Functional Surfaces for Stainless Steel with Outokumpu

Stainless steel is widely valued for its durability and corrosion resistance, making it a staple in fields like automotive and infrastructure. As part of its strategic focus on specialty stainless steel applications and material innovation, Outokumpu is now seeking to develop new surface properties that bring additional value to customers.

Outokumpu is looking for innovative ways to enhance stainless steel with new or improved functional surface properties – such as hygienic, self-cleaning, slip-resistant, repellent, wear-resistant, soft touch, or low-friction surfaces – ideally without compromising corrosion resistance or relying on additional coatings. By unlocking these innovations, Outokumpu aims to create high-value specialty materials that enhance product longevity, improve performance efficiency, and contribute to safer and more sustainable applications across industries like aerospace and defense, mobility, food processing, chemical, and medical applications. 

From a manufacturing perspective, solutions should be compatible with Outokumpu’s existing production processes, particularly cold rolling and annealing, or be applicable through complementary post-processing techniques.

We are seeking startups and technology providers who can:

• Develop functional surface enhancements that add value beyond corrosion resistance and aesthetics. Ideally, these enhancements should be embedded into the material itself, though innovative coating solutions are also of interest.
• Apply their solutions during cold rolling, annealing, or through complementary post-processing techniques that integrate seamlessly into existing manufacturing processes.
• Deliver commercially viable solutions that can be tested and validated at an industrial scale.
• Leverage AI-powered simulations and predictive modeling to accelerate R&D and optimize material performance.

This collaboration presents a unique opportunity to work with Outokumpu, a global leader in stainless steel innovation, to develop pioneering functional surfaces that meet specialty market demands. By participating in this initiative, startups and technology providers can gain access to Outokumpu’s expertise, industrial-scale manufacturing capabilities, and extensive customer network across various industries.