Do you have a vision in your mind as you imagine how you could sell a revolutionary new product to consumers? You may have come up with this brainwave recently, and the more you think about it, the more you believe that it could make you a fortune. It's a relatively simple product, you may think, and it should be made from stainless steel so it will be durable, but do you know what it will take to manufacture? Perhaps you should think about the various steps involved in creating something from stainless steel before you proceed with your business plan.
Steps in the Process
Stainless steel is one of the most popular materials when it comes to crafting a product for the consumer market, and several steps are involved in stainless steel manufacturing.
Casting
To begin with, the raw materials have to be blended together in a giant furnace under intense heat for a period of several hours. Assuming that everything is melted together correctly, the molten steel will then need to be poured into a mould that will output a variety of different shapes for further work.
Forming
These shapes will then need to be formed by heating them and passing them through giant rollers. The original shape will then be converted into wires, bars, sheets, strips or plates, depending on the intended outcome. Furthermore, these shapes can be configured in all manner of sizes and grades, once again depending on your application.
Annealing
The next stage involves heat treatment in a process known as annealing. This is intended to remove some of the stress that is built up within the steel and make it more pliable so it can be manipulated more effectively. This requires careful attention to detail if the finished product is going to be reliable and the pressure, temperature and cooling rate will need to be accurately monitored.
Scaling and Finishing
A byproduct of the annealing process is the appearance of scale on the steel surface. This will need to be removed in the next part of the process and before the steel can be cut. This is where the magic happens as a variety of different tools are used to shape your ultimate masterpiece.
All that's left is the fine detail as the stainless steel product is finished off properly.
Engaging the Process
If you still think that your product is a born winner, have a word with experts in stainless steel product development so that you can convert your dreams into reality.