Con-Tech is a leader in custom manufactured deck plates manufactured by our suppliers in China, Taiwan, India or elsewhere, many of whom are ISO certified. These metal plates, which are placed around the furnace of a marine engine in order to protect the deck, can be supplied with polished visible surfaces and either with or without lettering. The available cast-in deck plate stamps include diesel, fuel, gas, water, oil, and waste.
Deck plates are also available with the caps installed and can be assembled with chain and o-ring seals. Additionally, Con-Tech can supply the complete line of deck plates in 316 stainless steel, with visible surfaces polished to a bright, mirror finish.
Choosing the Right Material for Marine Hardware
Marine hardware has long been fabricated of stainless steel and brass, as such materials help protect the hardware from corrosion in marine conditions. Choosing the right hardware is always a key element of boat safety. If the right choices are not made at the time marine hardware is selected, marine hardware may be severely compromised when exposed to marine environments.
High-grade stainless steel marine hardware is preferred in many applications as it may last more than 1000 years. Con-Tech’s stainless steel marine hardware is highly resistant to rust and less likely less to corrode in saline conditions, while the cheaper steel marine hardware better withstands the challenges of sun and wind. Our stainless steel marine hardware benefits from the properties of stainless steel which is used in innumerable applications and industries: marine and shipbuilding, industrial containers, bulk materials handling equipment, building exteriors and roofing, automobile components, chemical processing plants, pulp and paper manufacturing, petroleum refining, water supply piping, consumer products, pollution control, sporting goods, food handling, storing, cooking, and serving equipment and transportation, to name just a few.
Covid 19 increased marine hardware sales and the post-pandemic effects have been equally strong. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, sales of all marine products and services including boats rose to 13-year high in 2020 to $47 billion, increasing 9% from the prior year. The boating industry has touted data showing that new powerboat sales are strong, along with sales of pontoon boats, wake sport boats, and jet boats.
The trend has shown enormous potential for the future as first-time buyers are entering the market in record numbers increasing wait times and straining dealer inventories. The EU and U.S. reached an interim agreement in 2021 that prevents the doubling of tariffs on U.S. boats and engines – which also offered encouraging news for marine manufacturers.
As an iron-containing alloy—a substance made up of two or more chemical elements—it is stain and rust resistant with more than 57 stainless steels recognized as standard alloys, in addition to many proprietary alloys produced by different stainless steel producers.
Many underwater applications favor brass marine hardware and its alloys in saline, high-pressure marine environments. Brass marine hardware is the ideal material for boat fittings due to its durability and strength as well as its’ rust and corrosion resistance features. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc that is prized for its many valuable properties which vary depending on the copper-zinc ratio. In general, all brasses are valued for their machinability or the ease with which the metal can be formed into desired shapes and forms while retaining high strength. While there are differences between brasses with high and low zinc contents, all brasses are considered malleable and ductile.
The Con-Tech Difference
Whatever your needs for deck plates, Con-Tech can accurately and quickly quote your job and provide you with a manufacturing plan. What makes Con-Tech different than others is our attention to detail and our knowledge of your industry. We are tenacious and thrifty and we use our expertise to stay with you every step of the process. And Con-Tech works exclusively with a small number of foundries and fabrication shops – all world-class – to ensure you get consistent, high-performance products you need.
Each deck plate project begins with Con-Tech listening to your manufacturing needs and product specifications. Then you send us a drawing, a specification or the actual deck plate you need and we will take it from there. We convey the specifications for your deck plate to the right manufacturer for your unique application. And Con-Tech will stay with you every step of the way from design, prototype, production and import to delivery.
Click the RFQ button, email info@con-techinternational.com or call us at 504-523-4785 for details on how we can help get you the products you need at competitive prices.