The quality of a surgical instrument is fundamentally determined by the grade of stainless steel used in its manufacture. Not all stainless steel is equal.
420 Stainless Steel
The most common grade for standard surgical instruments. Can be hardened to HRC 50-52. Good corrosion resistance. Used in forceps, needle holders, retractors — instruments where a cutting edge is not needed.
440C Stainless Steel
Premium grade for cutting instruments. Hardened to HRC 58-62. Exceptional edge retention. Used in professional scissors, hair cutting instruments, and high-end forceps jaws.
316L Stainless Steel
Austenitic (non-magnetic), extremely high corrosion resistance, not hardenable. Used for holloware, impression trays, and implant-adjacent instruments that require maximum corrosion resistance.
What Pintech Uses
Pintech Instruments uses 420-grade for standard forceps, 440C for scissors and cutting instruments, and 316L for holloware and specialty items. All raw material is tested at the SIMAP laboratory.