Organized by Aperam

Duplex stainless steels have been used for several decades now for the combination of their high mechanical properties and very high resistance against corrosion. More recently, Lean and Light Duplex (EN 1.4062 and 1.4362) have shown to be a good alternative to austenitic grades (304L and 316L) in different applications, such as water and wastewater treatment.

Despite their extraordinary properties, the Duplex family of stainless steels has not encountered such a success for applications involving food contact. That was mainly due to their surface state, as traditionally these grades have been produced in 2E or 1D finishes and therefore had a surface roughness Ra of usually 2μm and above.

European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG), which aims at promoting hygiene during the processing and packing of food products, recommends surface roughness of less than 0,8 μm Ra, mainly for cleanability reasons. In order to respond to those requirements, Aperam has improved its industrial footprint.