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With a rising emphasis placed on the aesthetic dimension of lifestyle merchandise, steel and its various by-products have managed to carve a niche in the present day market setting.

Today, steel finds a place in our homes, not only in the kitchen in the form of wire baskets, but as stair and balcony railings, office and domestic furniture along with trims, accessories, hardware fittings, light fixtures, lifestyle accessories, sanitary fittings and much more.

Versatile and functional with a sense of strength and permanence, stainless steel requires only simple and minimal maintenance in its many applications.

Tableware such as salad bowls, salt and pepper shakers, ash trays, kitchen utility items like mixing bowls, colanders, canisters, kitchen roll holders, bathroom accessories like soap dispensers and dishes, serving ware like trays, sleek work-station and office accessories crafted with steel are among the most popular and fast moving array of products available in the market.

Stainless steel is a homogenous material that derives its rigid quality from the chromium content mixed with iron ore. Analogous to mild steel, stainless steel too comes in various grades. While grades like 220 and 320 are more used for commercial purposes and do not have great surface shine, grades like 302 and 304 possess high gloss and lustre.

High end interior products and artefacts are manufactured from grade 304. Chrome plated steel is mild steel plated with a bright steel finish through an electrostatic process.

The strength of steel lies in its durability and resistance to rusting. Unlike other materials, it does not tarnish, degenerate or oxidise.

Stainless steel also has the advantage of adapting itself to any other material to suit various design palettes. It can seamlessly merge with glass, wood, leather and delicate ceramic creating striking artefacts. Its toughness and strength, combined with its multipurpose use, are the core of its exceptional qualities. Easy maintenance and fast cleaning ability of stainless steel makes it the first choice for strict hygiene conditions, such as in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, health care facilities, kitchens and other food processing plants.

Modern steel-making techniques also enable stainless steel to be cut, welded, formed, machined, and fabricated into any desired product as readily as traditional steels. Steel finishes like mirror, polish, buffing also add variety to the range of options available. When the total life cycle costs are considered, stainless steel is often the least expensive material option. For the chic and savvy, steel is a material that exudes a style and elegance of its own, making it an intelligent buy. Indian companies like Magpie and Art D’nox (a brand of the Life Style Product Division of Jindal Stainless Ltd.) have ventured into manufacturing lifestyle accessory products for interiors using stainless steel, which are available in select retail stores across the city. Fusion products such as stainless steel blended with glass are also being experimented with.

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