Core 4622 – our exceptionally versatile, price-stable ferritic grade – is the ideal choice for more sustainable elevator and escalator manufacturing. Choosing 4622 enables lower value-chain emissions, with Outokumpu having the industry’s lowest carbon footprint.
More than 50% of the global population already lives in towns and cities, and by 2030 it is expected that around five billion people will live in urban areas. Urbanization means building more and building higher, which in turn is increasing demand for vertical transportation solutions like elevators and escalators – and the steel used to make them.
Lower emissions for a lower product carbon footprint
One of the biggest decarbonization challenges for elevator and escalator manufacturers is reducing the emissions created by their value chain, for example when buying and using materials like stainless steel from suppliers.Steel is in high demand in the elevator and escalator industry as it is used to manufacture a wide variety of components including elevator car structures and cladding, and escalator balustrades. Choosing Core 4622 enables manufacturers to reduce their value-chain emissions, with Outokumpu products having a total carbon footprint that is up to 75% lower than the industry average.
Improved cost-effectiveness and raw material price predictability
Compared to nickel-alloyed austenitic grades, Core 4622 is more cost-competitive and price-stable, offering the same well-balanced material properties while eliminating the price fluctuations associated with nickel.“The price of nickel fluctuates significantly, so eliminating the nickel content makes Core 4622 cost-competitive in the long term,” says Juha Kela, Senior Product Manager, Outokumpu. “For volume products like elevators and escalators this can bring significant savings in manufacturing costs. This grade also brings a wide variety of benefits beyond economic ones.”
Excellent all-round mechanical properties to make elevator and escalator products shine
Core 4622 is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, with good corrosion resistance thanks to its high typical chromium content of 21%. This makes Core 4622 an excellent choice for applications where appearance is equally important as technical performance – for example, elevator car interiors in offices or residential buildings, or escalator balustrades in retail spaces and airports.“From a manufacturing perspective Core 4622 has excellent machinability and weldability. It is also easy to polish thanks to its stabilized ferritic microstructure,” Kela explains. “It has less springback than comparable austenitic grades, so designing and shaping is easier too.” This last point is a particular advantage in elevator and escalator manufacturing, where stainless steel is often a design element on show for all to see.