The Market for Stainless Steel Flat products until 2010

摘要

The stainless steel industry is a 100 year old story of success. Over the first 50 years, stainless steel was an elite material, used in "high tech applications" and was produced in "high tech nations". Production technology was mainly proprietary and prices were high (>10.000 dollars/t). Then several innovative milestones enhanced the consistency of quality and improved productivity significantly. To name a few: the invention of the continuous caster, Z-mill, AOD and VOD in the 50's and 60.