ArcelorMittal Europe announces details of the CO2 technology strategy that will enable it to offer its first green steel solutions to customers this year (30 000 tonnes), scale up this offering in coming years (to reach 120 000 tonnes in 2021 and 600 000 tonnes by 2022), deliver its 30% CO2 emissions target by 2030, and achieve net zero by 2050.

Click here to learn more: ArcelorMittal Europe to produce ’green steel’ starting in 2020

Despite the challenges of COVID-19 on our daily and professional lives, some projects have continued and have even been successfully completed these past months. Since March 2020, Industeel's site in Charleroi, Belgium has been equipped with 1512 photovoltaic panels on its roof. The green electricity generated will allow Industeel to produce cost-efficient steel while reducing its CO2 footprint. The panels have been fixed on a steel structure coated with Magnelis®.

A strong illustration of sustainability

With this project, ArcelorMittal reinforces its commitment to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and CO2 emissions reduction across all facilities. This project represents one more step towards sustainability and a cleaner future while reducing expense and generating positive EBITDA savings.

Throughout the 20 years of the contract life, the supplier PERPETUM will take on the full maintenance and operations of the panels and will guarantee both the performance and the output of the panels. After 20 years, the panels will belong to Industeel Belgium and will continue to produce energy. The electrical power of each panel is 320 Wp (watt-peak). This corresponds, with southern exposure, to an expected annual global electricity production of 500 MWh, which is equivalent to the energy consumption of 120 households.

Protected by Magnelis®

Industeel worked with Green4Power, who invested in the project, and entrusted the supply, assembly, and commissioning to PERPETUM. The structure supporting the 1512 solar panels was entirely built with Magnelis® - a product of ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products - in grade ZM310 and produced in Liège.

Magnelis® is an exceptional metallic coating with a chemical composition including zinc, 3.5% aluminium, and 3% magnesium. This unique composition allows Magnelis® to provide an unprecedented level of surface and cut-edge protection against corrosion even in the most hostile environments.

This project was successfully completed thanks to the excellent teamwork between Industeel and the European Procurement Organisation's energy efficiency projects team, who implement various energy efficiency projects including on-site solar photovoltaic projects on the roofs and land of ArcelorMittal sites.

"The renewable energy generated by these 1500 solar panels supports us in achieving ArcelorMittal's ambition to be CO2 neutral by 2050," concludes Alex Nick, CEO Industeel.

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Images: Marc Burton, Energy Management and Optimisation, Industeel Belgium

Related link(s)

Solar panels for Industeel Charleroi roof with Magnelis®

Industeel Charleroi solar panels with Magnelis®

Industeel Charleroi solar panels with Magnelis® banner

Solar panels for Industeel Charleroi roof with Magnelis®

From 21 September to 11 October 2020, all eyes will be on the French Open / Roland-Garros tournament. While encouraging Novak, Serena, Rafael, or Roger, we invite you to admire the new retractable roof of the central court! Thanks to ArcelorMittal Rodange rails, your favourite players will be protected from the rain.

Premium rails provided in record time for the French sports monument

The Rodange site produced the 44 crane rails used for the construction of the retractable roof of the court. The A150 rails are the largest in our DIN range and were produced in 110CrV of superior quality. This shade has long been exclusively developed by ArcelorMittal with special straightening to ensure perfect track alignment.

The rails were mainly produced for the Philippe Chatrier central court roof. Once the rails were manufactured, the finishing operations were managed and organised in Yutz, France for:

• Cutting: The rails were cut to length according to customer specifications, including 45° corner cuts while respecting the required lengths with a tolerance of +/- 1mm.
• Hardness: The A150 are the highest quality in the range.
• Handling: Made with textile straps only, without magnets or chains, despite the size of the rails (the A150 are the largest rails in the range of crane rails produced in Rodange).
• Fast delivery

In total, it took only two months between ordering and shipments to provide the end customer with completely finished rails - from production to delivery. Thanks to good internal cooperation, we were able to provide the customer with a complete solution.

The revival of an iconic tennis court

Built in 1928, the Philippe Chatrier central court has undergone a complete renovation to modernise the stands and build a retractable roof.

This roof will not only allow the organisation of night games, but will also protect players from the rain in case of bad weather. It is composed of 11 panels of 100 metres and 350 tonnes each which slide on our rails. Thanks to our high quality products, this 3850-tonne roof will open and close in 12 minutes.

Click here to see the construction of the retractable roof.

Text: ArcelorMittal Luxembourg, Constructalia
Images: ArcelorMittal Europe
Video: Roland-Garros

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Philippe Chatrier Central Court at the Roland-Garros / French Open

Équerre d'argent 2019 winners: A special jury prize for the Roland Garros Stadium

Retractable roof of the Philippe Chatrier central court at the Roland-Garros Stadium

Retractable roof mechanism of the Philippe Chatrier central court at the Roland-Garros Stadium

Philippe Chatrier central court at the Roland-Garros Stadium

Demand for convenient car parking is rising dramatically. However, the land available for parking is severely limited in many locations. This is making multi-storey car parks a very attractive option in city centres, near transport hubs, and at public buildings such as hospitals. To meet this demand in a cost-effective way, Kingspan, a leading building materials company, has developed a complete portfolio of solutions for car park builders. A key element is Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products which Kingspan uses to form the deck of each level in the car park. As well as cost-effective forming and quick assembly, Magnelis® offers long-term protection against corrosion to ensure the safety and viability of parking structures.

The challenges of multi-storey car parks

Multi-storey car parks offer unique challenges for their owners. As well as providing safe and welcoming spaces for potential customers, they must withstand weathering from the elements – and the effect of de-icing salts and other chemicals which are tracked into the structure. Floors are particularly vulnerable due to the high level of moisture which enters the structure through its open sides or via rain and snow on vehicles. Moisture in the atmosphere typically condenses on the underside of the floor, making this part of the structure particularly susceptible to corrosion.

A complex product requires Magnelis®

To address these concerns, Kingspan has developed a multideck floor system based on Magnelis®. The system is quick to produce, lighter than alternative solutions, and simple to assemble on-site. “We create the deck panels by roll-forming the steel in our factory,” explains Phil Smith, Kingspan’s Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. “It is a complex product – the deck panels need to include cut-outs to ensure the concrete adheres to the steel. But Magnelis® is easy to form.”

In the final step, the ends of the Magnelis® deck panels are engineered to ensure that the concrete does not slip off as Phil Smith says: “The process involves crushing the ends of the panels slightly so that the concrete has a rough surface to adhere to. This is done about two to three weeks before the panels are installed.”

Once the steel decking panels are manufactured, they are transported to site and lifted into place. Concrete is then poured over the steel to form the deck. “In the past we have used pre-cast concrete slabs to form the deck, but this is costly,” notes Phil Smith. “Another option is to use pre-coated or galvanised steel, but the coatings on these materials are often damaged in handling, transport, and on-site. Magnelis® is the best and most cost-effective option as it does not damage easily during transport or handling on-site. And if it is damaged, the self-healing property of Magnelis® repairs any cuts or scratches that do occur.”

10-year guarantee a major advantage

A key advantage of Magnelis® for Kingspan is the guarantee ArcelorMittal can provide on request. Phil Smith explains: “By using Magnelis® we can offer a 10-year guarantee on our decks. That can be extended up to 20 years depending on the location of the car park and the thickness of the Magnelis® coating. Currently we use Magnelis® ZM310, but we are working with ArcelorMittal to test Magnelis® ZM430.”

Kingspan utilises ArcelorMittal’s technical support at all stages of the project. “We are quite often involved in projects where the environment is aggressive such as swimming pools, car parks, and installations which generate energy from waste,” says Phil Smith. “In these projects we involve ArcelorMittal during the design phase to ensure we are selecting the right materials. ArcelorMittal also organises R&D workshops to Kingspan to help us get the most from their offer.”

ArcelorMittal’s dedicated Client Technical Support (CTS) personnel also provide a direct link between the customer and the steelmaker. They connect the customer’s technical team to ArcelorMittal’s support and R&D teams to provide quick feedback and advice on technical questions.

Sustainability at every step

Kingspan offers a complete range of solutions for multi-storey car parks including the Magnelis® composite decks explains Phil Smith: “We also have barrier protection systems, perforated facades, and solar panels for the top floor so the car park can generate energy for lighting, ventilation, and electric vehicle charging points. Our goal is to create sustainable solutions at every stage. And steel is our material of choice to reach this goal.”

That commitment to sustainability has seen Kingspan switch both of its production centres in the UK to 100 percent renewable energy. Kingspan is also one of only 130 companies to make the CDP A-list (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), a position the company has held since 2016.

About Kingspan

Kingspan is a global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelopes. Originally founded in Ireland in 1965, Kingspan now operates in over 70 countries around the world and employs more than 14 000 people. The company manufactures a range of complementary building envelope solutions for both the new build and refurbishment markets.

More info: www.kingspan.com/gb

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Images: Raised Floor Solutions

Related link(s)

Multi-storey car parks can accommodate a large number of vehicles in a relatively small space

Magnelis® can resist the corrosive effect of moisture which accumulates underneath each deck

Kingspan engineers the ends of each Magnelis® panel to ensure maximum adhesion of the concrete layer

Kingspan uses Magnelis® in their multi-storey car parks

Kingspan partnered with MetparkUK Ltd to install the Magnelis® decks in multi-storey car parks

Kingspan uses Magnelis® in their multi-storey car parks

Phil Smith, Managing Director of Kingspan in the UK and Ireland

Multi-storey car park banner

A multi-storey car park under construction in Manchester, UK

Due to political and economic issues, as well as a concrete-oriented culture, steel is not a preferred solution in Central America. However, the trend may soon reverse thanks to the first project in the region involving HISTAR®. Beams produced by ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products’ Differdange mill were used to build a new bridge in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.

HISTAR®: an efficient and cost-effective solution for bridges

The new bridge on Fuerzas Armadas Boulevard in Tegucigalpa is now an advantage for the inhabitants of the area, giving more fluidity to the traffic and allowing people living in the area to leave in about 5 minutes – contrary to the 30 minutes it used to take.

HISTAR® 460 / A913 grade 65 was selected for this project thanks to its many advantages:

• Weight savings due to higher resistance.
• Better and more efficient weldability. Pre-heating can even be reduced or eliminated in some cases.
• Minimum impact through a slender solution and fast erection (compared to a concrete bridge).
• Savings (thanks to smaller lifting equipment, smaller consumption of electrodes for welding, etc.).

Construction of the bridge started in May 2018 and ended in July 2019 with a 100-metre-long structure made with HISTAR® girders.

A successful joint task force

A partnership between ArcelorMittal International and SOGESA (a Honduran local steel distributor) was capable of bringing the first HISTAR® 460 / A913 Grade 65 solution to the region. The project, named ‘Paso a desnivel bulevar Fuerzas Armadas-Metromall’, included building a new bridge along the road connecting two important points of the Honduran capital as part of a bundle of measures aimed at reducing traffic problems that had been hampering the city for a long time.

The alliance between ArcelorMittal International and SOGESA took steps such as promoting A913 to local design companies and steel fabricators, which set the stage for the high strength hot rolled steel solution to succeed. In addition, they managed to get the final decision-takers (Tegucigalpa City Hall) on board after a fruitful round of discussions on how a steel solution can be effective in infrastructure projects, showing them the benefits of a HISTAR® solution.

Developing our presence in Central America

In the past two years, ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products’ beams were used to build two bridges in Tegucigalpa:

• Via Rapida bridge
• Boulevard Kuwait de la Vega bridge

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications, Constructalia
Images: ArcelorMittal

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The bridge during its construction

Lecture to technicians of the Project Management Department at Tegucigalpa City Hall

Bridge in Tegucigalpa with HISTAR®

Boulevard Kuwait de la Vega bridge banner

Boulevard Kuwait de la Vega bridge

Via Rapida bridge

Preliminary services taking off next to Metromall

With existing wind towers using up to 180 tonnes of heavy plate and hundreds of individual towers in a wind farm, the logistics of ensuring just-in-time deliveries of steel are critical for success. ArcelorMittal’s global footprint enables us to meet the needs of some of the leading players in this market – wherever they are located.

Our solutions

Our heavy plate is used to construct both the tower and, in offshore installations, the jackets that keep the turbine stable on the sea floor. ArcelorMittal is also working with wind turbine developers to create the next generation of towers which are lighter and do not require welding.

We also supply non-oriented fully processed electrical steels for the medium and high-power generators which sit at the top of the wind tower. These steels possess all of the required magnetic properties to maximise the amount of energy each turbine can produce.

Offshore wind farms

Our steels for offshore structures offer improved workability and weldability and can be supplied thermomechanically rolled or normalised. They can be utilised in applications such as platforms and equipment for new fixed wind towers.

ArcelorMittal can conduct the following tests if required:

• Ultrasonic testing
• Reduced Carbon Equivalent (CEV) or Parameter Crack Measurement (PCM) values
• Transversal impact tests
• Improved deformation properties perpendicular to the surface of the product as per EN 10164 (Z test)
• Post-Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) test

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Images: ArcelorMittal, Majeczka/Shutterstock.com, Andrea Crisante Pedrosala/Shutterstock.com

Related link(s)

Hill of Towie wind farm

Steel Solutions Provider to the Global Wind Energy Industry

ArcelorMittal – the Leading Supplier of Steel Solutions for the Global Wind Energy Industry!

Wind farm

The optimisation of construction materials, including the size reduction of structural system components, is fundamental in the modern construction of high-rise buildings. Composite structural components consisting of concrete and steel are a sustainable solution. This research paper investigates the use of composite mega columns, with hot-rolled steel sections fixed in concrete, as vertical structural systems. Tests were conducted to explore maximum capacity, displacements, stress distribution, ductility, and stiffness, culminating in suggested simplified design methods based on European, Chinese, and American codes.

Paper abstract

“Steel reinforced concrete (SRC) columns are widely used in high-rise buildings, since they provide larger bearing capacity and better ductility than traditional reinforced concrete (RC) columns. This type of structural system is not currently explicitly addressed in the actual design codes. The paper aims at presenting the behaviour of a new configuration of mega columns - isolated steel reinforced concrete (ISRC) columns. A two-phase test was conducted on scaled ISRC columns designed based on a typical mega column of a super high-rise building. Phase 1 of the study includes six 1/4-scaled ISRC columns under static loads: every two of the specimens are loaded statically with the eccentricity ratio of 0, 10%, and 15%, respectively. Phase 2 of the study includes four 1/6-scaled ISRC columns under quasi-static loads: every two of the specimens were loaded under simulated seismic loads with the equivalent eccentricity ratios of 10% and 15%, respectively. A finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted as a supplement to the physical tests to provide a deeper insight into the behaviour of “mega columns”. An extended Plastic Distribution Method is defined to evaluate the capacity of the specimens. The method is based on simplifications similar to those proposed in EC4 [1]. The scope of this latter standard is limited to the consideration of one single steel profile. The method is validated by comparisons with experimental and with numerical simulation results using advanced finite element programs, showing a good accuracy in results.”

Research paper, abstract, and images: © Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin
Intro: Constructalia

Related link(s)

Performance and capacity of composite mega columns with encased hot rolled steel sections

Discover what's new in Constructalia's Document library! We've added the newest brochures for ArcelorMittal's Sections and Merchant bars, HISTAR®, ACB® and Angelina® beams with large web openings, and high-rise buildings.

Our Document Library is filled with catalogues, technical guides, reports, and much more. All publications are about ArcelorMittal products or steel in construction.

Click here to download these new brochures and more: Document library

Related link(s)

HISTAR® technical brochure

ACB® and Angelina® beams: A new generation of beams with large web openings

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High-rise buildings

An updated version of our Portal+ predesign software that supports you in the design of portal frames according to Eurocode 3 is now available on Constructalia.

Portal+ v1.37 includes a new database for steel grades and profiles (version 2020-2), a new configuration window, and improved display of calculation reports.

Visit our Software page to download the updated version for free.