The equipment that your facility uses for bulk material handling is important to the functionality of your whole operation. For instance, if George Lucas were filming a movie and he used a janky camera to film it, even with the best script in the world, it would wind up being a bad product.
Finding the right tools of the trade is integral to any bulk material handling operation, which is why you should consider using stainless steel products. Take a look at these reasons to use stainless steel for bulk material handling to understand the lengthy list of benefits stainless steel provides to an industrial facility. By finding and implementing the right machinery, your factory can run smoothly and efficiently on a daily basis.
Corrosion Resistance
One of the most useful attributes of stainless steel is its ability to fight against corrosion. The chromium used to manufacture stainless steel mixes with the surrounding oxygen to create a chromium-oxide barrier, defending the equipment from harmful corrosive effects. However, its ability to fight against corrosion doesn’t stop there. Different alloys can be added to the stainless steel, such as nickel, to make it even more resistant against corrosion.
It all depends on the specific alloy composition of the stainless steel you’re using. Plastic, on the other hand, does not carry these attributes. Stainless steel has particularly a strong defense against corrosion in atmospheric environments, as well as aqueous environments.
Temperature Resistance
Stainless steel not only holds its own against corrosion, but it also stands up against high temperatures. While some plastics are more heat-resistant than others, none of them can match the resilience of stainless steel. Stainless steel is also better at handling intense fluctuations in temperature. While heavy temperature fluctuations may force other materials to bend or break, stainless steel will remain durable and efficient during these temperature spikes.
Improved Fire Resistance
Thanks to the attributes mentioned above, stainless steel equipment has a strong defense against explosions. If combustible material ignites in the workplace in or around a stainless-steel machine, it’s less susceptible to extensive damages than other materials. Small, combustible particles can be a common hazard in industrial facilities. By using proper safety and maintenance procedures with the right equipment, you can help minimize the likelihood of combustion occurring for these reasons.
Unique Versatility
As mentioned above, stainless steel can be composed of a variety of alloys. Combining these elements in different ways can offer different defensive attributes, such as the nickel used to combat corrosion. Stainless steel can also be manufactured using molybdenum, which improves its resistance to chloride damage. You can even mix it with more chromium, instead of another alloy like molybdenum, to gain those chloride-resistant properties.
Easier to Clean
Stainless steel equipment will require maintenance, but it requires much less maintenance than plastic equipment does. For instance, certain chemicals and solvents can leave deep stains on plastic that require consistent, thorough cleaning to combat. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is much more resistant to deep stains by these materials.
This doesn’t mean stainless steel doesn’t need to be cleaned. What it means is that cleaning stains and bacterial build-up on the equipment will be much less of a hassle if its stainless steel as opposed to plastic. This also makes it easier for machines to be used and reused in a much more efficient manner. With fewer bacteria clinging between loads of product, you can avoid cross-contamination and other health hazards.
Won’t Alter the Taste of Products
One industry that has greatly popularized stainless steel equipment for bulk handling and storage is the food industry. Firstly, as the previous step mentioned, cleaning stains and contaminants is much easier to do with stainless steel. Additionally, food manufacturers love stainless steel because it doesn’t alter the flavor of the food products. It’s for this reason that wine and beer manufacturers, in particular, favor stainless steel equipment.
Less Expensive
Another great thing about stainless steel is that it’s less expensive than other materials like plastic, in more ways than one. First of all, it’s less expensive to manufacture stainless steel than plastics. Secondly, not only will you save money right off the bat, but you’ll also save money in the future. Over the course of its life, your stainless-steel equipment should cost much less in maintenance costs than other materials.
Of course, as with all bulk handling equipment, you have to make sure you are maintaining it properly. Without proper usage and upkeep during work hours, even stainless-steel equipment won’t function at its highest potential.
Impressive Durability
Stainless steel is a much stronger material than plastic. That’s why Superman, one of the strongest superheroes around, is known as the “man of steel.” The durability of this material makes it prime for bulk storage handling, and that strength won’t be compromised by the addition of ventilation sections. Plastic loses some of its strength when one adds ventilation holes, but with stainless steel, you can rest easy knowing that it can take quite a bit of force to weaken or break this material.
Better Slideability
Slideability refers to the ability of equipment to move materials from one place to another in an efficient manner. Stainless steel has great slideability and can move around a wide range of materials without compromising the machine, the material, or the speed at which it is delivered to its destination. The lack of friction caused by stainless steel can help ensure that your machines run to the best of their abilities for a longer period of time.
As you can see, these reasons to use stainless steel for bulk material handling speak for themselves. The strong, versatile nature of this material makes it a must-have for any bulk material handling facility. At DoverMEI, we can provide and install the best stainless steel equipment for your bulk solids handling operation because, as mentioned before, installing the right equipment is very important to any facility. If you’re using the wrong equipment, you’re not delivering the right services.
