Demand for specialised stainless steel grades is showing signs of growth in several South African industries, although challenging economic conditions are making customers increasingly price-sensitive, says stainless steel supplier Valbruna South Africa GM Desmond Nundlall.

There has been an increase in demand for precipitation-hardening stainless steels – including 17-4 and 15-5 grades, which are used in the mining sector, and 416R stainless steel for firearms manufacture – while smaller increases have been recorded in the mechanical seals industry.

Duplex stainless steel grades 2205 and 2507 are also being used more regularly, he notes.

Nundlall identifies mining, aerospace, marine and defence as the industries showing the strongest demand for higher- performance stainless steel grades.

The increased use of specialised grades reflects the need for materials that can withstand demanding operating environments, particularly where corrosion resistance, durability and long service life are important considerations.

“Stainless is the key factor in ensuring component longevity, which, in turn, reduces maintenance costs,” adds Nundlall.

However, despite these longer-term benefits, customers are more reluctant to pay the higher initial prices for higher-specification materials, owing to the tough South African economy amid the challenging global geopolitical situation.

“Businesses are looking at cheaper alternative sources and are not willing to compromise on higher initial costs, despite long-term performance and life-cycle costs [having proven to be] more cost-effective over time,” he says.

The highly competitive market is forcing companies to prioritise short-term affordability, with Nundlall noting that customers are increasingly focused on survival, creating a challenge for specialised stainless steel suppliers.

Nonetheless, he believes that the benefits of technical expertise and application- specific material selection, especially in applications where the consequences of selecting an unsuitable material are significant, offset some of the cost concerns.

“This expertise is crucial in applications like the manufacture of rifle barrels,” he points out, citing pump seals and petroleum industry applications as other areas where adherence to technical specifications is essential.

Research and Development

Research and development remain an ongoing focus within Valbruna’s European mills and manufacturing plants, particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Nundlall says sustainability and decarbonisation are also increasingly important considerations for the stainless steel industry, with the company following global guidelines in this regard.

One of the opportunities he sees for more use of specialised stainless steel in South Africa and across Africa is stainless steel reinforcement bar, or REVAL.

He describes the product as a strong and growing market internationally, with Valbruna engaging in discussions with construction entities in Cape Town.

“REVAL is intended to replace conventional mild-steel reinforcement bar in applications where the longer life span of stainless steel can provide an advantage.”

While stainless steel rebar has a higher initial cost than conventional mild-steel reinforcement, Nundlall says its longer life span provides a significant benefit.

The potential of stainless steel reinforcement highlights the broader opportunity for South Africa to move towards higher-value stainless steel applications, rather than focusing only on the supply of conventional products.

Nundlall concludes that, for the local stainless steel industry, these and other applications could provide opportunities to participate further in specialised markets where material performance and application requirements are more demanding.