Stainless Steel Fabrication
At Advantage Engineering Solutions, we specialise in stainless steel fabrication and deliver the highest quality work, offering BS EN1090 EXC 2.
Our professional fabricators have years of industry experience and can help you discover the best solution for your metal fabrication needs. Our TIG welders are exceptionally skilled, and the quality of our cleaning treatments is routinely acknowledged.
We always offer value for money and good quality, whether you need 304L or 316L-grade stainless.
With the new legislation that has come in from the HSE regarding weld fumes regarding stainless steel welding, Advantage have met the requirements set out as we take health and safety very seriously. The well-being of our entire team is essential. All team members who are welding have their own personal air-fed welding mask and a local fume extractor to protect everyone in the work area from the weld fumes produced.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your project and see how we can help!
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What We Fabricate
We work across the full range of stainless steel fabrication — residential through to large-scale industrial and structural. The work includes:
- Handrails and balustrade — residential, commercial, and prestige customer-facing environments
- Access platforms and walkways — food industry, water treatment, automotive, and export
- Cat ladders and access equipment — water treatment and industrial sites
- Machinery guards and enclosures — food manufacturing environments
- Structural platforms with staircases and GRP flooring
- Bespoke fabricated components — single items through to production quantities
We work in Grade 304 and Grade 316 stainless, in thicknesses from 1mm to 15mm. The largest single project we’ve fabricated was a 15m x 10m access platform with dual staircases — designed in-house, assembled and inspected in the workshop, then disassembled, palletised, and shipped to China for installation.
Grade 304 vs Grade 316 — Which Do You Need?
The grade of stainless steel matters. Specifying the wrong grade for the environment is a false economy — 304 in a harsh chemical environment will fail; 316 in a clean indoor environment is unnecessary cost. Here’s the practical difference:
Grade 304 | Grade 316 | |
Best for | Food industry, indoor environments, cleaner applications | Water treatment, coastal, chemical, high-corrosion environments |
Corrosion resistance | Good — performs well in controlled environments | Superior — withstands saltwater, harsh chemicals, moisture |
Typical uses | Handrails, balustrade, machinery guards, food processing equipment | Water treatment platforms, cat ladders, marine, chemical plant |
Note | Any mild steel contamination causes rust when washed down — critical in food environments | Where the environment is harsh, this is the grade you need. Not a nice-to-have. |
If you’re unsure which grade your project requires, tell us about the environment it’ll be installed in and we’ll advise. Getting the grade right at the start costs nothing. Getting it wrong costs a replacement.
Finishes
We fabricate stainless steel in three standard finishes. If you’re matching existing steelwork, bring a sample or a photo — finish matching is achievable but it needs to be confirmed before fabrication begins, not after.
Finish | Appearance | Typical Application |
Mirror / chrome polish | Highly reflective, chrome-like surface | Prestige environments — car showrooms, hospitality, customer-facing installations |
Grained / brushed | Linear grain pattern, satin appearance | Commercial and industrial installations, handrails, balustrade, food industry |
2B dull mill finish | Smooth, low-reflectance factory finish | Industrial environments, water treatment, where aesthetics are secondary to performance |
“A single scratch on mirror finish stainless is visible and unacceptable in a prestige setting.”
Mirror finish work is handled throughout on cardboard, wrapped for transport, and treated with the care the environment demands. The preparation and handling start in the workshop — not on installation day.
Why Stainless Steel Fabrication Is Different
Stainless steel requires processes that mild steel doesn’t. This is where shortcuts show — and where they fail.
Contamination Control
Mild steel particles contaminating a stainless steel surface cause rust — the opposite of what stainless is specified for. In a food production environment, where equipment is regularly washed down, even minor contamination is a problem. We address this with a full workshop changeover: all mild steel work stops before any stainless fabrication begins. Stainless is placed on dedicated wooden stands throughout. Grinding discs, wire brushes, and equipment are kept separate — dedicated to stainless only.
“We don’t do the two materials at the same time to avoid any contamination.”
Distortion Control
Stainless steel conducts heat differently to mild steel and is far more prone to distortion during welding. A panel that goes in straight can ripple and bow by the time the weld cools. Correcting distortion after the fact is difficult and often impossible to do without compromising the finish.
“It can distort or ripple very badly. It’s very difficult to get back straight.”
We fit stiffeners and strengthening bars before welding begins — controlling distortion from the start rather than trying to recover it afterwards.
“You have to put things in place before you start the process.”
Passivation and Pickling
⚠️ Stainless steel that has been welded or fabricated has heat-affected zones where the passive chromium oxide layer is compromised. Without passivation and pickling, these areas are susceptible to corrosion. Skip the process, and the stainless can go brown where the contaminants haven’t been removed — failing client inspection and undermining the entire reason for specifying stainless in the first place. |
Passivation and pickling is an acid treatment that restores the corrosion-resistant surface layer after fabrication, removes heat scale, and clears any surface contaminants introduced during the welding process. We carry it out in-house on all applicable stainless work. It’s not outsourced and it’s not skipped.
“If you don’t do it, it can tend to go a brown colour around where the contaminants have not been removed correctly.”
TIG Welding Throughout
We use TIG welding on all stainless steel fabrication. It produces a cleaner, higher-quality weld than MIG — with a neater appearance, better penetration control, and a result that holds up properly under finishing and inspection. On stainless work, particularly anything that will be polished or visibly exposed, TIG is not optional.
Our Process — Step by Step
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1
Enquiry received and job assessed
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2
Site survey — fixing points, dimensions, finish confirmed before anything is drawn
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3
Design produced and submitted for client approval
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4
Materials ordered — bar stock cut in-house, plate work sent for laser cutting
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5
Full workshop changeover — all mild steel work stops. Stainless fabrication begins on dedicated wooden stands
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6
Components tack welded; stiffeners and strengthening bars fitted to control distortion before full welding starts
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7
Full TIG welding using dedicated stainless equipment and consumables
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8
Welds cleaned, ground flush where required; grain reinstated to match finish throughout
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9
Passivation and pickling — acid treatment to restore corrosion resistance and remove fabrication contaminants
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10
Internal quality inspection — welds, dimensions, finish, joints, fixings all checked
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11
Client invited to inspect and sign off
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12
Protected, wrapped, and transported to site or palletised for delivery
BS EN 1090 EXC2 — What It Means for You
⚠️ For structural stainless steel fabrications — platforms, access structures, load-bearing components — your fabricator must hold BS EN 1090 EXC2 accreditation. If they don’t, the work may be rejected, and there is potential for prosecution. This is a legal requirement, not a quality kite-mark. |
Advantage Engineering Solutions is fully BS EN 1090 EXC2 accredited, covering structural stainless steel fabrications. Not every stainless steel job is structural — handrails in a residential garden are not — but where the structural standard applies, we meet it.
“It could possibly lead to prosecution if they weren’t EN 1090 approved.”
Project Examples
15m x 10m Access Platform — Automotive / Export
One of four projects won from a single client. Designed in-house, assembled for inspection, then disassembled, palletised, and shipped to China.
A large-scale stainless steel access platform, 15 metres by 10 metres, with two staircases and GRP flooring — designed to wrap around a production unit at an automotive facility. One staircase rose from ground level; the second connected to a prefabricated office landing. All design work completed in-house, drawings submitted for approval, and the entire platform fully assembled in our Mansfield workshop for client inspection before it was disassembled, palletised, and shipped to China for installation.
The client attended the workshop sign-off and was satisfied with the finished result. This was one of four projects won from the same client.
Mirror Finish Handrail — Car Dealership
An extension to an existing mirror-finish handrail in a prestige, customer-facing environment. The finish had to match exactly. All weld discolouration removed, tube handled on cardboard throughout fabrication, wrapped for transport, and the completed work treated with the level of care that a mirror-polished surface in a customer-facing setting demands. In that environment, a single scratch is visible and not acceptable.
Cat Ladders — Water Treatment
Bar stock rungs cut to size, structural components laser cut, assembled and fully TIG welded, then passivated and pickled. Grade 316 specified throughout — appropriate for the chemical and moisture-heavy environment of water treatment sites.
Access Platforms, Handrails and Machinery Guards — Food Industry
Multiple projects for food manufacturing clients. Grade 304 used. Contamination control was critical on every job — mild steel contamination causes rust when food processing equipment is washed down. Full workshop changeover protocol followed on each project.
Common Questions
What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless?
316 has higher resistance to saltwater, chemicals, and harsh environments — used for water treatment, marine, and industrial applications. 304 performs well in food industry and cleaner indoor settings. Specifying the wrong grade for the environment is a false economy. Tell us where the fabrication is going and we’ll advise.
What finishes can you produce?
Mirror/chrome polish, brushed/grained, or 2B dull mill finish. If you’re matching existing steelwork, bring a sample or a photo — we need to confirm the finish before fabrication, not after.
Does my job need BS EN 1090?
If it’s structural — a platform, access structure, or load-bearing fabrication — then yes. Your fabricator must hold BS EN 1090 EXC2 accreditation. Without it, the work can be rejected and there is potential for legal consequences. We hold this accreditation.
Can you survey before fabricating?
Yes — for any installation job we always survey first. We confirm fixing points, dimensions, and finish requirements before anything goes into production. We don’t fabricate and hope it fits.
Why is stainless steel more expensive to fabricate than mild steel?
More preparation, specialist processes — passivation and pickling, full workshop changeover, dedicated tooling — distortion control during welding, and greater care in handling and finishing. Shortcuts show, and they fail. The cost reflects what’s actually required to do it properly.
Can you match an existing finish?
In most cases, yes. Bring a sample of the existing steelwork or a clear photograph, and we’ll assess whether a match is achievable. It needs to be confirmed before fabrication starts.
Capabilities
Grades |
304 and 316 stainless steel |
Thickness |
1mm to 15mm |
Scale |
Individual components to full structural platforms — largest built: 15m x 10m with dual staircases and GRP flooring |
Welding method |
TIG welding throughout — chosen for superior quality, cleaner finish, and neater appearance on stainless |
Finishes |
Mirror/chrome polish, grained/brushed, 2B dull mill finish |
Passivation & pickling |
Carried out in-house on all applicable stainless work — not outsourced, not skipped |
Accreditation |
BS EN 1090 EXC2 — covering structural stainless steel fabrications |
Sectors |
Residential, food industry, water treatment, automotive, aerospace/export |