A Closer Look at Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Bollards

June 15, 2022

Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Retractable Bollards are not only visually attractive, but they also help in protecting people and structures from vehicles. Steel and stainless steel bollard fabrication and production differ from the typical metal casting of site furnishings. 

Fabrication and machining of metals

Metal fabrication entails precise shape by grinding, cutting, or drilling. This refers to machining. Machining is the process of removing material from a workpiece using power-driven machine tools to mould it into the desired pattern. During the production process, most metal components and products require some type of machining. Grinding machines, cutting machines, boring machines, drilling machines, milling machines, and turning machines are all examples of machining tools.

What is stainless steel machining?

Fabrication is the process of transforming a raw piece of material into something functional. It is constructing a structure out of metal; generally steel, to create something practical that will last a long time, such as Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Retractable Posts. Steel bollard manufacturing consists of three major steps: cutting the material, welding the sections together, and grinding or polishing the completed product. Each step’s accuracy assures that the end product is of the finest quality.

The Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Retractable Post (Telescopic)

Fabricated finishes

Did you know there are 13 distinct ways to polish stainless steel? Let’s look at the qualities of different finishes and why you would choose one over another. Steel is manufactured in five mill finishes, which can be utilised as-is or modified further depending on the desired finish outcome. These are:

  • Hot-rolled and annealed; hot-rolled, annealed, and passivated; cold-rolled, annealed, pickled, and passivated, with an additional pass-through highly polished rollers; annealed in an oxygen-free vacuum; and cold-rolled, annealed, pickled, and passivated.

Then there are six different finishes to pick from, each of which applies an increasingly smooth coating to the surface of the steel. The following finishes are available: 

  • Coarse, brushed, satin, matte, reflecting, and mirror. 

Matte finishes are frequently employed in restoration or minor projects when a distinct appearance is needed. In contrast, brushed and coarse finishes provide texture that is both obvious to the touch and visible to the eye. Each finish has a distinct amount of corrosion resistance and sanitary steel. Rougher finishes are unsuitable for surgical tools or food-preparation surfaces requiring surgical sterilisation. However, they provide unique, corrosion-resistant material for decorative items. On the other hand, smoother steels are considerably easier to clean and have higher corrosion resistance.

Steel and stainless steel bollards

Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Retractable Posts can act as site furniture because of the contemporary appearance they add to a perimeter. They provide elegant, geometrical profiles with appealing features like cuffs or circular rings as ornamental coverings or solo bollards. Steel or stainless steel, both strong and modern, can be optionally painted with a powder coat or different colours to meet your aesthetic needs.

So now you know everything there is to know about Stainless Steel Bollards! We construct a broad range of steel structures, including steel bollards, at The Shelter Store, so if you’re looking for heavy-duty protection, give us a call on 0800 612 7503 and speak to one of our experts about your needs now.


Shelter Store Team

Shelter Store is the UK's leading supplier of smoking shelters, canopies, walkways and street furniture. Follow us on LinkedIn.