In the modern era of nanomaterials, which open up new horizons and possibilities for applications of steel and metals in general, it is important that you choose your supplier very carefully. The perfect scenario would be to get the metal from a producer who knows what they're doing and has high-tech equipment and tools at their disposal. There are hundreds of steel foundries out there, but only a handful are top-quality. Here's a quick guide to Top 10 stainless steel foundries:

1) DAWANGCASTING

Based in China, DAWANGCASTING is one of the biggest steel foundries that you can find on the market right now. The company produces high-quality carbon and stainless steels (something we'll talk more about below). Dawangcasting's products are used for a variety of different purposes – from vehicle parts to electronic components. The company has a melting capacity of 4,700 tons per year.

2) Sinosteel Corporation

Headquartered in Beijing, China, Sinosteel Corporation is a large state-owned company that's been on the market for over sixty years now. The steel foundry started as a division of another company – Metallurgical Industry Planning and Designing Institute Corp. Today, Sinosteel Corporation is one of the largest steel foundries in China. The company has three production bases with a combined melting capacity of 18,000 tons per year.

3) Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd.

Located in China's Hubei Province, this stainless steel foundry is one of the largest steel companies in the country's central region. The company has been on the market for over sixty years and produces more than 2 million tons of steel per year. Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd.'s products include high-carbon and stainless steels, as well as nickel alloys and superalloys.

4) ArcelorMittal Temirtau

Located in Kazakhstan, this is one of the largest steel foundries in Central Asia. The company was created from the merger of two companies – Arcelor and Mittal Steel. Today, it has a melting capacity of over 3 million tons per year, which makes it the largest steel foundry in Kazakhstan and one of the largest ones in Europe. ArcelorMittal Temirtau's products include carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, tool steels and more.

5) Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC)

Located in Japan, this company is the world's fourth-largest steel producer. The company has two production bases, including one that specializes in stainless steels and another that focuses on carbon steels. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC)'s products include high-carbon alloy steels, structural steels, weathering resistant alloy steels, stainless steels, tool steels, non ferrous metal alloys (such as aluminum) and more.

6) POSCO

POSCO is South Korea's biggest steel foundry. It was created in 1968 from the merger of several other companies – Pohang Iron Works Co., Ltd., Daewoo Precision Industries Co., Ltd. and Gold Star Co., Ltd. Today, it has a melting capacity of 3 million tons per year. POSCO's products include carbon steels, alloy steels and stainless steels.

7) ArcelorMittal Liege

Liege, Belgium-based ArcelorMittal is a large steel provider that was created from the merger of several steel companies, including Arbed SA and Aceralia. The company has a melting capacity of over 3 million tons per year and produces high-quality alloy steels, carbon steels and stainless steels. ArcelorMittal has two production bases in Liege, as well as a large steel plant located in Gandrange, France.

8) Gerdau

The largest company on this list by annual production figures, Brazil-based Gerdau is a leading steel supplier in Latin America. The company specializes in carbon and stainless steels and has large-scale production facilities located all over the world, including Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela. Other than steel production, Gerdau's activities also include developing new products and technologies that can be used in steelmaking.

9) JFE Holdings

With a melting capacity of almost 2 million tons per year, JFE Holdings is one of the biggest stainless steel foundries in Asia. It specializes in carbon and stainless steels for a range of industries, including transportation, construction and industrial sectors. The company has production facilities in Japan, China, Thailand and South Korea.

10) POSCO Daewoo

Located in South Korea, POSCO Daewoo specializes in structural steel for buildings. It has a melting capacity of 630,000 tons per year and is one of the largest steel foundries in South Korea. Another key feature is its outstanding technology, which includes advanced automation systems used for production.

Conclusion:

Read more about stainless steel, which has numerous applications and is used in a wide range of industries. Depending on the type of application, production techniques may be different and involve different types of stainless steels. For example, materials that are exposed to corrosive environments such as saltwater should use high-grade stainless steel or even weathering resistant alloy steels. When steel is melted in a foundry, it acquires certain chemical properties that are specific to the type of alloy used. It is important for manufacturers to have the know-how and ability to select the right alloy steel for their production needs.