Agent and sales channel for NSSCs FW Series appointed

NSSC, the largest stainless steel producer in Japan, has appointed Stemcor Stainless (UK) as their agent and sales channel for the new FW Series in the UK and Ireland. NSSC developed the FW Series, a new generation of ferritic stainless steels, by utilizing innovative technology that adds trace amounts of tin to accelerate the reparation of the passive layer and hence prevent corrosion. Grade FW2 will be of particular interest to the market as NSSC claims that it offers exactly the same corrosion resistance as Grade 304, at up to 20 % lower cost due to zero nickel. It also offers excellent deep drawing and formability qualities, with less surface roughness after forming. FW1 is a lower priced product, due to lower chrome content, that offers greatly improved corrosion resistance over Grade 430.

FW Series stainless steel is available in coils or sheets from 0.3 to 4.0 mm thick and 300 to 1,000/1,219/1,250/1,500/1,524 mm wide. Finishes include 2B, 2B high gloss, BA, polished, coloured or patterned. Typical applications are in cookers, sinks, washing machine drums, cooking trays, pans, expanded mesh and hinges; in fact, any application that uses Grade 304 is a candidate for replacement with FW2.

Tony Lockley, Managing Director of Stemcor Stainless (UK), said: “NSSC’s FW Series offers OEMs an exceptional combination of corrosion resistance and formability at a reduced price compared to Grade 304 stainless. The low alloy content minimises the impact of fluctuating raw material prices. Stemcor Stainless has direct access to NSSC's technical and commercial departments and can answer any questions UK customers have regarding the FW Series and its suitability to different applications. We hold samples of FW2 in the UK for customers to test and will shortly be holding stocks of FW grades in cold rolled coil & sheets.” In addition to FW Grades, Stemcor Stainless holds a comprehensive UK stock of stainless steel sheet & coil products in Grades 304, 304L, 430 and 316.

Stemcor Stainless (UK), Staffordshire