Sandvik Decorex™ - the innovative, colour coated strip material from Sandvik Materials Technology, is providing productivity benefits for decorative component producers in the consumer electronics, domestic appliance, automotive and interior design industries. The material combines an extensive and exclusive colour range and various surface finishes with the excellent processing properties and technical benefits of stainless steel strip. All strip is delivered ready colour coated. Excellent adhesion between the base material and the colour coating make it possible for Sandvik Decorex strip to be cold formed and bent to close radii without affecting the colour quality. Compared with processes relying on a final colour coating operation – particularly if it is outsourced - this removes process steps, shortens production times and means less material tied up in production and stock. Colour stability also improves production yields, particularly when compared, for example, with wet processes such as anodizing. Sandvik Decorex has complete colour consistency along the whole strip length and from batch to batch. It means that components can be designed enabling producers to take advantage of economical, reliable and repeatable processing. In addition, close control of the Sandvik production processes mean that very tight flatness and colour layer tolerances are achieved. This has particular productivity benefits during blanking, stamping, deep drawing, punching and grinding operations. The net result is that although Sandvik Decorex stainless steel strip is sometimes initially more expensive, the combination of reduced processing times, increased productivity and yield means that the final component cost is lower. All Sandvik Decorex surface finishes are scratch resistant and meet the toughest pencil hardness tests according to ISO 15184 or ASTM D3363 standards. Surfaces are also fingerprint resistant. Even with the Sandvik Decorex bright finish, fingerprints can be removed by a simple wipe-over. Special manufacturing processes have been developed by Sandvik Materials Technology to apply the high quality layers of colour coating to the stainless steel strip. The new technology uses a roll-to-roll process where single or multiple layer coatings can be applied to one or both sides of the strip. Sandvik Decorex is available in thicknesses up to 0.8mm and in strip widths up to 370mm and in a range of stainless steel material grades.