The melting point of stainless steel serves as a technical boundary that dictates the success of a foundry process. Because stainless steel is an alloy rather than a pure metal,...
Read More
STAINLESS STEEL CASTING SERVICES
High-Quality Stainless Steel Castings
SIMIS offers high-end stainless steel casting services for both custom and OEM parts production, specializing in alloys required for demanding environments. We operate a dedicated, fully integrated foundry to provide a comprehensive one-stop service, managing the entire production lifecycle from initial tool making and casting through all essential post-casting processes. These services include multi-purpose heat treatment, precision machining, specialized surface treatment, and rigorous quality inspection.
We use cutting-edge automated equipment and advanced production lines to supply high-quality, defect-free components that meet all specifications. Our engineering expertise allows us to provide complex geometries and tight tolerances for every production batch. These stainless steel castings serve diverse commercial and industrial applications for customers globally.
What is Stainless Steel Casting?
Stainless steel casting is a specialized manufacturing process used to produce components known for exceptional corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. The process involves melting stainless steel—an iron alloy with at least 10.5% chromium—and pouring it into a mold to solidify into a precise, complex shape.
The durability of the material comes from chromium, which reacts with oxygen to form a thin, self-healing chromium oxide layer. This passivation shields the metal from rust, making parts suitable for harsh chemical, high-temperature, or sanitary environments.
SIMIS uses investment casting to create components with intricate geometries and high dimensional accuracy. This process uses a wax pattern coated in ceramic slurry to produce near-net-shape parts. Using CNC machined tooling and premium materials helps parts achieve a smooth surface finish while meeting exact tolerance requirements.
Types of Stainless Steel For Casting
Stainless steels for casting are categorized into four primary families based on their internal crystalline structure: Austenitic, Ferritic, Duplex, and Martensitic. Each structure offers a distinct balance of corrosion resistance, strength, and weldability. Selecting the correct grade—from the 300 series to specialized duplex alloys—is a necessary step to help the finished stainless steel castings meet their specific operating requirements for the environment.
Austenitic Stainless Steel
This is the most common type, known for great strength, excellent corrosion resistance, weldability, and ductility, and is non-magnetic. It's widely used in marine, food processing, industrial machinery, medical devices, and chemical processing. Common grades include 304(L), 316(L), 310, and 904L.
Duplex Stainless Steel
Duplex stainless steel is valued for its dual-phase microstructure. This balanced composition gives it excellent strength and outstanding corrosion resistance. It is widely used in Oil & Gas, chemical processing, marine, as well as the pulp and paper industry. Common grades are 2205 and 2507.
Ferritic Stainless Steel
This type of stainless steel has moderate corrosion resistance (high resistance to SCC) and is magnetic. Ferritic stainless steel castings are often used in high-temperature applications such as HVAC, appliances, and automotive exhaust systems. Common grades are 409, 430, 439, and 446.
Martensitic Stainless Steel
It has the highest strength and hardness among all stainless steel families and can be precipitation-hardened, which also makes it magnetic. It is used in applications requiring high strength and wear resistance, like railway and machinery parts. Common grades include 410, 420, 17-4 PH, and 15-5 PH.
Advantages of Stainless Steel Casting
Stainless steel casting offers a superior combination of design freedom, integrity, and cost-effectiveness for complex parts compared to standard fabrication. Unlike welding or machining from bar stock, casting creates intricate, near-net-shape geometries with complex internal features, reducing material waste and secondary machining. Key advantages include exceptional corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, precision, and an impressive cost-to-value ratio for volume production.
Exceptional Accuracy and Tight Tolerances
The casting of stainless steel can provide a high level of accuracy, especially when cast by the investment casting process. At SIMIS, we can achieve a tight tolerance of CT4 using our advanced silica sol investment casting method.
Superiror Mechanical Strength
The superior mechanical strength achieved through stainless steel casting is a critical advantage, notably when compared to components produced from standard carbon or lower-grade alloys. This strength is not solely a function of the material itself but is dependent on the specific stainless steel grade selected and the integrity of the casting process.
Intricate Geometry Capabilities
Stainless steel parts produced by casting can achieve intricate geometries (complex internal cavities) and features (thin walls, irregular shapes) that are extremely challenging, costly, or simply impossible to achieve using traditional subtractive manufacturing methods like machining or welding. This capability is one of the most significant advantages of the casting processes, particularly investment casting.
Excellent Corrosion Resistance
The excellent corrosion resistance of stainless steel castings is their defining characteristic and primary advantage, making them essential for components exposed to aggressive environments. When done correctly, the casting process makes sure the passivation layer can form effectively while allowing complex shapes to be made.
Reduced Machining
Due to the high accuracy and smooth surface finish achieved, the casting process (especially investment casting) is often considered a near-net-shape process. The main benefit is that it can be a cost-effective way to create parts with tight tolerance, requiring minimal machining and material wastage, thereby reducing additional costs.
Common Stainless Steel Casting Grades
Selecting the precise stainless steel alloy is a vital decision in the casting process. The crystalline structure—Austenitic, Ferritic, Duplex, or Martensitic—determines the component’s mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and heat treatability, impacting performance in different environments. SIMIS possesses extensive material expertise, casting a wide spectrum of alloys to international standards such as AISI, ASTM, BS, JIS, GB, and EN to meet global project requirements.
304 / CF8 / 1.4301
Key Properties
This austenitic grade is a common casting material. It offers excellent corrosion resistance, high ductility, and ease of welding.
Typical Applications
Food processing equipment, pump bodies, valve casings, impellers, general purpose fittings.
304L / CF3 / 1.4307
Key Properties
This austenitic grade is the ultra-low carbon version of 304, minimizing carbide precipitation during welding for optimal resistance to intergranular corrosion.
Typical Applications
Food & dairy, medical, and chemical industries where post-weld annealing is not possible.
316 / CF8M / 1.4401
Key Properties
This austenitic grade provides superior corrosion resistance due to the addition of molybdenum; offers excellent pitting and crevice resistance.
Typical Applications
Marine hardware, chemical processing equipment, medical devices, heat exchangers.
316L / CF3M / 1.4404
Key Properties
A low carbon austenitic grade that offers maximum resistance to intergranular corrosion, especially when used in as-welded conditions.
Typical Applications
Extremely corrosive fluid handling systems, severe chemical service, welded fittings, medical implants.
310 / CH20 / 1.4845
Key Properties
This Austenitic grade contains high chromium/nickel, resulting in exceptional high-temperature strength and outstanding resistance to oxidation (scaling).
Typical Applications
Furnace parts, heat treatment fixtures, kiln burners, high-temperature combustion components.
317L / CG8M / 1.4438
Key Properties
This austenitic grade features higher molybdenum content than 316L, delivering even more superior resistance to severely corrosive media and sulfuric acid attack.
Typical Applications
Pulp and paper industry, aggressive acid environments, demanding chemical manufacturing.
904L / CN3MN / 1.4539
Key Properties
This Super-Austenitic grade has high Nickel and Molybdenum content, offering excellent resistance to reducing acids (like sulfuric acid) and chloride stress corrosion cracking.
Typical Applications
Acid processing plants, pollution control equipment, chemical and pharmaceutical reactors.
430 / CB30 / 1.4016
Key Properties
This Ferritic grade offers moderate corrosion resistance sufficient for mild environments; it is magnetic and not hardenable by heat treatment.
Typical Applications
Decorative parts, non-critical automotive trim, mild chemical service.
446 / CC50 / 1.4762
Key Properties
This ferritic grade has the highest chromium content in its family, offering excellent resistance to oxidation and scaling at high operating temperatures.
Typical Applications
Soaking pits, high-temperature furnace hardware, refinery components subject to heat.
410 / CA15 / 1.4006
Key Properties
This martensitic grade is hardened through quenching and tempering to achieve high strength; it is magnetic and excellent for general wear applications.
Typical Applications
Valve seats, oil drilling equipment, steam turbine blades, hydraulic components requiring strength.
420 / CA40 / 1.4021
Key Properties
This martensitic grade has higher carbon content, providing improved hardness and wear resistance compared to 410, where high strength is critical.
Typical Applications
Railway components, industrial machinery parts, cutlery, surgical instruments, high-wear components, rolling mill rolls.
440C / CA6NM / 1.4125
Key Properties
This martensitic grade’s high carbon content allows for the attainment of extreme hardness and wear resistance; it maintains good toughness after tempering.
Typical Applications
Bearing brackets, high-wear tooling, precision components demanding maximum surface hardness.
17-4 PH / CB7Cu-1 / 1.4542
Key Properties
This martensitic PH grade achieves high strength and hardness through low-temperature aging; it offers good corrosion resistance comparable to 304.
Typical Applications
Railway point machine components, aerospace fittings, highly stressed machine parts, nuclear components.
15-5 PH / CH8M / 1.4545
Key Properties
This martensitic PH grade offers improved toughness and superior transverse properties over 17-4 PH while retaining excellent corrosion resistance.
Typical Applications
Valve stems, high-pressure fittings, marine components, airframe parts.
2205 / CD3MN / 1.4462
Key Properties
This duplex grade’s dual-phase structure provides nearly twice the yield strength of 316L and excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking and pitting.
Typical Applications
Chemical tanks, pump impellers for hostile environments, pressure vessels, pipelines.
2507 / CD4MCuN / 1.4410
Key Properties
This super duplex grade features extremely high Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number for maximum localized corrosion resistance in intensely aggressive environments.
Typical Applications
Offshore oil platforms, desalination plants, subsea components, aggressive chemical processing.
Our Stainless Steel Casting Capabilities & Expertise
SIMIS operates a dedicated stainless steel foundry using the silica sol investment casting process to produce custom, high-quality parts. We focus on premium components with high precision, complex geometries, and smooth surface finishes. By combining automation with extensive experience, we deliver tailored casting services. Our facility can cast stainless steel components up to 80 kg and 800 mm in length.
High Precision
We are fully capable of casting stainless steel parts with a high level of accuracy, achieving a tolerance starting from CT4 thanks to our advanced production line, premium pattern material, and finely precise tooling.
Complex Geometries
Leveraging ceramic cores and expert tooling design, we are able to cast stainless steel parts with uniquely complex internal geometries, including intricate cooling channels, serpentine passages, and thin-walled manifolds.
Smooth Surface Finish
Using the advanced silica sol shell process, fine refractory material and premium wax pattern material, we can achieve a high-level of smooth finish, between Ra 1.6 μm and 3.2 μm, much higher than our competitors can offer.
Applications and Industries Benefit From Stainless Steel Casting
Stainless steel casting is a manufacturing solution used across commercial and industrial sectors due to the material’s corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. This allows complex components to function in demanding high-pressure, high-temperature, and chemically aggressive settings. The process is used in industries like oil and gas, power generation, railway, and chemical processing, which require high-integrity parts. Sectors such as food processing, medical, marine, and architecture also use stainless steel castings for their sanitary properties, aesthetics, and environmental resistance.
Food Processing Stainless Steel Castings
In the food and beverage processing industry, stainless steel castings are mandatory for maintaining sanitary conditions and preventing corrosion, which are much needed for avoiding contamination and ensuring public safety.
Stainless steel investment casting is the most suitable method as it creates components with exceptionally smooth surface finishes and crevice-free construction, which are critical for meeting strict regulatory standards (such as FDA/USDA) and allowing for rapid, thorough cleaning and sterilization procedures.
SIMIS frequently casts components including sanitary fittings, flanges, mixer housings, conveyor rollers, grinder plates, and filter elements. The industry relies on austenitic grades, primarily 304 for general equipment and 316L for parts exposed to aggressive cleaning chemicals, brines, or acidic foods. These grades provide the resistance to pitting corrosion required for food safety.
Pump and Valve Stainless Steel Castings
Stainless steel is one of the most commonly used material for pump and valve components due to its corrosion resistance and ability to handle demanding service conditions. Stainless steel investment casting offers superior manufacturing flexibility, economically producing complex, near-net-shape features like seamless fluid passages, contoured impeller vanes, and intricate valve seats. This process significantly reduces material waste and machining labor.
Typical components that are cast include guide vanes, valve bodies, pump housings, and various types of impellers. Common grades are CF8 (304) for general service and CF8M (316) for corrosive, chloride-rich environments.
Specialized needs are met with specific alloys: low-carbon grades (CF3/CF3M) prevent weld decay, martensitic CA-15 (410) provides high hardness for wear, and duplex grades (2205) deliver superior strength and exceptional resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
Oil & Gas Stainless Steel Castings
Stainless steel is widely cast for Oil & Gas casting components due to the extreme operating conditions—including high pressure, high temperature, and exposure to corrosive media (H₂S, CO₂, chlorides).
Stainless steel casting provides the structural integrity needed for complex parts like wellhead equipment, sensor housings, heat exchanger end caps, and subsea control elements. The process creates uniform wall thickness and reduces welding, which minimizes potential failure points in critical infrastructure.
The industry relies on high-performance castings. Duplex (2205) and super duplex (2507) grades offer double the strength of standard steels and resist stress corrosion cracking in chloride environments. Martensitic grades provide erosion resistance, while austenitic grades like 316/316L handle general corrosion.
Automotive Stainless Steel Castings
In the automotive sector, stainless steel castings are critical for components exposed to extreme heat, thermal cycling, and corrosive exhaust gases, where material integrity is essential for performance and emissions compliance.
Stainless steel casting delivers the high-integrity structure and precise internal geometry required for modern emission control systems. This method is highly efficient for producing thin-walled, high-volume parts that minimize mass while maintaining structural resilience under stress.
Typical stainless steel automotive castings include exhaust manifolds, turbocharger housings, oxygen sensor bosses, emission control valves, and structural brackets. Common grades include ferritic 409 and 439 for exhaust systems, with austenitic 304/304L used for corrosion resistance. Martensitic 17-4PH is used for high-strength applications.
Power Generation Stainless Steel Castings
In the power generation sector, stainless steel castings are important for equipment operating under simultaneous conditions of extreme heat, high pressure, and potential corrosion from water, steam, or flue gases.
Stainless steel investment casting provides the structural integrity for complex components surviving thermal cycling and erosion. High precision provides tight tolerances on sealing surfaces, maximizing efficiency in systems where uptime is the priority.
Commonly cast parts include turbine blades, vanes, boiler fittings, burner nozzles, and heat exchanger components. Austenitic grades like 310 are used for high-temperature oxidation resistance, while martensitic grades like CA15/410 provide hardness and wear resistance for turbines. These castings support extended service life in fossil fuel and nuclear power installations.
Stainless Steel Casting Marine Parts
Stainless steel casting is needed for marine and shipbuilding applications where components face saltwater, high humidity, and mechanical stress. Investment casting provides the structural soundness and superior surface quality to resist chloride corrosion and erosion, which are primary causes of failure in harsh environments.
The stainless steel casting process ensures complex shapes, often integrating mounting brackets and fluid channels, are produced as single, monolithic units, eliminating corrosion-prone welds.
Common marine castings include specialized propellers, rudder fittings, sea-strainer baskets, mooring cleats, hydraulic components, pump impellers, and deck hardware. While 316L is the workhorse for chloride resistance, the industry increasingly uses Duplex grades for highly stressed components. These grades provide superior corrosion protection and nearly double the yield strength of standard austenitic steels.
Industrial Machinery Stainless Steel Castings
Stainless steel castings are vital for industrial machinery and heavy equipment, where components must endure high dynamic loads, severe abrasion, and often corrosive operating conditions (like exposure to wet soil, chemicals, or fertilizers).
Stainless steel casting delivers the necessary structural integrity and consistent mechanical properties by producing complex parts as robust, single units, which is crucial for maximizing uptime and minimizing fatigue failure in critical stress zones.
SIMIS regularly casts heavy-duty linkages, structural brackets, load-bearing arms, mounting fixtures, and transmission components. Martensitic grades like CA15 or 410 provide hardness and wear resistance for high-stress parts, while 17-4 PH offers high strength and corrosion performance. Standard austenitic grades 304 and 316 are used for housings and guards requiring general atmospheric corrosion resistance.
Architectural Stainless Steel Castings
Stainless steel castings are used in architecture for their aesthetic finish, durability, and structural performance. The process produces customized, complex nodes and decorative elements that are more cost-effective and structurally sound than welded or machined alternatives.
Common architectural casting parts include glass spider fittings, glass clamps, tension rod fittings, balustrade nodes, canopy brackets, and decorative ground anchors. The use of stainless steel casting allows long-term resistance to weathering, UV exposure, and urban pollution.
Austenitic grades (304/316) are the dominant choice, with 316L being preferred for exterior facade and coastal projects where maximum resistance to atmospheric and chloride corrosion is mandatory. The cast components guarantee the aesthetic appeal of a clean, high-quality metal finish while maintaining the necessary load-bearing capacity for safety-critical applications.
Why Choose SIMIS For Stainless Steel Casting Services?
SIMIS is an integrated metal casting manufacturer in China. We use advanced casting technology and equipment to provide stainless steel castings that are customized, quality-assured, treated, and ready for use. We offer our customers peace of mind by combining casting with in-house pre- and post-casting capabilities, which reduces cost while maintaining a high quality standard. The combination of technology and experience allows us to offer castings with competitive pricing and shorter lead times.
Quality Assured
Our stainless steel castings are 100% inspected; all inspection reports, including mechanical properties, chemical composition, and various optional testing reports, will be provided.
High Production Capacity
Our annual production capacity of stainless steel castings exceeds 1,400 tons; this high volume production results in reduced lead times and costs.
Advanced Equipment
We are equipped with cutting-edge equipment and production lines, including both automated and manual facilities, as well as advanced casting simulation software.
Material Expertise
We can cast stainless steel parts using a range of common and specialized grades, adhering to international standards including AISI, ASTM, SAE, EN, BS, JIS, DIN, GB, and more.
Competitive Pricing
By combining extensive experience, advanced equipment, and streamlined processes, we deliver high-quality stainless steel castings while maintaining competitive pricing.
Fast Turnaround
Through the use of efficient production lines and precise casting simulation, we are able to offer stainless steel castings with optimal efficiency and speed.
Value-Added Services
SIMIS is a professional metal casting foundry offering integrated, value-added services. We manage every step in-house—from tooling design and heat treatment to surface finishing and assembly—validated by dedicated testing labs. Our approach ensures quality control and logistics, reducing costs and accelerating the delivery of finished stainless steel castings.
Stainless Steel Casting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is your MOQ for stainless steel castings?
We don’t normally set a MOQ for stainless steel castings for common grades such as 304/304L, 316/316L, 310, 2205, 17-4ph, 410, and others. If you require specific grades to be cast other than the commonly used ones, our MOQ would be 150 kg. The higher the volume, the higher the discount.
What is the main advantage of stainless steel casting over other materials?
The main advantage is the exceptional corrosion resistance provided by the material’s chromium content. The high chromium content is very effective against rust and corrosion, which therefore makes stainless steel irreplaceable in applications exposed to harsh environments, chemicals, high temperatures, and moisture (like marine or chemical processing) where other materials like carbon steel and alloy steel fail to perform.
Can stainless steel castings be welded?
Yes, many stainless steel casting grades can be welded, but the process must be carefully controlled. Low-carbon Austenitic grades like CF3 (304L) and CF3M (316L) are specifically chosen because their low carbon content prevents sensitization (weld decay) during the welding process, ensuring the joint retains maximum corrosion resistance.
What is the difference between casting 304 and 316 stainless steel?
The primary difference lies in the molybdenum content. 316 (CF8M) contains 2% to 3% molybdenum, whereas 304 (CF8) does not. Molybdenum dramatically increases the alloy’s resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, making 316 the superior choice for marine, outdoor, and chloride-rich chemical environments.
Can stainless steel castings be heat treated?
Stainless steel castings can be heat treated, but the process is grade-dependent. Austenitic grades (304/316) typically receive a solution annealing treatment to optimize corrosion resistance and ductility. Martensitic (410) and PH Grades (17-4 PH), however, require specific quenching and tempering (or aging) heat treatments to achieve their maximum hardness and strength levels.
What is 'Pickling' and 'Passivation', and why are they important for stainless steel castings?
Pickling is a pre-treatment process that uses an acid solution (usually hydrofluoric and nitric acids) to remove surface contaminants like scale, embedded iron particles, and oxide layers left behind by casting or heat treatment. This cleansing step is important because these contaminants can prevent the chromium from reacting properly.
Passivation is the subsequent process, often accelerated by a milder acid bath (like nitric acid), which enhances the formation of the chromium oxide protective layer on the cleaned surface. Both steps are necessary because they restore and maximize the material’s inherent corrosion resistance, making sure the final casting performs reliably in its intended environment.
Is stainless steel casting more expensive than carbon steel casting?
Yes, generally, stainless steel casting is more expensive than carbon steel casting. The higher cost is primarily due to the cost of the raw alloying elements, especially chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. Additionally, stainless steel requires more careful handling, higher melting temperatures, and specialized heat treatment processes to achieve the final required properties, contributing to increased manufacturing costs.
Are stainless steel castings magnetic?
It depends on the family. Ferritic, martensitic, and duplex stainless steels are magnetic because they contain a high percentage of the magnetic ferrite phase. Austenitic stainless steels (like 304 and 316) are typically non-magnetic in their annealed state, though they can become slightly magnetic after significant cold working or welding.
What is the minimum wall thickness you can cast?
Using the investment casting method, we can consistently cast stainless steel parts with thin walls down to approximately 1.5 mm to 2 mm on non-structural areas, depending on the overall size and complexity of the casting geometry.
What is the typical lead time for a new stainless steel casting project?
Lead times vary depending on project complexity. Tooling (wax pattern die) requires 4 to 8 weeks (for the initial CNC machined metal mold). First Article Samples usually take 3 to 4 weeks after tooling completion. Volume production typically takes 4 to 6 weeks per order, depending on the volume and necessary heat treatment/machining steps.
Stainless Steel Casting Knowledge Base
This section provides various resources to help you learn about stainless steel casting. You can find out more about technical details regarding different grades and types, such as the austenitic, ferritic or martensitic, and their corresponding mechanical properties, chemical compositions and performances. These articles explain the processes used to manufacture stainless steel casting parts for demanding environments and applications. Use this knowledge base to understand how stainless steel casting services provide solutions for your specific projects.
Benefits and Applications of 310 stainless steel castings
310 stainless steel castings are a type of austenitic stainless steel alloy known for its ability to perform in high-temperature environments. This alloy contains a high level of chromium and...
Read More
416 Stainless Steel Casting: An In-Depth Analysis
416 stainless steel casting is a manufacturing method used to create complex parts from a specific grade of stainless steel. The investment casting process is used for making parts with...
Read More
904L Stainless Steel Castings: A Detailed Analysis
904L stainless steel castings are a specialized solution for applications where high corrosion resistance is necessary. This material is a low-carbon, high-alloy austenitic stainless steel, and its unique composition gives...
Read More
2205 vs 316 Stainless Steel Castings: Which Should You Choose for Your Applications?
The comparison between 2205 vs 316 stainless steel castings can be somewhat tricky because castings made from both materials are commonly used for a wide range of applications across industries....
Read More
A Complete Guide of 410 Stainless Steel Castings
410 stainless steel castings are a type of component found in many industries. They are made from a specific kind of steel that is shaped by pouring molten metal into...
Read More
2507 Duplex Stainless Steel: Equivalents, Compositions, Properties and Applications
2507 duplex stainless steel is a material used in many different industries. Selecting the right material for an application is a key part of engineering. The choice of material can...
Read More
304 stainless steel vs 430 stainless steel: What You Need To Know
When you need to choose a stainless steel for a project, you will often find two grades that come up again and again: AISI 304 and AISI 430. While both...
Read More
