ADVANTAGES OF USING STAINLESS STEEL IN LABORATORY FURNITURE
INTRODUCTION Whenever the question arises about laboratory furniture, the first thing that comes to mind are lab tables. A laboratory is a place where a number of crucial materials, utensils and substances are kept at all times. Laboratories that are available in schools and colleges are visited by a number of people on a daily basis. This means that a lab table needs to be both durable and free of bacteria. And it is mandatory that the atmosphere inside the lab should always be germ-free. Apart from, laboratory tables, there are other important pieces of furniture that are used on a daily basis, laboratory benches being one of those items. For extra convenience of students and/or professors, the option to choose adjustable height tables, (which can be customized for special needs) is welcomed. How durable a particular set of laboratory tables are, ultimately boils down to what materials are used to build them. Metal tables, more specifically a stainless steel table is the most widely used variation at present time. And of course, stainless steel benches are also available as an excellent option. There is a specific set of reasons because of which stainless steel became the most popularly used material in lab tables. Stainless steel has many properties which makes it a worthy successor to wood. In the past, all the furniture in a laboratory used to be made of wood, but with time, the shortcomings of wood as a material has led to its replacement.
BENEFITS OF USING STEEL A stainless steel lab table is perfect for regular use because it can withstand all the pressures it is put through. The term ‘stainless’ is extremely significant because even after a long period of use, it remains scratch and damage free. The following is a list of a few of the beneficial characteristics of a stainless steel table.
THEY ARE IMMENSELY DURABLE This is one of the most obvious and perhaps the most talked about benefit of using anything made from stainless steel. Furniture used in the laboratory needs to be clean and strong at the same time. Every day, large amounts of work are done making use of chemicals, which calls for a strong table. Stainless steel as a material is one of the strongest that exists. In addition to its strength, an additional epoxy finish can be applied on the surface of the metal. This extra layer provides such furniture with a sterile
surface, which is ideal for all kinds of lab work. Stainless steel, as the name suggests is extremely difficult to scratch or stain. It also does not get dented very easily as well. Steel basically comes with a powder coated finish, which prevents it from any kind of cracking, chipping or peeling.
STAINLESS STEEL TABLES ARE CUSTOMIZABLE Apart from considering the fact that stainless steel has high amounts of strength; it is also true that they are extremely customizable. They can be modified into almost any shape or design. This makes them applicable for use in a variety of industry sectors. Even in laboratories, steel can be used for manufacturing different kinds of furniture and utensils. There are certain laboratories, which have special requirements; a few require flat surfaces, while others might need instruments made of steel, which are rounded towards the edge. To cater to all the different kinds of needs, steel is the most ideal material.
STAINLESS STEEL IS EASY TO CLEAN This property is one of the most advantageous if the furniture is used in a laboratory environment. If the lab is located in a school or college (or other industries for that matter), it is apparent that they are accessed at least five times a week (and often several times a day). Lab tables are pieces of furniture, which are frequently used, no matter what kind of activity is being performed. Whether an experiment is done or any other kind of practical work, the apparatus is likely kept on the table. Steel has a surface which is made of non-porous material. This means that they do not hold back any kind of moisture. This feature makes cleaning anything made of steel very simple and hassle-free.
THEY STAY IN GOOD CONDITION FOR A LONG TIME Stainless steel as a material is scratch resistant. It is corrosion-free as well. This very property is unique to stainless steel only. Resistance to corrosion is the ability which is present because of the presence of chromium oxide in its composition. This property also proves beneficial in laboratories, because lab tables are left exposed to moisture for extended periods of time. In case any other metal is used, such tables’ could potentially have rusted after prolonged exposure to oxygen. Stainless steel, however, does not face any problems like these. They have the unique ability to heal by themselves, even if they do get scratched; marks vanish by themselves after a certain period of time. This allows lab tables to stay in good condition for prolonged periods of time.
THEY ARE COMPARATIVELY MORE AFFORDABLE This is another reason why many organizations, schools, colleges and industries prefer furniture, utensils and equipment made of stainless steel. All of them prefer this particular metal because apart from having a number of physical superiorities over other metals and alloys, they often come at a much lower price. This is the reason why furniture made with stainless steel is so affordable.
THEY ARE EXTREMELY LIGHT IN WEIGHT This advantage arises, because of a certain characteristic of stainless steel- Malleability. Stainless steel is immensely malleable, which means that it can with ease be beaten into any shape, all while retaining its strength. There are many laboratories, where there is a requirement of thin layers of steel. There are crucial small pieces of equipment, which cannot be built unless a block of steel is cut into thin layers. Being thin automatically points towards the fact that those sheets would be light in weight. This very property itself makes steel the best material to be used in laboratories.
MAINTENANCE IS HASSLE-FREE This is another significant benefit of having laboratory equipment made up of steel. When practical work is done in the laboratory of a school, there are high chances that the utensils will go through a lot of pressure. This will definitely affect the condition of the material used in the equipment. A situation like this, without proper management, the utensils tend to get damaged. The advantage of using stainless steel utensils is that firstly, they would not get damaged very easily pertaining to their durability, and secondly, maintenance is very easy. Simple polishing, cleaning and sanitizing the surface of stainless steel lab tables, on a regular basis, will keep them in great shape.
CONCLUSION Therefore, it can be understood, that no matter what the purpose is in a laboratory, stainless steel is a material which is ready for any kind of pressure or strain. Many organizations consider the use of this metal as a luxury, because of its aesthetic features, which sets it apart from any other materials, used in labs, like wood. Stainless steel is a unique alloy, which adds value to any component.