AISI 304 or AISI 316: which steel to choose for your stainless steel truck

When it comes to trucks for the food or pharmaceutical industry, "stainless steel" seems like a sufficient guarantee. In reality, there are different steels behind this word, and choosing the right one means protecting your investment over time.

Two of the most widely used grades are AISI 304 and AISI 316. The first, based on chromium and nickel, is the standard for most food environments: it offers excellent corrosion resistance, is easy to clean and withstands daily washing well. The second adds molybdenum, an element that increases resistance to attack from chlorides and salts. It is the recommended choice when the machine works in contact with brine, seawater, aggressive detergents or particularly intensive sanitisation cycles.

A warehouse for packaged products has very different requirements from a fish processing department or a cured meats plant with low-temperature cold rooms.

That is why our stainless steel forklift trucks are designed for sectors where hygiene and sanitary requirements are particularly strict.

In practice, the question to ask is not "which steel is better", but "in which environment will the truck work".

As highlighted, AISI 304 and 316 stainless steel are two of the most widely used grades, but if the application requires other types, Samag can use them for its forklift trucks.

There is also an often underestimated aspect: a truck is not just its frame. The components that work in contact with water and dirt must also be resistant. On our stackers and pallet trucks in the Stainless Steel range, for example, the bearings, pins and bushings of wheels, rollers and masts are made of stainless steel, and the bonnet and tiller are protected against water splashes, with the option of requesting the cold store version.

If you are evaluating a new truck for a critical environment, our advice is to start from an analysis of the workplace: type of product handled, detergents used, temperatures, washing frequency. Our technical office is available to help you choose the most suitable configuration.

From 27th to 30th October we can talk about it in person at Cibus Tec, Parma Fair Centre, Hall 06, Stand L030.