11 May 2026
In stainless steel processing, it is rarely about one single technique. The final result is determined by the right combination of processes, applied in the right order. Especially when both aesthetic and functional requirements play a role, one treatment is sometimes sufficient. In other cases, an additional step is needed to achieve the desired result.
Since 2025, Van Geenen has officially been a Preferred Supplier of ViwateQ®. This creates more room to actually bring that combination together within one process. Not as a standard solution, but as a targeted choice when the final result calls for it.
One combination that is therefore being used more and more deliberately is manual stainless steel grinding and ViwateQ® Finishing. Two techniques with their own character, which complement each other well in practice. Not because one replaces the other, but because together they provide more control over the final result. Especially when a consistent and functional surface structure is required.
Manual stainless steel grinding is a process that has proven itself for many years. For many applications, it is the way to achieve a good and functional surface. Weld seams are removed, transitions are levelled and the material is brought to the required roughness.
The main advantage lies in direct control. The operator sees what is happening and can adjust immediately. This makes manual grinding particularly suitable for custom work, complex shapes and components where a high level of detail is important.
Experience plays a major role here. It is not only about removing material, but also about how you do it. Think of heat input, pressure distribution and preventing deformation. Good grinding work is not only recognisable by its appearance, but also by the stability of the surface.
In many situations, that is more than enough. Especially for functional components or smaller series, manual grinding delivers a reliable and efficient end result.
One characteristic of grinding is that it leaves a direction in the surface. In many cases, this is desired or acceptable, for example with a brushed finish. But as soon as the surface needs to look completely uniform, or when that direction becomes visually disturbing, a different question arises.
In specific applications, particularly in hygienic environments, it is also not only the roughness that matters, but how that roughness behaves in use. In those cases, the aim is often to stay within an optimal range, where consistency is more important than simply making the surface “as smooth as possible”.
ViwateQ® Finishing is a surface treatment used precisely in those situations. This technique is also often applied as a standalone process, for example when a directionless and uniform surface is required.
The process is often seen as an alternative to wet blasting, glass bead blasting and pickling, but it stands out because of the level of control it offers. During the treatment, the surface is made uniform at micron level. Structural differences are levelled out, creating a homogeneous and consistent surface.
This has both visual and technical advantages. The surface gets a calm, even appearance without clear directional lines. At the same time, the roughness is distributed more evenly, which contributes to more predictable behaviour in use.
An important technical advantage of ViwateQ® Finishing is that the process introduces hardly any heat into the material. As a result, deformation is kept to a minimum, particularly with thin sheet metal. Here too, ViwateQ® Finishing is often sufficient on its own to achieve the desired result.
The combination of manual grinding and ViwateQ® Finishing mainly comes into play when both properties are required: detailed control and full uniformity. In that case, grinding is used to bring the product into the right shape and condition. ViwateQ® Finishing then ensures that the entire surface receives the same structure and appearance.
The effect is particularly visible on larger or assembled constructions. Small variations that occur during grinding, however minimal, are levelled out by the additional treatment. It is precisely this combination that makes it possible to create a more consistent surface, both visually and functionally, without depending on one technique alone.
With welded frames or housings, you can see the difference immediately. Where a ground surface may still show subtle transitions, the combination creates a calm and consistent whole.
It is important to say that this combination should not become the standard by default. In many cases, it is simply not necessary. Well-executed grinding work or a targeted surface treatment is often enough.
The added value lies in the moment when extra requirements are set. For example, when surfaces need to be visually uniform, when larger surfaces must not show visible variation, or when series-produced components need to look exactly the same. In those situations, the combination offers a solution that is difficult or less efficient to achieve with one technique alone.
In the food and pharmaceutical industries, cleanability is important, but preventing adhesion also plays a major role. Within the principle of Hygienic Design, the aim is to finish surfaces in such a way that product residues, bacteria and liquids have as little opportunity as possible to adhere.
Guidelines such as those from the EHEDG, the European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group, emphasise the importance of smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces with a consistent finish. A uniform surface helps prevent product build-up and makes cleaning processes more predictable.
In mechanical engineering, it is more often about a combination of functionality and reproducibility. Components need to meet specifications while also being produced consistently.
In high-tech applications, such as the semiconductor industry, surface structures and tolerances are critical. Small deviations can have a direct impact on performance or process stability.
This combination also plays a role in architecture and design. There, it is about appearance. A directionless surface creates visual calm, especially on larger visible surfaces.
In practice, grinding and finishing are still often outsourced to different parties. This can lead to differences in interpretation and less control over the final result.
By keeping both processes under one roof, that control is retained. At Van Geenen, manual grinding and ViwateQ® Finishing are approached as one complete process, with the pre-treatment directly aligned with the final finish. This results in a more consistent outcome and a more efficient process. Fewer handover moments mean less risk of deviations and more control over planning and quality.
Manual stainless steel grinding and ViwateQ® Finishing are both strong techniques that already deliver good results on their own. In many cases, choosing one of the two is logical and sufficient.
But when the requirements go beyond simply “good”, there is the option to combine them. Not as a standard step, but as a conscious way to achieve more control and consistency. That is exactly where the added value lies.
This article was published in the fourth 2026 edition of ALURVS.nl magazine.
