Steel Studio is proud to say that currently 95% of our stainless steel is manufactured in South Africa, coming from The Columbus Stainless Mill in Middleburg which is 76% owned by Spanish giant Acerinox, and the balance of 24% of the shares held locally by the Industrial Development Corporation. Previously Steel Studio had brought in the majority of their stainless steel from the East, however, due to many reasons, we recently made the decision to buy locally and support our own country by promoting job creation. These were both important factors in the decision, however the quality of the materials came first and foremost. Quality standards from the East resulted in a number of issues and although we are now paying a premium by sourcing locally, we are confident that our clients will be receiving the best quality of stainless steel. By purchasing our steel locally, all material is now fully traceable and certificates are provided with every delivery. These certificates prove that the correct levels of Chromium, Nickel, Molybdenum etc, are contained in our material. We are also guaranteed that the stainless steel conforms to the required strength specifications. Strict quality control procedures are in place at the Spanish owned mill, which we believe are at the highest European standards. It is very important to note that because Steel Studio utilises our stainless steel for the manufacture and installation of balustrades, the strength of the material is paramount. Balustrades are not only there to look pretty, but more importantly to provide a safety function. While most of our competitors are sourcing from the East, and consider the look of the stainless steel to be the most important we at Steel Studio understand the importance of the strength of the stainless steel. The strength of the steel should be taken into consideration first and foremost: Can you imagine a balustrade collapses at a stadium where 20 people or more may be leaning on it? This is possible if the stainless steel is not manufactured to the correct strength standards as defined by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). This is the standard according to which the stainless steel should be manufactured, and we at Steel Studio are confident that the stainless steel we are purchasing conforms to these standards.