Stainless Steel Tube Bending Guide from Euro Inox

Tube is by far the most important semi-finished stainless steel product. The process industry uses it for pipework; in building it is often found in handrails and parapets. In both cases, the use of tube usually involves curved elements. These can be manufactured in two ways. Either, elbows can be welded or flanged to straight tubes; or the tube can be bent into a complex shape using appropriate machines. The new Euro Inox publication BENDING STAINLESS STEEL TUBE – DESIGN BENEFITS IN ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE focuses on the latter method and its advantages: crevices are avoided, weld quality cannot become an issue and there is no heat tint that needs to be removed. Modern tube bending equipment is surprisingly versatile and cost-effective. Due to its outstanding ductility, stainless steel is exceptionally suitable for automated tube bending. 
The brochure is addressed to architects and design engineers. It provides a basic understanding of the most important parameters and the terminology. The forming behaviour of various types of stainless steels and tube geometries is described to raise awareness of specific design possibilities. The publication facilitates the dialogue between designers on the one hand and tube bending contractors on the other. 

The contents includes the following topics: 
- Ways to achieve curved tubular designs 
- General parameters used in tube bending 
- Forming stainless steel 
- Austenitic – ferritic – duplex: differences in forming behaviour 
- Bending square and rectangular tube 
- When to heat before bending 
- Cleaning after bending 
- Glossary of terms 
- Relevant standards 

The brochure can be downloaded free of charge from the Euro Inox website.
Euro Inox is the European Stainless Steel Development Association.