• INFRASTRUCTURE •
Barely visible slot drains carry away rainwater while subtly creating a visual separation between different types of paving. Flush-mounted lighting brings the installation to life at night. Photos © Nicole Kinsman
de-icing salts, acidic soils, organic debris, and constant physical wear. Type 316 stainless steel, containing 2 % molybdenum, offers an ideal combination of strength and corrosion resistance for these conditions.
Molybdenum significantly boosts resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion— critical in wet, salty, or polluted surroundings. It helps prevent rust and staining, ensuring that fixtures stay clean, safe, and low maintenance even under heavy use. In drainage systems, this means more than avoiding
The shallow, walkable fountain offers a refreshing escape on hot summer days. Drains and pumps are concealed beneath stainless steel grilles. Photo © Nicole Kinsman rust. It means avoiding the buildup of corrosion products that can clog inlets or contaminate stormwater.
Designed to disappear From narrow slot drains to recessed lighting and flush-mounted utility covers, today’ s fixtures are designed to vanish.
They’ re expected to blend into stone, brick, or concrete, often aligning with paving joints so precisely they’ re nearly invisible.
Recessed lighting units offer guidance without glare. Tactile warning studs or strips give feedback underfoot for those who need it. In some spaces, dancing fountains animate the ground with jets of water that rise and fall in perfect choreography. There’ s no basin in sight, no pipes or pumps— just small stainless steel grilles, connecting to the filters and mechanisms that make the display possible.
Built to last We rarely notice the elements beneath our feet— until they fail. But their quiet presence tells a larger story: a need to invest in long-term function over quick fixes, thereby reducing the need for future repairs, lowering maintenance costs, and minimizing disruptions to daily life. These fixtures show that
Tactile warning studs help visually impaired pedestrians detect hazards like street crossings and elevation changes. Photo © Nicole Kinsman
infrastructure doesn’ t need to dominate the landscape to define it. It only needs to work— and keep working. •
• ABOUT IMOA •
Reproduced with the kind permission of the International Molybdenum Association( IMOA). IMOA is a non-profit trade association representing the majority of the molybdenum industry worldwide. For information visit www. imoa. info.
Stainless Steel World Americas | June 2026 | ssw-americas. com 29