The hardware industry is the processing and manufacturing of metals into tools or similar functional purposes and is a traditional industry for steel to be used in. After centuries of development, current hardware products have changed in their size, shapes and most importantly their durability. At present, hardware products are subdivided into 10 categories, including:
• tool hardware
• construction hardware
• daily hardware
• gas appliances
• stainless steel products and kitchen equipment
• locks
• cooking utensils
• range hoods
• zippers
• shower rooms

以下材质为五金领域中常用到的钢材

There are more than 400 stainless steel ware production enterprises in China alone, mainly private small and medium-sized enterprises, which consume about 500,000 tons of stainless-steel sheets annually.These sales generate an estimated 15 billion yuan, of which about 50% of the products are exported, exceeding 1 billion USD in value.