Stainless Steel For Hygiene In Industry

Stainless Steel in the IndustryIt's widely used in industries where hygiene is of great importance – medicine, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, dairy, and supply of drinking water. There are several factors that make stainless steel the top choice for these industries. The most common requirement is that the metal used to manufacture equipment in some industries (be it medicine or hospitality) should not react with what is stored or cooked inside it. It is important in a restaurant or cafe, for instance, that the food should not react to the container it is cooked in, and vice versa. Resistant to Corrosion The word ‘stainless’ suggests that it is completely stain-proof. This is not exactly the truth. Stainless steel, however, does not stain easily. It also does not corrode or rust as easily as some of the other metals. Steel does not corrode or stain easily because the chromium in it creates a barrier of chromium oxide, which keeps it protected from rusting, and also safeguards the inner structure from being affected by corrosion. In industries where hygiene is given primary importance, the usage of a metal prone to corrosion would mean the manufacturer has to replace the equipment regularly. Steel, by virtue of resisting corrosion, is a good long-term solution.Easy MaintenanceIt is easier to maintain than most other metals, and this makes it popular in pharmaceutical, healthcare and hospitality industries, where very high standards of hygiene are to be followed. It can be washed or clean easily, and sterilised without changing its form or structure. Its smooth surfaces are easy to wash or wipe off, and leave fewer chances for germs to adhere to it and thrive.It is also very strong; a small pan of stainless steel will be able to carry a greater amount of material in it, than a pan made of any other material. In the healthcare industry, it is used to make equipment, surgical tools and even implants (since it does not corrode in a patient’s body). Even when exposed to strong disinfectants, it does not alter in form or composition. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is important that the chemicals being used to manufacture the drugs are not affected by the equipment used. Stainless steel meets these requirements. In restaurants, the cooking counters, utensils and other equipment are made of this valuable metal. Though a counter and stainless steel trolley for example are subject to such heavy use everyday, they are not subject to too much wear and tear, and can be cleaned with a disinfectant.