SIC 3914 Silverware, Plated Ware, and Stainless Steel Ware

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT.
• BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT.
• CURRENT CONDITIONS.
• INDUSTRY LEADERS.
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 3914

This category includes businesses whose primary activities consist of manufacturing flatware (including knives, forks, and spoons), hollowware, ecclesiastical ware, trophies, trays, and related products made of sterling silver; metal plated with silver, gold, or other metal; nickel silver; pewter; or stainless steel. The category also includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing table flatware with blades and handles of metal. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing other metal cutlery are classified in SIC 3421: Cutlery, and those manufacturing metal trophies, trays, and toilet ware made of metals other than silver, nickel silver, pewter, stainless steel, and plated, are classified in SIC 3499: Fabricated Metal Products, Not Elsewhere Classified.

NAICS CODE(S)

332211

Cutlery and Flatware (except Precious) Manufacturing

339912

Silverware and Plated Ware Manufacturing

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

The flatware industry was dominated by stainless steel in the early 2000s. The dominance was expected to continue as a result of consumers seeking to bridge the gap between low-end flatware and silverware. Stainless steel flatware's affordability, attractiveness, and durability have made it the most popular. Although the principal manufacturers of flatware also produce silver or silver-plated jewelry or decorative products such as bowls and goblets, flatware is typically the mainstay of the business.

The jewelry and silverware manufacturing sector combined produced products valued at $8.6 billion in 2003. The value of hollowware and flatware shipments was an estimated $569 million in the early 2000s. Hollowware includes toiletware, ecclesiastical ware, novelties, trophies, baby goods, and other plated ware. Flatware includes all knives, forks, spoons, and carving sets made wholly of metal.

BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT

Sterling silver is a term used by the U.S. government to describe a silver alloy consisting of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent of another metal, such as copper. The baser metal is used to add strength to silver, which in its pure state is too soft to be practical. Silverplate, which also includes hollowware or hotelware, refers to products made from silver bonded onto a baser metal, such as brass or copper. Silverplating creates a material that is far cheaper to...