designing and manufacturing. On completion the electropolishing tank was cut into pieces for removal from the building. The whole project from inception to completion took only 3 weeks.

Midas build giant finger print A HUGE metal sculpture weighing five tonnes is being carefully crafted by an enterprising Peterborough company. Called the Tunstall Shard (see picture below), the £50,000 work, which will measure 25 ft high by 23 ft wide, has been built of stainless steel by engineers at Midas Technologies, in Roundhouse Close, Eastern Industry. The work of art is on show to hundreds of people each day taking pride of place on the site of former pottery giant Wedgewood in Stoke on Trent. It stands at the gateway to a prestigious new retail development in Jasper Square, Tunstall, in Stoke. The sculpture, which has been designed by internationally renown artist Robert Erskine, is based on a shard of pottery that was found in an underground oven when the Wedgewood site was being redeveloped. And it shows the fingerprint that can be seen on the original shard and which is thought might date back hundreds of years. Mr Lock said the manufacturing process had involved a combination of traditional engineering techniques and modern laser skills. He said: "One of the peculiarities of the shard was that a fingerprint could be

seen on it. We have carefully been able to reproduce that fingerprint on the sculpture. "The sculpture is 300 times larger than the shard it is based upon." Once finished the sculpture will be taken out of the factory in two halves to be assembled. The sculpture has been commissioned by the Jasper Square developers Dransfield Properties, of Barnsley. Dransfield Properties' Amanda Holmes said: "We have delivered works of public art on a number of our developments and we are delighted with Robert Erskine's concept of The Shard which reflects Tunstall's rich heritage".

Stainless steel demand has weakened further and Outokumpu's fourth quarter performance will be below earlier indica-tions. The company is taking actions to prepare for a period of possible pro-longed demand weakness and will now prioritize profitability improvement and cash generation in the short-term. In or-der to secure cost efficiency, both fixed and variable costs are addressed. In this respect also personnel reductions are anticipated both on a permanent and on temporary basis. Outokumpu decided to review its invest-ment program in October. Based on the review, the investment program is post-poned almost entirely to maximize cash flow and maintain balance sheet flexibility in 2009. Outokumpu's current action plans will reduce its annual fixed costs by at least EUR 50 million in 2009. The aim is to achieve these cost savings through per-sonnel reductions and general cost sav-ing programs. The main actions are the following: A number of short-term measures to save costs and adjust to lower production volumes were agreed at the Tornio plant at the beginning of December. If the mar-ket situation continues to be difficult, Ou-tokumpu will take additional actions in Tornio to lower the cost level. Further, due to the low order load and the necessity to save costs Outokumpu will start negotiations with personnel rep-resentatives with the aim to reduce about 450 jobs in the company's Swedish pro-duction sites. Investment program postponed Outokumpu decided to review its invest-ment program in October as a result of the global financial crisis and suddenly weakening stainless steel demand. Based on the analysis Outokumpu has decided to postpone its investment pro-gram almost entirely for at least 12 months. Continuing any of the projects would be subject to a separate decision based on an updated feasibility study. All of these investments continue to have strong strategic rational. Outokumpu's target to balance the prod-uct mix by selling more value added spe-cial products and ferritic (non-nickel) grades can be achieved in the coming years by higher utilization of current ca-pacity and product mix changes. Conse-quently, the investments in high-purity ferritic and bright-annealing in Tornio, Finland, special grades in Avesta, Swe-den and quarto plate in Degerfors, Swe-den are postponed. The investment to expand quarto plate production capacity in New Castle (IN), the US, will be pro-ceeding according to plan.

Outokumpu cutbacks

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Aalco The Hersham Centre, Hersham Green, Hersham, Surrey, KT12 4HP Tel: 01932 250100 Fax: 01932 250101 E-mail: [email protected] AK Steel Ltd Lloyds Bank Chambers, 3 High Street, Baldock, SG7 3BB Tel: 01462 499400 Fax: 01462 896763 E-mail: [email protected] Ancon Building Products President Way, President Park, Sheffield, S4 7UR Tel: 0114 275 5224 Fax: 0114 276 8543 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ancon.co.uk Aubert & Duval (UK) Ltd Unit 4, President buildings, Savile Street East, Sheffield, S4 7UQ Tel: 0114 228 6305 Fax: 0114 228 6301 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.auberduval.fr Bird Stainless Ltd Box Mill, Sheffield Road, Sheffield, S36 6HQ Tel: 01226 766766 Fax: 01226 766841 Böllinghaus GmbH & Co. KG Remscheider Walz-und Hammerwerke Remscheider Str. 150 - 160, 42899 Remscheid, Germany Tel: + 49 2191 9398-0 Fax: + 49 2191 9398-40 [email protected] www.boellinghaus.de Bridgwater Filters Ltd George Street, West Bromwich, West Midlands B70 6NJ Tel: 0121 525 6901 Fax: 0121 500 5224 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.bridgwaterfilters.co.uk Brite Band Company Ltd Unit 15 Manywells, Ind Estate, cullingworth, Bradford, Bd13 5DX. Tel: 01535 271427 Fax: 01535 275676 E-mail:[email protected] Web: www.briteband.co.uk Carpenter Technology Corp 101 West Benn Street, Reading, PA 19601, USA Tel: +1 610 208 2000 Fax: +1 610 208 3716 Web: www.cartech.com Carrs Special Steels Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield, S6 1LL. Tel: 0114 285 5866 Fax: 0114 285 5734 (Ingot) Fax: 0114 285 4962 (Bar & Billet)

Corus, Engineering Steels PO Box 50, Aldwarke Lane, Rotherham, S60 1DW. Tel: 01709 371234 Ext 6868 Fax: 01709 826233 E-Mail: [email protected] Eden Material Services (UK) Ltd Factory 42A, No One Industrial Est, Medomsley Road, Consett, DH8 6TT. Tel: 01207 590055 Fax: 01207 590059 G-Tex Stainless Avenue Rd, Rowley Regis, West Midlands, B65 0LP. Tel: 0121 561 4533 Fax: 0121 559 6832 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.g-tex.com Investment Castings Ltd Birchwood Industrial Estate, 130 Great North Road, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 5JN. Tel: 01707 262871 Fax: 01707 271565 Outokumpu Stainless Ltd ASR Rod Mill, Stevenson Road, Sheffield, S9 3XG. Tel: 0114 242 1124 Fax: 0114 242 2152 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.outokumpu.com Frank Pickering & Co Ltd Admiral Steel Works, Sedgley Road, Sheffield, S6 2DN. Tel: 0114 234 8721 Fax: 0114 285 2564 Righton Ltd Brookvale Road, Witton, Birmingham, B6 7EY. Tel: 0121 356 1141 Fax: 0121 356 7359 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.righton.co.uk Rimex Metals (UK) Ltd Aden Road, Ponders End, Enfield, Middlesex, EN3 7SU, UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 8804 0633 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8804 7275 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.rimexmetals.com Sandvik Materials Technology UK Manor Way, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8QZ Twel: 0121 504 5100 Fax: 0121 504 5151 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.smt.sandvik.com/uk Schoeller-Bleckmann (UK) Ltd European Business Park, Taylors Lane, Oldbury,Warley, West Midlands, B69 2BN. Tel: 0121 552 1535 Fax: 0121 627 9282 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.schoeller-bleckmann.co.uk

Schmolz + Bickenbach (UK) Ltd Speedwell Industial Estate, Staveley, Nr Chesterfield, S43 3JW. Tel: 01246 280280 Fax: 01246 280445 Email: [email protected] Web: www.scholz-bickenbach.co.uk Stabarn Ltd Dulverton Road, Birmingham, B6 7EQ. Tel: 0121 326 6119 Fax: 0121 328 4013 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.stabarn.co.uk Stainless Steel Reinforcement Ltd Unit B37, Barnwell Business Park, Leatherhead Road, Chessington Surrey, KT9 2NY Tel: 0181 391 1252 Fax: 0181 3911802 Stainless Steel Services Ltd Middlemore Road, Birmingham, B21 0BH Tel: 0121 523 8100 Fax: 0121 523 8102 E-mail: info@:stainlesssteelservices.co.uk Web: www.stainlesssteelservices.co.uk Stainless Wire Supplies Ltd Unit 13, Padgets Lane, South Moon Moat, Redditich, B98 0RA. Tel: 01527 527828 Fax: 01527 526064 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.swsltd.net Staystrip Group Ltd 11-16 Eyre Street, Springhill, Birmingham, B18 7AA. Tel: 0121 455 0111 Fax: 0121 454 5524 ThyssenKrupp Stainless UK Ltd Unit F, Nexus Point, Elliot Way, Holford, Birmingham, B6 7AX. Tel: 0121 331 3620 Fax: 0121 331 3621 E-mail: [email protected] UGITECH UK 14-15 Erdington Industrial Park, Chester Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 0RD. Tel: 0121 377 3400 Fax: 0121 382 9339 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ugitch.com UKF Stainless Ltd 12 Buntsford Park Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 3DX. Tel: 01527 578686 Fax: 01527 837792 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ukfstainless.co.uk WP Stainless Ltd A division of WPSI Group plc Stainless House, Westgate, Aldridge, West Midlands, WS9 8DJ. Tel: 01922 742420 Fax: 01922 742425 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.wps-international.com

This Guide to Services and Products is divided into four sections: At the beginning of each section companies full name, address, telephone & fax numbers, E-mail & Web addresses are given. Costs to appear for a year are £60.00 per heading (we are always happy to consider new headings), and display panels are £135 (40mm x 40mm) and £220 (85mm x 40mm). For further informa-tion or to be included contact us on: +44 (0)1753 885968 Fax: +44 (0)1753 882980 E-mail: [email protected]

Product and Services Guide

Wrought & Cast Products

February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 19

All information currently available on these pages is now available at www.stainless-steel-ind.com On the web site you can contact companies and visit their web sites, by simply clicking on the links provided. You can also get your companies details listed on the site by following simple instructions and paying on-line. The entries will also appear here in the printed magazine.

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RIMEX METALS (UK) LTD

Texturing / Patterning Colouring

Bead blasting Etching

Polishing (both satin, brush and mirror)

Multi Directional Polishing Tel: +44 (0) 20 8804 0633 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8804 7275

Email: [email protected] Web: www.rimexmetals.com

PatternedStainless Specialists

G-Tex Stainless Unit 1, Bagley Ind Park, Northfield Road, Netherton, West Midlands DY2 9DX Tel: 01384 233800 Fax: 01384 233900 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.g-tex.com

BAR Aalco AK Steel Ltd Ancon Building Products Aubert Duval (UK) Ltd Bird Stainless Ltd Böllinghaus GmbH & Co. KG Carpenter Technology Corp Carrs Special Steels Corus, Engineering Steels Frank Pickering & Co Ltd Righton Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK Schmolz +Bbickenbach (UK) Ltd Stabarn Ltd Stainless Steel Services Ltd Stainless wire Supplies Ltd UGITECH UK

BILLETS Aalco Aubert Duval (UK) Ltd Carpenter Technology Corp Carrs Special Steels Corus, Engineering Steels Outokumpu Stainless Ltd - ASR Rodmill Frank Pickering & Co Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK Schmolz + Bickenbach (UK) Ltd

BLANKS Aalco AK Steel Ltd Bird Stainless Ltd Brite Band CompanyLtd Carrs Special Steels Frank Pickering & Co Ltd ThyssenKrupp Stainless UK Ltd Stabarn Ltd UGITECH UK

CASTINGS Aubert & Duval UK Ltd

CAST TUBE

Eden Material Services (UK) Ltd

CHANNELS Perchcourt Ltd

COIL - Hot rolled Carpenter Technology Corp Plate Service Centre ThyssenKrupp Stainless UK Ltd

DUPLEX AND SUPER DUPLEX Aubert & Duval UK Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK

FLATS, ANGLES Böllinghaus GmbH & Co. KG Stabarn Ltd UKF Stainless Ltd

FLAT BAR IN COIL Outokumpu Stainless Ltd - ASR Rodmill

FORGINGS Aubert & Duval UK Ltd Carrs Special Steels Frank Pickering & Co Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK

INGOTS Aubert Duval (UK) Ltd Carrs Special Steels

Aalco Bridgwater Filters Ltd G-Tex Stainless Perchcourt Ltd Rimex Metals (UK) Ltd

PIPE Aalco Group Sandvik Materials Technology UK Stabarn Ltd UKF Stainless Ltd

PERFORATED, PATTERNED, EXPANDED & RIGIDIZED SHEET

PLATE, SHEET AND/OR STRIP Aalco AK Steel Ltd Aubert Duval (UK) Ltd Righton Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK Stainless Steel Services Ltd ThyssenKrupp Stainless UK Ltd UGITECH UK Ltd UKF Stainless Ltd

POWDER Aubert Duval (UK) Ltd

PRECISION STRIP, WIRE BAR & SECTIONS Brite Band company Ltd Staystrip Group Stainless Steel Services Ltd

ROD Aalco Carpenter Technology Corp Stabarn Ltd

SECTIONS, HOT & COLD ROLLED Aalco Stabarn Ltd Staystrip Group Ltd

SECTIONS, COLD FORMED Ancon Building Products

SECTIONS HOT EXTRUDED

SEAMELESS PIPE AND TUBE Aalco Sandvik Materials Technology UK Stabarn Ltd SLAB

SQUARES & HEXAGONS Aalco Böllinghaus GmbH & Co. KG Outokumpu Stainless Ltd - ASR Rod Mill Stabarn Ltd

STEELS - AIRCRAFT Schmolz + Bickenbach (UK) Ltd

STAINLESS REBAR Ancon Building Products Böllinghaus GmbH & Co. KG Carpenter Technology Corp Outokumpu Stainless Ltd - ASR Rod Mill

T-SECTION

TEMPER ROLLED STRIP Brite Band Company Ltd Staystrip Group Ltd

TUBE Aalco Eden Material Services (UK) Ltd Righton Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK Schoeller-Bleckmann (UK) Ltd Stabarn Ltd UKF Stainless Ltd WP Stainless Ltd

TUBE & PIPE RHS UKF Stainless Ltd

WIRE & WIRE ROD AK Steel Ltd Carpenter Technology Corp Outokumpu Stainless Ltd - ASR Rod Mill Sandvik Materials Technology UK Schmolz + Bickenbach (UK) Ltd Stabarn Ltd Stainless Wire Supplies Ltd Staystrip Group Ltd

CASTINGS - Centrifugal

CASTINGS - Precision

PLATE - Hot rolled ThyssenKrupp Stainless UK Ltd

SPECIAL GRADES STOCK Sandvik Materials Technology UK

20 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

TUBE / PIPE

WP Stainless Ltd

TUBE (perforated) WP Stainless Ltd

Page 21: FEB09SSI

Aalco The Hersham Centre, Hersham Green, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4HP. Tel: 01932 250100 Fax: 01932 250101 E-mail: [email protected] Ancon Building Products President Way, President Park, Sheffield, S4 7UR Tel: 0114 275 5224 Fax: 0114 276 8543 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ancon.co.uk Bridgwater Filters Ltd George Street, West Bromwich, West Midlands B70 6NJ. Tel: 0121 525 6901 Fax: 0121 500 5224 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www,bridgwaterfilters.co.uk Brite Band Company Ltd Unit 15 Manywells, Ind Estate, Cullingworth, Bradford, Bd13 5DX. Tel: 01535 271427 Fax: 01535 275676 E-mail:[email protected] Web: www.briteband.co.uk Greengate MetalComponents Ltd Unit 1, Greengate Middleton Jnct, Manchester, M24 1RU Tel: 0161 653 3443 Fax: 0161 643 4995 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.greengatemetal.co.uk Lincoln Electric (UK) Ltd Address: Mansfield Road, Aston, Sheffield, S26 2BS Tel: 0114 287 2401 Fax: 0114 287 6544 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.lincolnelectric.eu

Manufactured Components

Potter & Soar Ltd Beaumont Road, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 7SD. Tel: 01295 253344 Fax: 01295 272132 E-mail: potter.soar@BTinternet. com Righton Ltd Brookvale Road, Witton, Birmingham, B6 7EY. Tel: 0121 356 1141 Fax: 0121 356 7359 Sandvik Materials Technology UK Manor Way, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8QZ. Tel: 0121 504 5100 Fax: 0121 504 5151 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.smt.sandvik.com/uk Schoeller Bleckmann (UK) Ltd European Business Park, Taylors Lane, Oldbury, Warley, West Midlands, B69 2BN. Tel: 0121 552 1535 Fax: 0121 627 9282 E-mail: [email protected] Spencer Clark Metal Metal Industries plc Greasbrough Street, Rotherham, S60 1RG. Tel: 01709 828600 Fax: 01709 828507 Stainless Steel Fasteners Ltd Broombank Road, Sheepbridge, Chesterfield, S41 9QJ. Tel: 01246 451818 Fax: 01246 455268 Staystrip Goup Ltd 11-16 Eyre Street, Springhill, Birmingham, B18 7AA. Tel: 0121 455 0111 Fax: 0121 454 5524 ThyssenKrupp Stainless UK Ltd Unit F, Nexus Point, Elliot Way, Holford, Birmingham, B6 7AX. Tel: 0121 331 3620 Fax: 0121 331 3621 E-mail: [email protected] UKF Stainless Ltd 12 Buntsford Park Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 3DX. Tel: 01527 578686 Fax: 01527 837792 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ukfstainless.co.uk WP Stainless Ltd A division of WPSI Group plc Stainless House, Westgate, Aldridge, West Midlands, WS9 8DJ. Tel: 01922 742420 Fax: 01922 742425 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.wps-international.com

FABRICATION - Specials

FASTENERS

Ancon Building Products Greengate Metal components Ltd

Ancon Building Products Righton Ltd Stainless Steel Fasteners Ltd

FILTERS Bridgwater Filters Ltd

FLOORPLATES Ancon Building Products ThyssenKrupp Stainless UK Ltd

HOT ROLLED PLATE STOCK

MANIFOLDS

METAL SPINNING Metal Spinning Group Ltd

OPEN GRID FLOORING Ancon Building Products

PERFORATED TUBES

UKF Stainless Ltd

PIPEFITTINGS (Inc flanges

Sandvik Materials Technology UK

PIPEWORK

Schoeller-Bleckmann (UK) Ltd

SLIT COIL Staystrip Group

SPECIAL GRADES STOCK

SPECIAL SHAPED TUBE

TUBULAR COMPONENTS

Aalco Schoeller-Bleckmann (UK) Ltd UKF Stainless Ltd WP Stainless Ltd

VALVES Aalco

WELDING CONSUMABLES (rods etc) Lincoln Electric (UK) Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK

WIRE MESH

Aalco Bridgwater Filters Ltd Potter & Soar Ltd

February 2009 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 21

OCILLATE WOUND STAINLESS Brite Band co Ltd

Page 22: FEB09SSI

Processing Services

Aalco The Hersham Centre, Hersham Green, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4HP. Tel: 01932 250100 Fax: 01932 250101 E-mail: [email protected] Anopol Ltd PO Box 177, 70 Bordesley Street, Birmingham,B5 5QJ. Tel: 0121 632 6888 Fax: 0121 631 2274 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.anopol.co.uk Anopol (South) Ltd Bordon Trading Estate, Bordon, Hants, GU35 9HH. Tel: 01420 488753 Fax: 01420 488239 Bird Stainless Ltd Box Mill, Sheffield Road, Sheffield, S36 6HQ. Tel: 01226 766766 Fax: 01226 766841 Carrs Special Steels Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield, S6 1TL Tel: 0114 285 5866 Fax: 0114 285 5734 (Ingot) Fax: 0114 285 4962 (Bar & Billet) Copeland and Craddock Ltd Radnor Park Trading Est, Back Lane, congleton, CW12 4PX. Tel: 01260 279641 Fax: 01260 276987 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.copelandandcraddock.co.uk Greengate Metal Components Ltd Unit 1, Greengate Middleton Jnct, Manchester, M24 1RU Tel: 0161 653 3443 Fax: 0161 643 4995 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.greengatemetal.co.uk E. Harding & Sons Ltd Unit 10/11 Walker Industrial Park, Guide, Blackburn, BB1 2QE Tel: 01254 581276 Fax: 01254 677012 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.eharding.co.uk John Desmond Impact finishers 58 Weir Road, wimbledon, London Sw19 8UG E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.johndesmond.com Metapic Ltd Birmingham Road North, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, S41 9BG. Tel: 01246 451710 Fax: 01246 455999 E-mail: [email protected]

Poligrat (UK) Ltd 2 Holder Road, Aldershot, Hants, GU12 4RH. T: 01252 336337 Fax: 01252 22791 Professional Polishing Services Ltd 18B Parkrose Industrial Estate, Mid-dlemore Road, Smethwick, Warley, West Midlands, B66 2DR. Tel: 0121 555 6569 Fax: 0121 555 6613 E-mail: enquiries@ professional pol-ishing.co.uk Professional Polishing Manchester Ltd Hope Industrial Centre, Whalley Road, Ramsbottom, bury, BL0 0ES. Tel: 01706 828684 Fax: 01706 828668 [email protected] Sandvik Materials Technology UK Manor Way, Halesowen, West Mid-lands, B62 8QZ. Tel: 0121 504 5100 Fax: 0121 504 5151 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.smt.sandvik.com/uk Sillavan Metal Polishers Ltd Sillavan Works, Wood Street, Bury, Lancs, BL8 2SL. Tel: 0161 797 6666 Fax: 0161 797 3454 E-mail: [email protected] Staystrip Group Ltd 11-16 Eyre Street, Springhill, Birmingham, B18 7AA. Tel: 0121 455 0111 Fax: 0121 454 5524 ThyssenKrupp Stainless (UK) Ltd Unit-F, Nexus Point, Elliott Way, Holford, B6 7AX Tel: 0121 331 3600 Fax: 0121 331 3621 E-mail: [email protected] UKF Stainless Ltd 12 Buntsford Park Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 3DX. Tel: 01527 578686 Fax: 01527 837792 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ukfstainless.co.uk Warley Polishing Company Ltd Units 5, James Scott Road, Cradley, Halesowen, B63 2QT. Tel: 01384 634036 Fax: 01384 411025 E F Westaway Ltd Arden Works, Bacon Lane, Sheffield, S9 3NH Tel: 0114 244 9857 Fax: 0114 243 0682

Stainless Steel ProcessorsPlasma Cutting

High Definition Plasma CuttingLaser Cutting

ShearingFormingRolling

Water Jet CuttingPlate Sawing

C.N.C Machining

Tel: +44 (0)1254 581276Fax: +44 (0)1254 677012

[email protected]

E. HARDING & SONS LTDFIRST IN STAINLESS STEEL PROCESSING

www.eharding.co.uk

D S Willetts (stainless) Ltd Murdoch Road, Bilston, West Midlands, WV14 7HG. Tel: 01902 404221 Fax: 01902 405705

ARCHITECTURAL CLEANING IN-SITU Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd

BEADBLASTING

BENDING

John Desmond Impact Finishers

Greengate Metal Components Ltd E. Harding & Sons Ltd

CENTRELESS BAR TURNING & GRINDING Bird Stainless Ltd Carrs Special Steels Copeland & Craddock Ltd

COIL SLITTING Aalco Brite Band Co Ltd

ELECTROPOLISHING Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd Poligrat (UK) Ltd Sandvik Steel

HIREWORK ROLLING Staystrip Group

LASER CUTTING Greengate Metal Components Ltd E. Harding & Sons Ltd

MECHANICAL POLISHING Aalco Professional Polishing Services Ltd Professional Polishing Manchester Ltd Sillavan Metal Polishers Ltd ThyssenKrupp Stainless (UK) Ltd Warley Polishing Company Ltd

METAL FINISHERS UKF Stainless Ltd

PASSIVATING Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd Metapic Ltd E F Westaway Ltd

PICKLING Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd Metapic Ltd Poligrat (UK) Ltd Vecom Stainless Finishers Ltd E F Westaway Ltd

PLASMA CUTTING E. Harding & Sons Ltd D S Willetts (Stainless) Ltd

PLASMA PROFILE CUTTING Aalco E. Harding & Sons Ltd DS Willetts (Stainless) Ltd

PLATE SAWING (BAND) E. Harding & Sons Ltd

PROFILE CUTTING Aalco Group E. Harding & Sons Ltd D S Willetts (stainless) Ltd

PROCESSED PLATE (Water jet, plasma cut & sheard

E. Harding & Sons Ltd

SAWING, SHEARING & SLITTING Aalco E. Harding & Sons Ltd Sandvik Materials Technology UK Stainless Steel Services Ltd D S Willetts (stainless) Ltd

VAPOURBLASTING

WATER JET CUTTING

E. Harding & Sons Ltd

DECOILING ThyssenKrupp Stainless (UK) Ltd

22 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY February 2009

Page 23: FEB09SSI

Processing Equipment

Anopol Ltd PO Box 177, 70 Bordesley Street, Birmingham,B5 5QJ. Tel: 0121 632 6888 Fax: 0121 631 2274 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.anopol.co.uk Anopol (South) Ltd Bordon Trading Estate, Bordon, Hants, GU35 9HH. Tel: 01420 488753 Fax: 01420 488239 Poligrat (UK) Ltd 2 Holder Road, Aldershot, Hants, GU12 4RH. T: 01252 336337 Fax: 01252 22791

ELECTROLYTES Poligrat (UK) Ltd

ELECTROPOLISHING PLANT & CHEMICALS Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd Poligrat (UK) Ltd

PICKLING PASTES Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd Poligrat (UK) Ltd

PICKLING PLANT & CHEMICALS

Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd

TESTING KITS Anopol Ltd

MOLYTEST – test kit for distinguishing 316 from

304. FERROTEST – test kit for checking presence of free

iron on stainless steel surfaces

ANOPOL LTD Tel: 0121 632 6888

WELD CLEANING MACHINE Anopol Ltd Anopol South Ltd

December 2008 STAINLESS STEEL INDUSTRY 23

Subscribe to Stainless Steel Industry and receive all the latest news about forthcoming events, contracts, takeovers, equipment updates, personnel movements etc. The magazine also carries features covering all aspects of stainless steel use from: Water Industry through architecture and transport to pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Cost for six issues a year is £150 and to ensure that your copy is not attacked by scissors of coffee mugs, we are happy to send copies to home addresses! Send this form back to: Modern Metals Publications Ltd, PO box 1187, Gerrards Cross, SL9 7YP , UK. Fax: +44 (0)1753 885968.

Name:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………….. Mailing address (where magazine should be sent):………………………………………………………………………………...………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..Post Code:………………………………………….. Invoice Name & address (if different from above):………………………………….………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……… ………..Post Code: ……………………………………….. Email address (in case we have a problem)………………………………………………………………………………….. Signed:……………………………………………………..Date:…………………………………………………………….

PASSIVATING AGENTS Anopol Ltd Anopol (South) Ltd

Page 24: FEB09SSI

ProfessionalPolishingServices Ltd

Flexible, innovative people producing the finish you want; when you want it. Talk to our Sales Team about our 24 Hour Turnaround for when you needYour Partner in Polishing to say ‘Yes’. Call us now on 0121 555 6569 to experience The Professional Approach.

With continuous investment —Year on Year— we will always be able to bring you new and exciting finishes and ensure our Service cannot be beaten.

www.professionalpolishing.co.uk

Rpt SSI Dec 06 STABARN page 11 Rpt SSI Dec 06 page 5 AK Steel

Stockholders of:15-5PH round bars.17-4PH round and flat bars.Nitronic 50 round bars.Nitronic 60 round bars.Armco pure iron bars and sheet.Titanium bars.Aluminized Steel Type 2.

Auto exhaust ferritic steels in blanks and slit coil.Transformer grade electrical steels.

Telephone: 01462 499400Fax: 01462 896763E-mail: [email protected]: www.aksteel.co.uk

AK Steel Ltd.A subsidiary company of theAK Steel CorporationMiddletown, Ohio, USA.

AK SteelInternational

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