Stainless Steel Shims Manufacturer in India
When it comes to ensuring every detail is precise, the caliber of your stainless steel shims is critical. Indeed, it can determine if your machine is running smoothly or falling apart. In fact, selecting the proper shim material type, steel grade, thickness, and supply form is just as crucial as specifying the other components of a machine. At Kalpataru Piping Solution, we produce and supply stainless steel shims from hairline shim plate stainless foil with thickness starting from 0.02mm to 6 mm structural ss shim plate of grade 304/304L, 316/316L and 321, at our facility in Mumbai, making sure they get certified. We provide pre-cut shims in standard rectangular shapes or alignment shims with customized bolt hole arrangement. We can even provide a coil of stainless steel shim stock rolled to your required thickness or stainless steel shim sheets that can be cut out from a master one measuring 1000 × 2000mm according to your design.
- Stainless Steel Shims Material Grades
- Choosing Between the Grades
- Stainless Steel Shims Specification
- Stainless Steel Shims Chemical Composition
- Stainless Steel Shims Mechanical Properties
- SS Shims Physical Properties
- Thickness Tolerance of Stainless Steel Shims
- Stainless Steel Shims Equivalent Grade
- What Gets Checked Before a Shim Ships
- Where Stainless Steel Shims Get Used
- Stainless Steel Shims Price
- Stainless Steel Shims Sizes
- People Ask About Stainless Steel Shims Supplier
Stainless Steel Shims Material Grades
SS 304 / 304L — The Default Choice
Grade 304 is the workhorse of the shims range. Its 18–20% chromium content builds a self-repairing passive oxide layer that handles general atmospheric and process corrosion reliably. Sometimes called 18-8 stainless steel shim stock (for its 18% chromium and 8% nickel nominal composition), 304 stainless steel shim stock is what most orders land on; it is cheap enough relative to 316 that there is no reason to upgrade unless the environment demands it. 304 shim stock is also our most readily available form, held in stock from 0.02mm to 3mm in standard sheet sizes. 304L is the low-carbon version same corrosion performance, but it welds without the carbide precipitation at the heat-affected zone that can weaken standard 304, which matters in assembled shim stacks that get tack-welded in place.
Best for: Dry indoor environments, general machinery alignment, structural fabrication, pipeline flange levelling.
SS 316 / 316L — The Chloride & Coastal Grade
Adding 2–3% molybdenum transforms 316 stainless steel shims into a pitting- and crevice-corrosion-resistant alloy that 304 simply cannot match in marine, washdown, and coastal plant environments. 316 stainless steel shim stock also referred to as 316 stainless shim stock costs more than 304, and for a dry inland application that extra cost buys you nothing. But put a316 stainless steel shims pack somewhere that sees regular saltwater spray, caustic washdown, or chloride-laden process streams, and you will replace it far less often than a 304 equivalent. 316L is the low-carbon weldable version the correct choice for any 316 application where the shim or its adjacent component will see welding.
Best for: Marine and offshore, chloride-rich environments, coastal plants, chemical processing.
SS 321 — For Repeated Heat Cycling
Titanium stabilisation prevents intergranular corrosion after repeated exposure to high temperatures the failure mode that appears in 304 when a shim sits at a pipeline flange or turbine casing that cycles hot and cold repeatedly. 321 is a narrower use case, so we cut it to order rather than carrying standard stock.
Best for: Hot flanges, turbine casings, heat exchangers, high-temperature structural joints.
Stainless Steel Shims Grade Comparison Table
|
Factor |
SS 304 / 304L |
SS 316 / 316L |
SS 321 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chromium Content |
18 – 20% |
16 – 18% |
17 – 19% |
|
Nickel Content |
8 – 10.5% |
10 – 14% |
9 – 12% |
|
Molybdenum |
None |
2 – 3% |
None |
|
Titanium Stabilised |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Chloride / Pitting Resistance |
Moderate |
Strong |
Moderate |
|
Heat Cycling Resistance |
Standard |
Standard |
Enhanced |
|
Typical Environment |
Dry, indoor, general use |
Wet, coastal, washdown |
Hot flanges, thermal cycling |
Our recommendation: Default to 304/304L unless your application sees chlorides (step to 316/316L) or repeated heat cycling above 400°C (use 321). A grade chosen correctly the first time avoids premature replacement and unnecessary cost.
We also supply copper shims,brass shims, and bimetal shims for applications where stainless steel is over-specified.
Stainless Steel Shims Specification
Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
Material Grades | SS 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 321 |
Thickness Range | 0.02mm to 6mm |
Width | Up to 1000mm, or as per customer drawing |
Length | As per requirement — coil, sheet, or cut length |
Governing Standard | ASTM A240 / ASME SA240 |
Surface Finish | Cold rolled, hot rolled, bright annealed (BA), 2B, polished |
Material Proof | Mill test certificate (EN 10204 3.1) on request |
Stainless Steel Shims Chemical Composition (%)
Grade | Carbon (max) | Chromium | Nickel | Molybdenum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SS 304 | 0.08 | 18 – 20 | 8 – 10.5 | — |
SS 316 | 0.08 | 16 – 18 | 10 – 14 | 2 – 3 |
SS 321 | 0.08 | 17 – 19 | 9 – 12 | — |
Stainless Steel Shims Mechanical Properties
Grade | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Yield Strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
SS 304 | 515 | 205 | 40 |
SS 316 | 515 | 205 | 40 |
SS 321 | 515 | 205 | 40 |
SS Shims Physical Properties
Property | Value |
|---|---|
Density | 7.9 g/cm³ |
Melting Point | ~1400°C |
Thermal Conductivity | 16 W/m·K |
Electrical Resistivity | 0.72 µΩ·m |
Thickness Tolerance of Stainless Steel Shims
Thickness Range (mm) | Tolerance |
|---|---|
0.02 – 0.10 | ±0.005mm |
0.10 – 1.00 | ±0.01mm |
1.00 – 6.00 | ±0.05mm |
Stainless Steel Shims Equivalent Grade
| ASTM | DIN (Werkstoff) | EN | JIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS 304 | 1.4301 | X5CrNi18-10 | SUS 304 |
| SS 316 | 1.4401 | X5CrNiMo17-12-2 | SUS 316 |
| SS 321 | 1.4541 | X6CrNiTi18-10 | SUS 321 |
Testing, Quality Control & Certifications
A shim that is the wrong thickness by even a hair defeats the entire purpose of using one. Testing is therefore not an afterthought at Kalpataru Piping Solution — it is integrated into every step from raw material receipt to final dispatch.
Quality Tests Performed
|
Test |
Standard |
Purpose |
|
Chemical Analysis |
ASTM A751 |
Alloy verification — confirms grade identity |
|
Tensile & Yield Testing |
ASTM A370 |
Confirms mechanical property compliance |
|
Dimensional Inspection |
ASTM A480 / ISO tolerances |
Thickness, width, flatness, and squareness |
|
Surface Visual Inspection |
100% — not spot-check |
Detects surface defects, scratches, pits |
|
Positive Material Identification (PMI) |
PMI gun / XRF |
Confirms grade where alloy mix-up risk is high |
|
Hardness Testing |
ASTM E18 / Rockwell B |
Material grade confirmation |
|
Flaring, Flattening & Bend Tests |
ASTM A480 |
Formability verification on request |
Certifications & Standards
- ASTM A240 / ASME SA240 – Governing standard for flat-rolled chromium and chromium-nickel stainless steel plate, sheet, and strip.
- ASTM A480 – General requirements for flat-rolled stainless and heat-resisting steel plate, sheet, and strip.
- EN 10204 Type 3.1 – Mill test certificate issued by the manufacturer’s authorised inspector and provided with every shipment where the grade matters.
- ISO 9001 Compliance – Our quality management system is operated to ISO 9001 principles.
Every shipment where the grade actually matters — which is most of them — goes out with an EN 10204 3.1 material test certificate attached, not issued separately after the fact.
Approved Clients & Inspectors
Where Stainless Steel Shims Get Used – Applications & Industries
Stainless shims appear wherever two surfaces must meet at a precise gap or height — from the finest precision instrument assembly to the heaviest structural steel shims used under bridge bearing pads. Steel shims in general are one of the most versatile components in any maintenance or fabrication toolkit, and stainless grades specifically are chosen when corrosion resistance over the service life of the equipment is a priority. Below are the industries and specific use cases Kalpataru Piping Solution most commonly supplies into.
|
Industry |
Typical Application |
Preferred Grade |
|
Oil & Gas / Petrochemical |
Pipeline and flange alignment, valve seating, pump base levelling |
SS 316L |
|
Power Generation |
Turbine and generator levelling, compressor alignment, flange shimming at high-temperature joints |
SS 321, SS 304 |
|
Marine & Offshore |
Shipbuilding, offshore platform structural alignment, deck equipment levelling |
SS 316L |
|
Structural & Civil |
Bridge bearing pads, steel structure connection shimming, load distribution under base plates |
SS 304 |
|
Machinery Manufacturing |
Height adjustment, parallelism control, machine base levelling during initial installation and periodic recalibration |
SS 304L |
|
Aerospace & Defence |
Precision tolerance control, fastener and joint shimming to ± 0.005mm |
SS 304, SS 316 |
|
Pharmaceutical / Food Processing |
Corrosion-resistant shimming in clean-room and washdown environments |
SS 316L |
|
Chemical Processing |
Pump and heat-exchanger base levelling in aggressive process environments |
SS 316L |
|
Automotive / Heavy Equipment |
Die-set shimming, tooling alignment, press base levelling |
SS 304 |
Specific Use Cases
- Pipeline & Flange Alignment: Stainless steel shims sit between flange faces and supports to achieve accurate spacing and leak-free connections in oil, gas, and chemical piping. A small misalignment at this point has consequences well beyond the shim.
- Power Plant Equipment Levelling: Turbines, generators, pumps, and compressors all need precise levelling to run smoothly. A shim that is slightly off shows up as vibration within days of startup.
- Structural Alignment: Steel structures, bridges, and buildings use shims to balance loads and correct misalignments during construction — thicker stock, more static load than the rotating-equipment applications.
- Machinery Installation & Maintenance: Height adjustment and alignment during both initial installation and routine maintenance, recalibrating as equipment settles or wears over time.
- Marine & Offshore: Corrosion resistance is the whole reason stainless is specified here — shipbuilding and offshore platforms are a natural fit for SS 316 in particular.
- Aerospace & Precision Engineering: Tight tolerances and reliability matter more here than almost anywhere else — this is where the ± 0.005mm end of our tolerance range is regularly used.
Stainless steel shims price
Stainless steel shims price depends on grade, thickness, size, surface finish, and order quantity — a per-kilogram number without those details isn’t very useful. As a general pattern:
Factor | Effect on Price |
|---|---|
Grade | 316/316L costs more than 304/304L due to molybdenum and nickel content |
Thickness | Thinner precision shims cost more per unit — tighter tolerances take more care to hold |
Order Quantity | Bulk orders reduce the per-unit price meaningfully |
Surface Finish | Polished or special finishes add cost over standard 2B/BA |
Custom Sizing | Custom-cut sizes and shapes cost more than stock rectangles |
Send your grade, thickness, size and quantity and we’ll come back with an actual number, not a range that doesn’t help you budget.
Stainless Steel Shims Sizes
Stainless steel shims are available in a wide range of sizes and thicknesses to meet different industrial requirements. Standard stainless steel shim thicknesses generally range from 0.01 mm to 6 mm, while widths and lengths can be supplied according to the application. Common sheet sizes include 1000 × 2000 mm, 1220 × 2440 mm, and 1500 × 3000 mm. Custom stainless steel shim sizes can also be manufactured or cut as per customer drawings, specifications, and dimensional requirements.
Stainless steel shims price
Stainless steel shims price depends on grade, thickness, size, surface finish, and order quantity — a per-kilogram number without those details isn’t very useful. As a general pattern:
| Factor | Effect on Price |
|---|---|
| Grade | 316/316L costs more than 304/304L due to molybdenum and nickel content |
| Thickness | Thinner precision shims cost more per unit — tighter tolerances take more care to hold |
| Order Quantity | Bulk orders reduce the per-unit price meaningfully |
| Surface Finish | Polished or special finishes add cost over standard 2B/BA |
| Custom Sizing | Custom-cut sizes and shapes cost more than stock rectangles |
Send your grade, thickness, size and quantity and we’ll come back with an actual number, not a range that doesn’t help you budget.
Stainless Steel Shims Sizes
Stainless Steel Shims vs Other Shim Materials
| Property | Stainless Steel | Mild Steel | Copper | Brass | Plastic |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent | Poor | Good | Good | Very Good |
| Compressive Strength | High | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Temperature Range | Up to 870°C | Up to 400°C | Up to 260°C | Up to 200°C | Limited |
| Precision Thickness | ± 0.005mm | ± 0.05mm | ± 0.01mm | ± 0.01mm | ± 0.1mm |
| Surface Finish Options | Multiple | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Weldability | Good (304L, 316L) | Good | Poor | Poor | None |
| Reusability | High | Medium | High | High | Low |
Types of Monel Pipe Fittings
People Ask About Stainless Steel Shims Supplier
Stainless steel shims are used for spacing, leveling, alignment, and load distribution in machinery, pipelines, structural assemblies, and industrial equipment.
Commonly available grades include SS 304, 304L, 316, 316L, and 321, each offering different levels of corrosion resistance and mechanical strength.
Stainless steel shims are available in thicknesses ranging from 0.02 mm up to 6 mm, with tight dimensional tolerances for precision applications.
Yes, stainless steel shims provide excellent resistance to corrosion, oxidation, moisture, and chemicals, making them suitable for harsh and outdoor environments.
Yes, Kalpaturu Piping Solution offers stainless steel shims in custom widths, lengths, and thicknesses as per client drawings and project requirements.
Trusted by EIL, TÜV India, Tata, and Lloyd's Register Projects Worldwide
From a single replacement shim to a project bulk order for 40+ countries — Kalpataru Piping Solution has the stock, the certifications, and the application knowledge to get it right the first time.
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