25 Tons of Brushed Stainless Steel Sheets Delivered in 15 Days

Project Background

A kitchen equipment manufacturer based in Melbourne, Australia, secured a large-scale contract to produce commercial kitchen countertops, splashbacks, and cabinet panels for a newly built hospital complex in Sydney. The project specifications required food-grade stainless steel with a uniform, directional brushed finish that would hide minor scratches from daily use while maintaining a professional, hygienic appearance. The manufacturer had previously sourced from local distributors but faced significant cost pressures and inconsistent batch quality. After evaluating several overseas suppliers and receiving brushed finish samples, they selected our factory for the full production run based on sample quality, competitive pricing, and our proven track record of on-time bulk deliveries.

Client Requirements

• Material: SUS304 stainless steel (food-grade, compliant with FDA and EU 1935/2004 for food contact surfaces)

• Thickness: 0.8mm and 1.2mm

• Surface Finish: Hairline brushed (also known as satin finish or No. 4 finish), with uniform, continuous, parallel scratch lines running the full length of each sheet

• Brush Direction: Along the sheet length (2438mm / 3048mm direction) for seamless visual alignment across multiple sheets when installed

• Surface Roughness: Ra 0.2–0.4μm, measured by profilometer

• Protective Layer: Clear anti-fingerprint nano-coating to preserve the brushed finish from staining and handprints during installation and daily commercial kitchen use

• Dimensions: 1219mm × 2438mm and 1219mm × 3048mm

• Quantity: 25 metric tons (approximately 3,200 sheets)

• Tolerances: Thickness ±0.03mm, width/length ±0.5mm, diagonal difference ≤ 1mm

• Certification: Mill test certificates (MTC) to ASTM A240, third-party SGS inspection report, food-grade compliance declaration

• Deadline: Material must be container-sealed and ready for shipment within 16 days of order confirmation, to meet a pre-booked vessel from Shanghai to Melbourne

Products Supplied

• 15 tons of No. 4 hairline brushed SUS304 stainless steel sheets, 0.8mm × 1219mm × 2438mm, with anti-fingerprint nano-coating

• 10 tons of No. 4 hairline brushed SUS304 stainless steel sheets, 1.2mm × 1219mm × 3048mm, with anti-fingerprint nano-coating

• All sheets produced with consistent brush line density (approximately 120–150 lines per cm), uniform direction, and seamless batch-to-batch continuity

Production & Quality Control

The brushed hairline finish appears simple but requires precise control to achieve true uniformity across thousands of sheets. Our production team deployed a dedicated processing line to complete the order within the 15-day window.

1. Raw Material Incoming Inspection: SUS304 cold-rolled coils sourced from a TISCO mill, arriving with full traceability documentation. Chemical composition verified via optical emission spectrometer: Cr 18.3%, Ni 8.1%, C 0.04%, Mn 1.05% — fully compliant with ASTM A240 grade 304. Mechanical properties tested: tensile strength 540 MPa, yield strength 230 MPa, elongation 52%. Coil surface inspected for any rolling defects, pitting, or edge damage before acceptance.

2. Precision Leveling & Cut-to-Length: Coils decoiled and passed through a 23-roller precision leveler to correct coil memory and achieve a dead-flat condition. Flatness tolerance held to ≤ 0.12mm per linear meter. Sheets cut to exact dimensions on a high-speed CNC flying shear line. Every 50th sheet measured for length, width, and diagonal tolerance. Statistical process control (SPC) charts maintained throughout the run to track dimensional stability.

3. Hairline Brushing Process: The defining stage of this order. Flat sheets fed continuously through a dedicated hairline brushing line equipped with sequentially arranged abrasive belt stations:

   • Stage 1: 180# silicon carbide abrasive belt to establish the initial uniform scratch pattern and remove any surface imperfections from the cold-rolling process

   • Stage 2: 240# abrasive belt to refine the scratch depth and create the characteristic fine, parallel hairline lines

   • Stage 3: 320# abrasive belt for final finishing pass, achieving the target Ra 0.2–0.4μm surface roughness and the subtle satin sheen required for commercial kitchen applications

   Critical process parameters tightly controlled throughout: belt tension (constant), feed speed (8 m/min), oscillation frequency of the abrasive head (to prevent belt loading and streaking), and cooling lubricant flow rate (to prevent localized overheating and color change). Each sheet emerged with identical scratch density and direction — no cross-scratches, no skip marks, no edge fringing.

4. Post-Brushing Surface Verification:

   • Visual Inspection: Every sheet examined under 1000-lux diffused LED lighting at a 45° viewing angle to verify scratch uniformity, direction consistency, and absence of visible defects

   • Surface Roughness Measurement: Random 5% sample tested with a Mitutoyo SJ-210 portable profilometer. All readings between Ra 0.25–0.38μm, within the specified 0.2–0.4μm range

   • Brush Line Density Check: Calibrated loupe used to count scratch lines per centimeter on sample areas — consistently 130–145 lines/cm across all batches

   • Gloss Level: Gloss meter reading at 60° angle registered 25–35 GU (gloss units), confirming the matte-satin aesthetic consistent with No. 4 finish expectations

5. Anti-Fingerprint Nano-Coating Application: Clean, dry brushed sheets entered a class 10,000 cleanroom coating line. A transparent nano-silica lacquer was roller-coated at a controlled wet film thickness, then oven-cured at 155°C to achieve a 6–8μm dry film. The nano-coating penetrates the microscopic valleys of the brushed texture without filling or masking the hairline pattern. Post-coating validation included:

   • Water Contact Angle Test: ≥ 108° (indicating excellent hydrophobic performance — liquids bead and roll off)

   • Fingerprint Visibility Test: Oily finger pressed onto coated surface, then wiped lightly with a microfiber cloth. No residual mark visible under inspection lighting

   • Adhesion Test (ISO 2409): Cross-hatch tape pull on 10 random sheets — Class 0 result (no coating detachment)

   • Abrasion Resistance: Crockmeter test, 200 cycles with dry cotton cloth — no visible gloss change or coating breakthrough

6. Third-Party SGS Inspection: On Day 13, an SGS inspector conducted on-site verification at our facility. The inspection scope included:

   • Witnessing the in-line brushing process and coating application

   • Independent dimensional measurements on randomly selected sheets (all within tolerance)

   • Surface roughness spot checks (all readings within Ra 0.2–0.4μm)

   • Food-grade compliance documentation review (material traceability to FDA-compliant SUS304)

   • Final inspection report issued on Day 14 and shared with the client electronically

Packing & Container Loading

Brushed finish sheets are more forgiving than mirror finish, but scratches, moisture staining, and edge damage remain critical concerns. Our packing procedure for this 25-ton consignment was rigorous.

• Protective Film Lamination: Each sheet received a laser-grade, single-sided adhesive PE protective film (65μm, transparent blue tint) applied by machine laminator to ensure flat, bubble-free adhesion. The film allows visual inspection of the brushed surface while providing full scratch protection during handling, packing, and transit.

• Sheet Stacking & Interleaving: Sheets stacked face-to-face and back-to-back in bundles of 30. Between each sheet, a layer of 3mm EPE foam was inserted to cushion against vibration and prevent any inter-sheet abrasion during transit. Bundles compressed gently with a strapping jig to remove air gaps without distorting the sheets.

• Corrosion Protection: Each bundle wrapped in VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor) paper, which releases an invisible molecular layer that prevents rust formation on metal surfaces. Wrapped bundles then sealed inside heavy-duty 200μm polyethylene bags containing 60g silica gel desiccant sachets, with bags heat-sealed to create an impermeable moisture barrier.

• Wooden Case Construction: Fumigation-free plywood cases constructed from 18mm thick panels, certified to ISPM 15 international standards for wood packaging. Internal dimensions designed to hold bundles snugly with high-density polyurethane foam spacers at all contact points. Cases reinforced with steel corner brackets and edge protectors. Each case labeled with: finish type ("HAIRLINE / No.4"), sheet dimensions, sheet count, net weight, batch number, handling instructions ("KEEP DRY", "THIS WAY UP", "USE NO HOOKS").

• Container Loading Process: The 25 tons were distributed across two 40ft HQ containers to avoid overweight penalties. Loading sequence planned in advance with a 3D load plan diagram. Cases loaded in two tiers per container, with 25mm honeycomb kraft paper dunnage between vertical layers to distribute weight evenly. All perimeter gaps filled with heavy-duty inflatable dunnage airbags, inflated to 0.25 bar and monitored for pressure retention during loading. Each container's load secured with crossed polyester lashing straps anchored to container lashing rings. Loading completed in 4.5 hours per container under our logistics supervisor's direction, with 360° photos taken at each stage for the shipment dossier.

Shipment Delivery

The complete 25-ton order was produced, fully inspected, packed, and loaded into two 40ft HQ containers in 15 calendar days — one day inside the client's 16-day deadline. The containers were trucked from our factory to Shanghai Port and loaded onto the pre-booked container vessel bound for Melbourne.

Shipping documentation — including two sets of original Bills of Lading, detailed Packing List, Commercial Invoice, Mill Test Certificates (MTC) for all coil batches, SGS Third-Party Inspection Report, Food-Grade Compliance Declaration, Certificate of Origin (ChAFTA — China-Australia Free Trade Agreement), and fumigation-free packing declaration — was dispatched to the client via international express courier on the day of vessel departure. A complete digital copy was also emailed for immediate customs pre-clearance preparation.

After a 21-day ocean voyage, the containers arrived at the Port of Melbourne. The client's logistics team devanned under our video call guidance. Post-devanning report confirmed:

• Zero transit damage across all 3,200+ sheets

• Zero moisture ingress — desiccant sachets remained dry, VCI paper intact

• Protective film 100% intact on all sheets

• Random 50-sheet visual inspection confirmed hairline uniformity and direction consistency

The material entered production at the client's Melbourne fabrication facility within 48 hours of port arrival, enabling them to meet their hospital kitchen installation schedule. The client reported zero material rejections and has since placed quarterly repeat orders, citing the consistent brushed finish quality and reliable delivery performance as key reasons for the ongoing partnership.

Workshop Photo — Hairline Brushing Production Line

Call to Action
Need consistently uniform brushed stainless steel sheets in bulk quantities with fast, reliable delivery?
We specialize in No. 4 hairline, satin, and scotch-brite finishes on SUS304, SUS316L, and other grades — with SGS inspection and food-grade compliance on every export order.
📧 judesteel@juqing.hk | 🌐 https://www.stainlesssteelss.com | 📱 +86 19033681875