Overproduction coupled with the worldwide economic crisis resulted in a significant fall in the price of stainless during 2008/09. The stainless steel producers responded by cutting production, creating material shortages and creating an artificial demand by restricting supply. They have implemented a series of base price increases since May, equating to a 32% increase.

Nickel, a traded commodity and a key component used to make Stainless Steel, has more than doubled in price recently, with prices rising from around $10,000/m tonne to over $20,000/m tonne.

Combining both the base price and Nickel increases has effectively increased the price of stainless steel by 50% since May ?09. These prices are tipped to hold steady up until the end of the year.

Despite the economic downturn ACS Stainless Steel Fixings have continued to invest heavily throughout 2009 in the latest plant, tooling and software; this has resulted in less waste, therefore stabilising prices. This combined with ACS?s significant purchasing power has minimised the effect of these increases, and enabled ACS to minimise the effects for our customers.

In addition, our recent advances in Brickwork Support technologies have resulted in stronger systems requiring fewer brackets therefore reducing prices further.

However, with the majority of our selling price being attributed to raw material, inevitably our prices will have to rise in October 2009.

Our clients can rest assured that ACS Stainless Steel Fixings Ltd will remain one of Europe?s most competitively priced supplier of windposts, masonry support and wall ties despite impending increases.