Tokyo-based Nippon Kinzoku Co., Ltd. has announced the launch of its latest environmentally friendly innovation, STA (Special Tension Annealing) finish stainless steel. The company has certified the material as part of its eco-product series to support advanced swhile addressing environmental concerns.

The STA finish is an evolution of Nippon Kinzoku’s conventional TA (Tension Annealing) stainless steel. It is a widely valued material known for its flatness, dimensional stability, and low residual stress, particularly in spring applications. While TA finish has earned strong industry recognition, the new STA version goes a step further. It tackles one of the key challenges in etching: warping. By minimising residual stress, the STA finish reduces distortion during the etching process, greatly enhancing dimensional stability.

Another standout feature of the STA finish is its refined crystal grain size. This allows for smoother etched surfaces, a critical factor in delicate applications where precision is paramount. This makes the material ideal for components in smartphones, semiconductors, and metal masks, where accuracy and reliability are critical.

The STA finish goes beyond performance, bringing sustainability into its design. By improving processing accuracy and yield, it helps manufacturers simplify production steps, saving both energy and resources. This efficiency contributes to a smaller environmental footprint. It aligns with Nippon Kinzoku’s commitment to achieving net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

The product also plays a central role in the company’s long-term strategy, outlined in its Nippon Kinzoku 2030 management plan. Built around the idea of ‘Near Net Performance,’ the plan emphasises developing materials that deliver the performance of a finished product directly from processing. This approach reduces waste and enhances efficiency.

Key features of STA-finished stainless steel include superior flatness achieved through combined heat treatment and shape correction, along with reduced residual stress for high processing accuracy. The material also offers an optional refined grain size for smoother etched surfaces.

As demand rises in industries such as 5G communications, mobile devices, and semiconductors, Nippon Kinzoku expects the STA finish to become an essential material for next-generation precision components. The product offers a solution that combines technological advancements with sustainable manufacturing.