Fifty years of stamping SS 430 has taught us exactly why it works. Every induction base plate we manufacture uses this ferritic stainless steel — the only grade that combines the magnetic permeability required for induction heating with the formability needed for precision deep-draw stamping. This page covers the full specification, the standards it's cross-referenced against, and exactly why it beats SS 304 for this application.
Induction hobs don't heat by conduction from a hot element — they generate an alternating magnetic field that induces eddy currents directly inside a ferromagnetic material placed on the cooking surface. That material has to have a crystal structure that responds to a magnetic field.
SS 430 is a ferritic stainless steel — its body-centred cubic crystal structure is magnetic, so it heats efficiently on induction. SS 304, by contrast, is austenitic — a face-centred cubic structure that is paramagnetic at best and will not reliably heat on an induction hob. This is the single reason SS 430, not SS 304, became the global standard for induction base plates, regardless of the fact that SS 304 has higher general corrosion resistance.
In finished cookware, the SS 430 plate is bonded or clad to an aluminium (or aluminium-clad) body. The aluminium is what actually distributes heat quickly and evenly across the pan; the SS 430 plate's only job is to give the induction hob something ferromagnetic to induce current into.
SS 430 (our grade) against SS 304 and mild steel — the three materials most commonly discussed for cookware base plates.
| Property | SS 430 (Our Grade) | SS 304 | Mild Steel (MS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade / Standard | EN 1.4016 · AISI 430 | EN 1.4301 · AISI 304 | IS 2062 · ASTM A36 |
| Crystal Structure | Ferritic | Austenitic | Ferritic / Pearlitic |
| Induction Compatible | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Corrosion Resistance | High | Very High | Low (rusts) |
| Tensile Strength | 430–600 MPa | 515–720 MPa | 400–550 MPa |
| Yield Strength (0.2%) | ≥ 260 MPa | ≥ 205 MPa | ≥ 250 MPa |
| Elongation (A50) | ≥ 22% | ≥ 40% | ≥ 20% |
| Magnetic Permeability | High (ferritic) | Low (austenitic) | High |
| Deep-Draw Formability | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Chromium Content | 16–18% | 18–20% | < 0.3% |
| Typical Cookware Use | Induction base plates | Cookware bodies, cutlery | Non-cookware structural parts |
| Food Contact Safe | Yes — EN 1.4016 | Yes | Coating required |
Property ranges reflect published values for the EN 1.4016 / AISI 430 and EN 1.4301 / AISI 304 specifications and are representative, not a mill-specific guarantee. Confirmed mechanical values for your order are provided on the mill test report (MTR) for that production batch.
A spec sheet tells you the number. Here's what happens downstream — in your tooling, your assembly line, or your customer's kitchen — if that number is wrong.
Typical composition ranges for the EN 1.4016 / AISI 430 specification, per EN 10088 and ASTM A240 reference standards:
| Element | % by Weight |
|---|---|
| Chromium (Cr) | 16.0 – 18.0% |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.12% |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 1.00% |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 1.00% |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.040% |
| Sulphur (S) | ≤ 0.015% (balance Fe) |
Reference composition per standard specification. Batch-specific mill certificates (MTRs) confirming exact composition are provided on request for every SS 430 coil we process.
SS 430 is specified under different names depending on the region and standards body your buyer or auditor works from. These designations refer to the same ferritic grade:
We cross-reference production against these equivalent designations so international buyers can map our material to whatever standard their own QA or customs documentation requires. Where a buyer's compliance framework needs a specific certified standard rather than a cross-reference, confirm requirements with us before order placement.
Every stage below happens in-house — no third-party toolmaker or subcontracted forming step.
Check the full buyer FAQ, or send us your drawing directly and we'll confirm feasibility against SS 430, SS 304, or mild steel.
We've been stamping stainless steel since 1974 — and we'd rather show you than tell you. Qualified procurement teams are welcome at both our Mumbai and Gujarat facilities: process walkthrough, tooling inspection, material traceability review. Come and see it running.
MUMBAI PLANT · GUJARAT PLANT · BOTH AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION