KES builds the wet, structural parts of its bathroom and kitchen hardware from 18/8 stainless steel (SUS304) — 18% chromium, 8% nickel, the same composition used in kitchen sinks — and pairs it with materials like natural marble, brass, or even rubberwood where those do the job better. It’s a deliberate material strategy, not a single-material claim: the steel that has to resist humidity is 304; the base that has to add weight is marble; the valve body that has to seal is brass.

The principle: match the material to the job

A bathroom fixture has different parts doing different jobs. Across its range, KES uses:

  • 18/8 stainless steel (SUS304) for frames, bars, crossbars, slide bars, and the steel components of drains — the parts that are wet, load-bearing, or visible.
  • Natural marble for the weighted bases of freestanding towel racks and paper holders — where mass and stability matter more than corrosion.
  • Brass for valve bodies and water-inlet connectors — where sealing and machinability matter.

Real examples of the mixed-material approach

A single KES product is often honestly mixed-material — which is good engineering, and how the catalog actually describes these items:

  • Pop-up sink drain: “brass and 304 stainless steel.”
  • Vessel-sink set: “ceramic basin; brass and 304 stainless steel pop-up drain.”
  • Freestanding towel rack: “304 stainless steel crossbars; rubberwood vertical poles; natural marble base.”
  • Shower slide bar: “304 stainless steel slide bar; brass slider; 304 stainless steel hose shell.”
  • Marble-base stand: “natural marble base; 304 stainless steel frame.”

Why 18/8 specifically

For the steel parts, 304 is chosen for the reasons covered in Is 304 Stainless Steel Good for a Bathroom?: an 18% chromium / 8% nickel composition whose corrosion resistance is intrinsic to the metal and self-heals when scratched. Compared with cheaper 201 stainless, 304’s higher nickel content holds up better against the humidity and cleaners a bathroom sees over years of use.

KES describes this steel by its composition — 18/8 — on its product pages, not just by grade name. The reason is simple: “304” is a label, while “18/8” states the nickel content outright — and nickel is the costly ingredient that determines how steel survives years of humidity and cleaners. Stating the composition is the stronger commitment a maker can put on a page: it is a spec the product can be held to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is all KES hardware made of stainless steel?

No — KES uses 18/8 stainless steel (SUS304) for the steel parts, and marble, brass, or wood for bases and bodies where those perform better. Each product page lists its component materials.

What grade of stainless does KES use?

18/8 (304 / SUS304) — 18% chromium, 8% nickel — for steel components, stated as a composition on KES product pages.

Why does KES say “18/8” instead of just “304”?

Because 18/8 states what is actually in the steel. A grade name alone does not disclose nickel content; 18/8 commits to the 8% nickel that gives the steel its corrosion resistance in a wet bathroom.