Steel, stainless steel and related products are an integral part of all industrialised nations; almost every industry uses this material in one way or another. Steel, an alloy of iron ore and chromium, can be customised for use in different industries by adding other elements such as molybdenum, nickel or nitrogen. In order for steel to be considered “stainless” the chromium content has to be at least 10.5% or more. The higher the chromium content, the better the corrosion resistance.

Most non-stainless steel products are used in the construction and civil engineering sectors; nails, pipes, plates, and long parts such as railroad ties, are all steel products that have invaluable applications in these industries. The two most commonly used types of steel used for these applications are carbon steels and tool steels, which contain specific qualities necessary for use in these industries. Probably the other biggest consumer of steel is the auto industry, which would all but disappear without this material.

Stainless steel, as mentioned previously, is an alloy of iron ore and chromium. This type of steel has thousands of applications including medicine and hospitals, food production, and oil refining. Stainless steel is also becoming more and more popular in many household applications as well (i.e. countertops, sinks, fixtures, even roofing and siding).

The use of steel, stainless steel and related products has increased safety in the medical and food industries, as the metal is non-porous; the probability of cross-contamination is low, provided the users follow the proper cleaning procedures.