Food-Grade & Sanitary Stainless Steel Floats

The most common food-grade stainless steels are 304 and 316. Both are widely used in processing equipment because they resist corrosion, clean well, and perform reliably in liquid environments. 304 is common for many food and sanitary applications, while 316 adds molybdenum for improved resistance to chlorides, harsher chemicals, and more demanding washdown conditions.

Yes. Stainless steel is a broad material category, while food-grade stainless steel refers to grades and finishes suitable for hygienic processing, cleaning, and contact with consumable products. For float balls, that usually means selecting an appropriate alloy such as 304 or 316, avoiding unsuitable surface conditions, and matching the design to the tank, valve, or measurement system.

304 stainless steel is a strong, cost-effective choice for many food applications and is commonly used for stainless float balls. 316 stainless steel is often better when equipment faces salt, chlorides, acidic cleaning agents, or more aggressive processing environments. The best choice depends on the liquid, temperature, cleaning process, and corrosion risk in the system.

Yes. Stainless Steel Float Ball Company can supply floats in common 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel, with other materials available when required. Float balls can be made in round or oblong shapes, with matte, brushed, or polished finishes, plus custom threads, through tubes, fittings, hooks, or magnets for specific sanitary equipment designs.

Available float ball sizes include many common round options such as 1-1/2", 2", 3", 4", 5", 6", 8", 10", 12", and 14", along with oblong designs like 7 x 12", 7 x 16", and 9 x 14". The company regularly adds sizes to inventory and can customize fittings or threads to match system requirements.

Finishes include matte, brushed, and fully polished options. A matte float has the regular stainless appearance and may show the weld ring. A brushed finish smooths the weld seam but is not a mirror finish. Fully polished float balls provide a mirror-like surface, often preferred when appearance, cleanability, or sanitary presentation is important.

Yes. The company has equipment available to pressure test floats, and higher-than-normal pressure requirements can be tested to customer specifications. Pressure testing is especially useful for floats used in tanks, valves, level measurement systems, or demanding sanitary processes where dependable buoyancy and seal integrity are critical to system performance.

The company offers direct shipping and can tailor supply programs to customer objectives, including reducing inventory costs or lowering freight costs. With a large inventory of common sizes and the ability to customize floats with fittings, magnets, or special threads, customers can build a reliable supply plan for ongoing production or maintenance needs.