Who is your Customer?

We primarily serve the biopharma industry with custom sanitary solutions in stainless steel.

My customer gave me a hand sketch of a part he needs. What’s the first step?

E-mail the sketch to us for quoting. We will ask you for finished product dimensions, surface finish specifications, tolerances, and anything else needed for us to create a 2D AutoCAD drawing to accompany your quote.

What are the differences in surface finishes?

Surface finishes are designated by Ra. The two most common finishes are 20Ra ID, 32Ra OD OR 15Ra EP ID, 32Ra OD. In BPE terms, this would equate to an SFF1 or SFF4 finish respectively. We take great pride and care in our surface finishes.

What is Electropolishing vs Passivation?

Electropolishing is a controlled electrochemical process utilizing acid (electrolyte), DC current, and anodes and cathodes to smooth the surface by the removal of small amounts of surface profile / metal. Each part is individually racked and all ports are probed with the appropriate length and diameter cathode to evenly remove metal on the surface.

Passivation is the removal of exogenous iron from the surface of stainless steels and higher alloys by means of a chemical dissolution, most typically by a treatment with an acid solution that will remove the surface contamination and enhance the formation of the passive layer.

Electropolishing is an ultimate form of passivation as it not only removes iron, nickel etc. from the stainless, but leaves behind a chromium rich surface (passive layer) as a result of the process.

What are your lead times?

Lead times are based on current shop load; however we do strive to be competitive and reasonable in our approach. Two to three weeks is a typical delivery window.

What if I need a part in a rush?

Please tell us at the time of quote if an item is a rush and we will do all we can to accommodate in the shop schedule if possible. All customers’ projects are important to us and we always do everything in our power to ship on time or early.

What kind of welding do you do?

All of our welding is GTAW, gas tungsten arc welding (TIG). We use argon as the inert gas type. We are certified to hand weld and to orbitally weld a variety of thicknesses and outer diameters.

What is a map & log and how do I know if I need one?

A map is the drawing of the part to show the locations of each weld when the part is made. The log tells you the detail of each weld including: the weld number, time of weld, size of the material, what type of material, heat numbers, welder ID & initials, machine number, argon lot number, PQR number, inspector, the method used to inspect, and whether or not it was accepted.

My part is damaged. Can it be repaired?

Quite often it is possible. You can start by sending photos and a description to us, or send us the part for evaluation if that is feasible. We will always try to work with you to repair the part if it is feasible, or to let you know whether it’s not in your best interest to do so.

What materials do you work with?

We focus on 316L stainless steel. We steer away from anything else to avoid cross contamination of materials in the work area.

How long does it take to get a quote?

Ideally, the turnaround time on a quote is less than one day. This can vary depending on how busy it is, the materials needed to be sourced, and the questions needing clarification.

Do you offer custom pinstamping and/or electro-etching?

We offer both methods of marking. Pinstamping is standard for all heat numbers on the parts. If additional information is desired we can work with you and price it accordingly. Electro-etching is also an additional fee based on what is needed. All of this information should be furnished at the time of requesting a quote.