• INFRASTRUCTURE •
Stainless steel beneath our feet
The in-ground infrastructure woven into our cities often goes unnoticed, but it plays an essential role in how we live. Drains, maintenance access points, and manhole covers must reliably function in harsh urban conditions, while integrating seamlessly with their surroundings. When made from molybdenum-containing stainless steel, these fixtures can hold up beautifully, year after year.
• By Karlee Williston, IMOA
Systems that help keep a city clean, connected, and safe like sewers and underground utilities are hidden from view. Under sidewalks and plazas, they guide stormwater, deliver power, carry drinking water, and transmit data through fiber-optic cables. Their only trace above ground is a scattered pattern of grilles, lids, and hatches. These surface elements are more than just access points; they are the front line between infrastructure and the urban environment. Their job is to work reliably in the background, under pressure, through all weather, for decades. The need for durability in multiple dimensions makes molybdenum-containing stainless steels a robust choice for these components.
The hidden web Imagine walking across a public square just after a downpour. The pavement is mostly dry. Lights glow softly from the ground. Power flows to food stalls and music stages. Trees line the edge, their roots breathing through elegant grilles. No wires. No puddles. No obstructions. Compare this with areas where underfunded and outmoded drainage systems frequently flood and close roads after just brief periods of rain. Or a loose or corroded manhole
Photo © Marine Helzel
cover that becomes a hazard for cyclists and pedestrians. And repairs are rarely simple. They often require tearing into pavement, disrupting access, and interrupting daily life. Materials at this interface must be chosen with
The in-ground access points are flush with the surrounding stone pavement and lined to match the paving pattern. Photo © Nicole Kinsman care. Durability isn’ t optional. It’ s essential.
Strength beneath the surface The urban environment is unforgiving. Fixtures must withstand moisture,
Instead of temporary power lines that clutter walkways, in-ground power units support electricity and telecommunications only when needed. © Kent Stainless
28 Stainless Steel World Americas | June 2026 | ssw-americas. com