DATE: 2023-9-5
Giant Hardware Products Co., Ltd. is a well-established manufacturing company with over two decades of experience in the production of stainless steel cutlery sets and kitchenware. Our factory boasts a robust track record in the export business and has cultivated long-term partnerships with renowned retail giants such as PEPCO, Walmart, ALDI, and Carrefour.
The practice of using silver, silver-plated metals, or stainless steel utensils for dining and serving has relatively recent origins. It required the discovery of sufficient silver reserves, refinement of smelting techniques for crafting silver, and the replacement of Anglo-Saxon table manners with more refined Latin ones in Northern Europe over several centuries.
Materials Used:
Silverware is primarily crafted from stainless steel, sterling silver, or, in the case of silver-plated items, a base metal (often a high-quality copper alloy) with a layer of silver electroplated onto it. Among these, 18/8 stainless steel is highly favored due to its easy maintenance, durability, and affordability.
Manufacturing Process:
Blanking: Production begins with flat blanks of the chosen material, which are then stamped into individual shapes resembling the final utensils.
Rolling: Blanks undergo a series of rolling operations to achieve the required thickness and shape according to the manufacturer's designs.
Annealing: Blanks are heated in annealing ovens between operations to soften the metal, ensuring resistance to bending and damage during use.
Cutting to outline: The metal blanks are placed in a cutout press to remove excess material, shaping the pieces accurately.
Forming the pattern: Each pattern has dedicated steel dies for both the front and back of the piece. A hydraulic drop hammer embosses the pattern onto the metal.
Special steps for knives, spoons, forks, and holloware pieces: Knives' hollow handles are formed by soldering metal strips, while spoons' bowls are shaped by the same powerful drop hammer. Fork tines are similarly formed before pattern application.
Silver plating: For silver-plated items, an electroplating process adds a layer of silver over the base metal after extensive preparation, cleaning, and electrolysis.
Buffing and sand polishing: Knives, forks, and spoons are buffed and polished to achieve various finishes, from a bright mirror-like sheen to a soft satiny glow.
Quality Control: Final inspection involves checking for any defects such as chafes, scratches, rough spots, discoloration, or flaws that may have occurred during stamping, shaping, or polishing.
Future Outlook:
Stainless steel is the favored choice among contemporary consumers and represents the future of flatware manufacturing. Sterling and silver-plated ware purchases have been declining for two decades, while the demand for stainless steel continues to grow, as noted by General Manager Jeff at Giant Hardware Products Co.,Ltd, a prominent domestic manufacturer of silverware and plated.
