Manufacturers today are in a constant search for savings. While most manufacturers quickly turn to material costs as their primary means of lowering their price, these short-term adaptations aren’t always sustainable. The constant fight to protect or win back the business seems like a revolving door of competition. The introduction of PRODEC® Plate has become a tangible cost reduction solution that can be maintained in the long term.

Produced exclusively by Outokumpu, PRODEC® Plate, representing production economy, is a premium stainless steel designed to improve machinability and processed to provide uniform consistency of properties from plate to plate and heat to heat.

This unique version of austenitic stainless steel has provided significant manufacturing benefits to its customers. Meeting all the requirements of ASTM and ASME specifications, Outokumpu’s product literature states that PRODEC® grades maintain the same yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, hardness and toughness as conventionally produced plate, while also provide corrosion resistance as good as or better than conventional stainless steel. steel.

Advanced ladle metallurgy allows fine adjustments to the composition, amount, size, shape, and distribution of non-metallic inclusions that normally occur within standard stainless steel. The company also claims that improved chemical and treatment methods allow PRODEC® board to maintain tighter dimensional tolerances and produce a superior surface finish.

Compared to conventionally produced stainless steel, PRODEC® machinable stainless steel also offers manufacturing benefits through faster machining, enabling higher speeds and feeds of at least 25% over standard stainless steel. Uniform properties on each insert reduce wear and extend the life of carbide tools.

PRODEC® 304P/304LP is a versatile general purpose stainless steel with good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, many organic and inorganic chemicals, and food and beverages. It has also been used in vacuum processing equipment and specialized instruments where high integrity is essential. PRODEC® 316/316L provides increased resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in environments containing chlorides and other halides.

PRODEC® plate is designed to cut more economically and with significantly better final surface quality and straightness. Both the quality of the edge produced and the shape tolerance of precision cut PRODEC® plate parts are above average and maintain the standard tolerance of +.060-.000 or better. The result equates to significantly longer tool life, higher productivity, better chip breaking, better dimensional tolerances, superior machined surface quality, lower scrap losses, and consistent performance that translates into a reliable production schedule. .

By including PRODEC® board in their portfolio, manufacturers are filling a unique performance niche that can pay off in the long run.