Norwegian Steel Day is the main conference for the steel construction industry in Norway, and this year is the 31st edition.

This day conference is an open forum for professionals and is a natural meeting place for exchanging knowledge, establishing new contacts, and reconnecting with old contacts in the steel community. This year's programme includes a wide range of the most current topics in the steel industry. The topics are of great relevance for all professionals working in the construction industry: clients, developers, architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers.

ArcelorMittal is pleased to be presenting: 'Climate impact from steel vs concrete: A comparison of CO2 emissions from buildings and infrastructure projects'.

About Norsk Stålforbund

Norsk Stålforbund, the Norwegian Steel Association, is an independent organisation that works to promote professional development, knowledge, and the use of steel in all types of construction. Members are associated organisations and individual companies from the Norwegian steel construction industry.

The Spanish PIANC YPs (Young Professionals) will hold their annual YP Technical Conference 3-4 October at the Port of Maó, in Menorca, Spain. This year, the Port of Maó was chosen as the main economic agent and gateway to the service of the island of Menorca, which brings together a wide variety of traffic such as general cargo, Ro-Ro traffic, and cruises in addition to a booming and strategic nautical sector for the revitalisation of its productive activity.

During the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to make a technical visit to the facilities of the port itself and to learn about its operation activities and infrastructure under construction at the moment.

An ArcelorMittal RPS representative will present the paper: 'Global Climate Changes: How sheet piles can prevent beach erosion'.

About PIANC

PIANC, the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, was established in 1885. PIANC’s mission today is to provide expert guidance and technical advice by bringing together the best international experts, both public and private, on technical, economic, and environmental issues pertaining to waterborne transport infrastructure.

YP-Com activities

With the support of PIANC International and the National Sections, YP-Com has developed numerous activities targeted at young professionals. The purpose of these activities is to encourage participation in PIANC among its newer members and facilitate networking among those industry peers.

Related link(s)

PIANC

YP-Com

Construction has begun on a new wharf at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Rothera Research Station, and Z sections from ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products Sheet Piling are playing a leading role. The new wharf will be used to berth the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Commissioned by NERC and built by Cammel Laird for operation by BAS, this is one of the most advanced polar research vessels in the world. Construction of the wharf is being carried out on site and will take two years to complete.

The British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey has a rich history of conducting scientific research at the earth’s southern pole. Since their first ship arrived in 1947, specialised vessels have allowed BAS to access remote areas that would not be possible otherwise.

The commissioning of the RRS Sir David Attenborough is part of the United Kingdom’s polar infrastructure investment programme. It is designed to keep Britain at the forefront of world-leading research in one of the most inhospitable regions on earth.

Research at the ends of the earth

Launched in 2018, the RRS Sir David Attenborough will commence sea trials in autumn 2019. The vessel will enable scientists to research oceans, ice, and the atmosphere. This floating, multidisciplinary research platform will give them access to state-of-the-art facilities including a scientific moon pool and containerised laboratories.

At almost 129 metres, the new vessel is much longer than its predecessors. This has necessitated the building of a new wharf at Rothera Research Station. BAM Nuttall, a leading construction and civil engineering company, is demolishing the existing wharf and constructing its larger replacement.

ArcelorMittal and BAM Nuttall worked closely on the design of the new wharf. The quay wall is made up of 200 sheet piles which are connected to a steel structure. Every pile has several holes for connections which are placed in different locations across the sheets, making each one unique. Fundamental to this close partnership is ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling’s ability to offer a complete solution comprising engineering design support, further fabrication and customisation, and bespoke logistics.

The AZ® piles selected for the quay wall have excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Weight was an issue as the sheet piles had to be shipped more than 11 000 kilometres to the site. Handling on site was also a consideration. AZ® piles are made from 100% recycled steel, helping to keep the total carbon footprint of the project down.

Prefabrication before shipping

ArcelorMittal and BAM Nuttall decided to pre-fabricate the sheet piles in the UK due to adverse weather conditions in the Antarctic. This meant that work normally done on site, such as welding and fitting of brackets, had to be carried out before the sheet piles were shipped.

The sheet piles arrived at Rothera in January 2019 after a month at sea. Demolition of the existing wharf also began in January and the first frames for the new wharf were installed in March. As work can only take place during the polar summer, the wharf is not expected to be fully operational until mid 2020.

When it is complete, the new wharf will allow polar research ships such as the RRS Sir David Attenborough to continue scientific investigation into deep-sea biology, seafloor geology, and climate change. Working in co-ordination with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and other equipment, the ship will enable scientists to capture, analyse, and share data that will give us a better understanding of our planet. It will also provide essential evidence to help policymakers determine what action we must take to protect the earth.

The RRS Sir David Attenborough in figures

Tonnage: 15 000 GT / 4475 DWT
Length: 128.9 m (423 feet)
Beam: 24 m (79 feet)
Draught: 7 m (23 feet)
Depth: 11 m (36 feet)
Range: 35 000 km (22 000 miles) at 13 knots
Endurance: 60 days
Crew: 28
Scientists: 60

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communication
Photos: © Robert Mcgillivray / Shutterstock.com, © Sergey Tarasenko / Shutterstock.com

Design facades with the look of weather-resistant steel! ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products is the first manufacturer in Europe to offer a 'look-alike' patina finish with long-term durability guarantees: Granite® Impression Patina is a new prepainted steel that is ideal for profiling and deep drawing.

Find out more about Granite® Impression Patina here!

Bucon is a major producer of corrugated steel tanks which are widely used in the horticultural and agricultural industries. The company’s round and square tanks are made with Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products to ensure their long life and durability. Now Bucon is exploring a new application for their tanks as low-cost housing for Africa. As well as being easy to construct, the housing units can be quickly adapted as family needs change and are fully recyclable at the end of their long life.

A key advantage

Bucon was founded in 2015 as a producer of corrugated tanks for the storage of water and other liquid products used in the horticultural industry. The initial design, known as BUCOtank®, features a traditional round design which is made from Magnelis® provided by ArcelorMittal Liège, Belgium.

“A key advantage of Magnelis® is that it can withstand the aggressive environments found in horticulture and agriculture,” notes Erik Passchier, CEO of Bucon. “For example, manure tanks are subject to high levels of ammonia.”

Magnelis®: zinc runoff to soil minimised

Another major benefit of using Magnelis® is the reduced level of zinc runoff to soil compared to hot-dip galvanised solutions. “Zinc runoff is a major concern in agriculture and horticulture, but Magnelis® stays on the steel,” says Passchier. “This was one of the main reasons why we chose Magnelis® on a strong steel (S350GD) substrate.”

Magnelis® is an affordable solution for Bucon’s horticultural customers notes Passchier: “In industrial applications, our tanks represent just a small percentage of the overall project budget. But in horticulture and agriculture they account for a much bigger percentage – margins are much lower. Our customers need affordable and long-lasting solutions. Something we can provide with Magnelis®.”

Tanks with Granite® HDX and BUCOsquare® tanks

Bucon also produces coloured tanks in either light grey or dark green. In these cases, the steel used is Granite® HDX from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “We offer a light grey which matches the windows of greenhouses and is usually used inside,” says Passchier. “The dark green finish is mainly used in outdoor applications where it blends into the environment.”

More recently, Bucon has introduced a new range of tanks known as BUCOsquare®. The tanks feature rounded, angular corners which create a rectangular or square tank. The square tanks are ideal for greenhouse applications where they can fit in with the shape of the building.

“Square tanks are only possible due to Bucon’s high-quality equipment,” explains Passchier. “Normally corrugated steel buckles when bent at the angle required, but our machines can bend the corrugated sheets tightly enough to create a ‘square’ corner.”

All of Bucon’s tanks are assembled using the company’s own patented bolt system. The system uses bolts and washers which have the same shape as the corrugated steel sheets they will join. This ensures much tighter contact between the sheets. As well as helping to prevent moisture penetration, the connection has a much higher tensile strength than can be achieved with normal nuts and bolts notes Passchier: “The connection can handle twice the tensile strength of normal bolts. That allows us to build larger or taller tanks safely.”

FLEXbuild turns tanks into homes

Bucon has adapted its square tank designs to create affordable housing units which can be modified or expanded to meet the changing needs of families. Known as FLEXbuild, the modular building system makes it possible to rapidly deploy a range of relatively inexpensive and sustainable architectural solutions almost anywhere in the world.

“The basic elements of the houses are corrugated Magnelis® panels which are engineered to precision at our facility in the Netherlands,” says Passchier. “As we are located close to the port of Rotterdam, the buildings can be shipped almost anywhere. And when they arrive on-site, the structure can be assembled easily by people with very little construction experience.”

While the basis of the houses are corrugated tanks, they can easily be fitted with insulation or other materials to create a more aesthetic finish. They can also be painted with Bucon’s Adgreen coating which reflects ultraviolet light back into the atmosphere. This reduces the internal temperature of the building by up to 20°C.

Bucon relies on ArcelorMittal’s expertise whenever they have questions explains Passchier: “We’re always innovating, and ArcelorMittal’s technical people have a lot of knowledge about steel. Their answers are based on knowledge and numbers – they don’t make promises they can’t keep. And they strongly believe in long-term relationships and working together to find the best solution – both technically and commercially. What’s technically possible is not always commercial, but ArcelorMittal’s people understand this.”

About Bucon

Bucon Industries was founded in 2015 and began producing its first corrugated steel panels by the end of that year. To date, Bucon has produced tanks which are used to collect and store water, manure, and other liquids used in horticultural and agricultural applications. Bucon has a small staff of enthusiastic and highly committed people located in the heart of the Netherlands’ horticultural industry to the north of Rotterdam. Bucon’s tanks are sold and installed by a global network of authorised dealers and distributors.

More info: www.bucon-industries.nl

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products, Constructalia
Image copyrights: Bucon Industries

The new Granite® Impression: Impressive aesthetics for buildings brochure has arrived!

Granite® Impression is multilayer organic steel coating with an offset printed pattern that imitates nature with its smooth, wrinkle, or grained finish, depending on the colour.

Download this brochure and more in our Document library: https://constructalia.arcelormittal.com/en/documents_library

ArcelorMittal Europe - Long Products has recently released an updated version of our composite bridge pre-design software: ACOBRI Version 5.05.

You can download the update for free on our software page:

https://constructalia.arcelormittal.com/en/tools/software

In this new Floor systems guide, ArcelorMittal Construction presents its range of floor construction systems. This range is the most comprehensive on the market and consists of both well-established systems and innovative solutions which reflect recent developments in regulation, design, and installation.

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 the new ArcelorMittal Construction Floor systems guide and more: https://constructalia.arcelormittal.com/en/documents_library

Now you can find Constructalia’s most recent Inspiring Steel newsletters in one place.

We have created a page where you can access the selection of content that we send to our registered users every month. You can access this newsletter centre from our home page or the News centre - just look for the Inspiring Steel button!

Visit our newsletter hub here: https://constructalia.arcelormittal.com/en/newsletters/inspiring-steel