Stainless steel long products manufacturer Wire Products Stainless Steel’s (WPSS’s) experience of more than 30 years in supplying material to produce cold-formed fasteners and complex parts to the market has resulted in a strong knowledge and understanding of customer requirements, says WPSS director Tanya Papadopoulos.

WPSS is the sole local drawer of stainless steel, produced to client and international specifications, and is geared to offer a rapid response to any specific requirements.

The company manufactures welding wire and mechanical wire as well as being a re-drawer of cold drawn bars. Its general and fine wire stainless steel is produced at its “state-of-the-art facilities”, in Germiston, Gauteng.

It uses high-quaility raw materials and consumables to ensure a high-quality surface finish of its products.

For its stainless steel cold-drawn bar production, WPSS has three fully dedicated Shumag lines, which enables the company to meet almost the entire local demand for stainless steel bar of up to 30 mm, says Papadopoulos.

Moreover, WPSS has partnered with Switzerland-based steel fabricator Novametal to ensure access to high-quality raw material.

“Owing to Novametal procedures, WPSS is recognised as a premium producer of stainless steel spring wire in the spring industry. We have the expertise and knowledge to produce material for precision and standard spring production,” she explains.

The company is continuing with research on and innovation in its stainless steel welding wire to ensure multiple solutions for this market.

Through its quality products and international certifications, WPSS offers the global market the highest level of service while considering customer-specific requirements.

Papadopoulos adds that stainless steel products and components have a role to play in processes such as power generation, water desalination, mining and agriculture.

“Stainless steel has continuously been used for its corrosion resistance and strength. It is also beneficial for local industries, owing to its versatility.”

The petrochemicals industry also relies on stainless steel, particularly petrochemical plants in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries; these plants play a huge role in the economy of SADC countries and will continue to do so for many years to come, she elaborates.

Papadopoulos explains that, owing to South Africa’s geographic and topographic characteristics, corrosion resistance and strength are required for infrastructure, which stainless steel provides.

All the industries involved in infrastructure development will play an important role in assisting South Africa to recover economically and financially, and stainless steel is, therefore, a key part of their processes.