Meet Dhawal Gupta, the second-generation expert at Subhot Enterprises, a leader in manufacturing industrial heating elements for the past 30 years.
Discover insights into the use of various stainless steel grades by Subhot Enterprises for creating durable and customised heaters for diverse industrial applications, in an exclusive interview with Dhaval Gupta.
Tell us about your role at Subhot Enterprises.
I have been manufacturing industrial heating elements for the last 30 years, such as furnaces and ovens. We have different types of heaters in our range. I am the second generation in this business.
What are the properties of stainless steel that help you in the design and manufacturing of your products?
Stainless steel is a familiar term for everyone. Everyone knows stainless steel and uses it on a daily basis across different products. But it comes in different varieties.
There are many types of stainless steel in the market, which are used for different applications. When you are using it on a commercialised or industrial basis, you get a deep knowledge of it. Normally, people know SS-302 and SS-304.
SS-304 is an initial grade, which has a nickel percentage of 8-10 per cent. After that, people promote SS-316, which has approximately 12 per cent nickel. In industrial applications, SS-316 is used as an anti-corrosive steel.
If there is a liquid in plain water, it is a little corrosive. As you might have seen, generally, the scaling of white colour comes on water or metal. So, at that moment, at that application, we will prefer SS-316.
Similarly, if we go beyond SS-316 and shift from anti-corrosive to high temperature, then the scenario changes completely. Then we prefer SS-321 instead of SS-316, which is used for high temperature. Even in high temperature, our standards change as per temperature range.
For initial temperature range, we prefer SS-321. After that, when we move towards high temperature, we prefer SS-309 and SS-310. SS-310 is a good product.
It is high temperature. The percentage of nickel in it is approximately 20 per cent. We also use this alloy in furnaces.
When we go beyond SS-310, then the word stainless steel is removed and it becomes the name of the alloy. As the percentage of nickel increases, the product will become more premium and high temperature. Nickel makes any alloy high temperature.
Do you customise your products according to the client’s needs?
We understand the application of the heater very deeply. If the heater is running in a liquid or a chemical, and we want to give it an anti-corrosive stainless steel, then we prefer Incoloy 825, which is anti-corrosive.
If the customer has written the temperature range and the SS grade in his drawings, but the SS grade he has chosen is not perfect for his application, then we revise his drawing. We send him our drawings. We get them approved. We give him suggestions as to why this product is best for his application. That’s how we customise as per the product’s requirements.
How do you assure that quality control is being maintained in the stainless steel used?
We have internal quality control. We also get spectral tests from a NABA lab done. With the help of the reports, we can find out if the alloy that we purchased is appropriate or not.
What challenges do you face in while dealing with stainless steel?
Nickel is required to manufacture stainless steel and it originates in Russia. Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, we faced challenges in sourcing nickel.
During the war, the prices of nickel were very high. It was so high that for some time, our sales and purchases were very disturbed.
Because manufacturing of stainless steel is less in India, more imports are required. The manufacturing of seamless tubes is also less in India.
What is your opinion on sustainability and eco-friendliness of stainless steel?
Stainless steel is completely eco-friendly. We promote stainless steel; we do its sorting; and we use it lengthwise, so that the wastage is reduced. After that, stainless steel pipes and strips have multiple uses. I don’t think stainless steel is wasted anywhere.
Stainless steel is not like plastic; it is a metal alloy. It is impossible to replace stainless steel. And no one is thinking of replacing it. So, it is a sustainable product. It will be used for a long time.
