Stainless steel manufacturing for the food, pharma, beverage and chemical industries must meet hygiene, corrosion resistance and cleanability requirements. Weld details, surface quality and passivation are typically contract requirements. At ArmaWeld’s Konya facility, welded manufacturing is delivered in 304, 316L and duplex stainless steel.
1. Common Stainless Alloys
| Alloy | Typical Use | Filler |
|---|---|---|
| 304/304L | General food, kitchen | ER308L |
| 316/316L | Pharma, seawater, chemical | ER316L |
| 2205 Duplex | Petrochemical, marine | ER2209 |
| 904L | Sulfuric acid, chlorine | ER385 |
2. Hygienic Weld Details
Food and pharma projects follow EHEDG and 3-A standards which set geometric rules for cleanability. Typical hygienic weld details:
- Internal corner radius ≥ 3 mm
- Smooth full-penetration pipe welds (orbital TIG)
- Internal surface Ra ≤ 0.8 µm
- Passivation of all surfaces (HNO3 or citric acid)
- Complete removal of post-weld heat tint
3. Sensitization and Corrosion
Stainless steel held between 450–850°C for prolonged periods may suffer intergranular corrosion due to chromium carbide precipitation (sensitization). Mitigations:
Rule of thumb: Choose low-carbon (≤0.03%) alloys such as 304L/316L, minimize heat input, keep interpass below 150°C, and apply heat treatment when needed.
4. ArmaWeld Stainless Production Line
ArmaWeld’s Konya facility includes a dedicated stainless production cell. Separate grinding, brushing and tool sets prevent carbon-steel contamination. Tanks, silos, mixers and special process equipment are produced with orbital TIG, manual TIG and pulse MIG. Surface passivation and electropolishing are available on request.
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Hygienic welded manufacturing and surface finishing for food, pharma and chemical industries.
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