Stainless steel planters are the ultimate modern plant container, combining metropolitan style with enduring toughness and durability.
All our stainless steel manufacture is to-order and to your specification, and we do not hold in stock a standard range of shapes and sizes.
Given the inherent durability and corrosion-resistance of the material, most stainless steel planters and plant pots are left 'raw' [i.e. without an externally-applied finishing coat]. However, where the brief requires, stainless steel planters can be finished with a clear lacquer or coloured powder coat.
In the raw state, four standard stainless steel options are available, based on two materials and two finishes.
STANDARD OPTIONS
1. Materials:
- 304 grade stainless steel is suitable for most environments, and it is the most commonly specified option. It is also a significantly cheaper option than 316 grade, but will require more regular cleaning to avoid surface staining [aka ‘tea staining’].
- 316 grade [or ‘marine-grade’] stainless steel is more expensive, and has a different composition of alloys, which gives much higher corrosion resistance in coastal environments and/or high-end quality applications.
- 1.4003-grade is a utility ‘ferritic’ stainless steel which will tea stain if left uncoated [which may, or may not be an issue, as the tea staining is not structurally degrading the metal]; and it offers 90% of the technical performance of 304 / 316 grades, at a greatly reduced cost.
2. Surface Finishes:
- Brushed 304 / 316 stainless steel has a muted sheen with a visible grain, and is the most commonly specified option. It is recommended for any environment, including public spaces.
- 1.4003 stainless steel is typically powder coated for aesthetic reasons, as it will tea stain if left uncoated. However, for applications which are not aestetically sensitive [for example, planters hidden within [say] a concrete upstand], then 1.4003 can be left unpainted, as it will not degrade.
SPECIALIST OPTIONS
In addition to the above standard options, a wide range of specialist stainless steel colours, patterns and finishes are available. For example:
- From the extensive range of specialist steels from RIMEX Metals Group, IOTA can manufacture planters with a range of patterned, etched or coloured/grained finishes.
- Stainless steel may also be combined with other specialist decorative metals, such as the TECU range of copper alloys from KME.
IOTA custom-manufactures stainless steel plant pots and planters in any shape or size, from simple geometric shapes to complex architectural designs. CAD models can also be generated for approval against a design brief.
