Ateliers 3S create contemporary looks for urban areas with ArcelorMittal organic coated steels. Bacacier is a leading supplier of steel roofing, cladding, and flooring applications for industrial and commercial buildings in France. In 2012, the company created a new entity – Ateliers 3S – to work closely with architects who were building or refurbishing buildings in the centres of cities around Europe. Using organic coated steels from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, Ateliers 3S have developed a range of signature products specifically for the urban environment. One of the latest is the New York® range which allows architects to play with shapes and shades using a ‘toolbox’ of solutions.

Inspired by Phillipe Starck

“The idea for Ateliers 3S came when Jean-Christophe Vigouroux, CEO of the parent company Bacacier, met France’s best-known contemporary designer – Philippe Starck – back in 2011,” explains Julien Faisandier, managing director of Ateliers 3S. “That inspired us to create the Starck® range, the first in the Ateliers 3S portfolio. The range is designed as a toolkit which allows architects to design truly unique projects. It includes an exclusive colour palette, panels in five different designs, and a range of accessories.”

Mix and match approach

From there the Ateliers 3S family grew to include Cadence® and Epure®. Like the Starck® range, these products are based on different steels from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products notes Julien Faisandier: “The exact grade we use depends on the aesthetics required by the customer, and the type of environment where the building is located. We use a lot of Granite® HDS and HDX, particularly in metallic colours.”

The Cadence® range includes 11 profiles with squared standing seams and 11 profiles with triangular seams. The products can be mixed and matched to create a specific design. The finish of these panels can be very tactile thanks to the use of ArcelorMittal products such as Granite® Quartz.”

The Epure® range is a standing seam solution from Ateliers 3S and utilises Granite® Storm from ArcelorMittal. It gives architects four zinc colour options and standing seam panels in four different widths. The colours and widths used on a facade can be mixed to create repeating or random patterns of seams and/or colours.

The latest in the series is New York® which represents a real change for Ateliers 3S. “New York® uses a special folding technique and allows architects to play with shapes and shades,” says Julien Faisandier.

Product consistency and support highly valued

The consistency of ArcelorMittal’s offer is a key consideration for Ateliers 3S notes Julien Faisandier: “When we send a sample to an architect, it can take 18 months for them to place an order. During this period, it is critical that the aesthetics of the steel do not change. ArcelorMittal’s ability to produce consistent products – sometimes years apart – is something we value greatly.”

Throughout the development of the Ateliers 3S family, the company has had a lot of support from ArcelorMittal’s Global R&D teams explains Julien Faisandier: “They provide a wealth of samples and advice at every stage in our development cycle. For example, ArcelorMittal helped with the saline tests we needed to conduct before the products could be placed on the market. We also appreciate the availability of the sales and technical teams, particularly when it comes to testing new steels.”

Floirac project

One recent project undertaken by Ateliers 3S saw the company supply over 20 000 m2 of panels from its Cadence® range. The material was used to clad 17 towers located in Floirac (south-west France) which accommodate 453 housing units. The panels were made from Granite® HDS in three different shades.

The project was jointly designed by TAAD Architectes and MOG Architectes. The architects’ specifications required a material which could insulate each building and give them a more modern and aesthetic appearance. To minimise disruption to residents, the Cadence® panels were fixed to a complex wooden frame in the factory and then attached to the buildings. The use of prefabrication enabled the large project to be completed in just six months.

Like all steel facades, the panels are maintenance-free. Due to the high-end coatings used on the steel, the Cadence® panels are guaranteed to remain beautiful for at least 30 years.

About Ateliers 3S

Ateliers 3S provide cladding applications for architectural projects including new builds and refurbishments. As well as supplying material to major projects, Ateliers 3S also provide solutions to individuals who are extending or refurbishing their existing homes.

More info at www.ateliers3s.com

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications, Constructalia
Images: Bacacier

Related link(s)

Floirac project

Ever since ArcelorMittal first introduced SteelUser a decade ago, we have continued to develop our digital tools in collaboration with customers. SteelUser itself has evolved to become a multi-platform communication channel, enabling customers to interact with ArcelorMittal via apps, web services, and electronic tools integrated into their business systems. This has made it possible for customers to get production information, send orders directly to ArcelorMittal, and receive invoices and related documents electronically.

In a recent project with Polish customer Inter-Max, ArcelorMittal has added the ability to specify the coating and colour of a product late in the order process electronically. Inter-Max, which uses ArcelorMittal’s EDI Light service, now has full transparency over its orders and can respond quickly and efficiently to demands from their own customers.

EDI Light

Inter-Max, a long-term supplier of roofing solutions, first asked ArcelorMittal about using our digital tools in 2018. By March 2019, the company had agreed to adopt EDI Light. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is an electronic communication method which defines standards for the exchange of data via any electronic means.

Krzysztof Szczerba, president of Inter-Max, explains: “EDI Light integrates the entire product ordering process into our enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Orders are now simpler, easier, more accurate, and faster. And by adhering to the same standard as ArcelorMittal, we can electronically exchange documents such as purchase orders, invoices, shipping notices, and many others.”

EDI Light also enables data from ArcelorMittal sales invoices to be automatically entered into the accounting modules of the Inter-Max ERP system. There is no need to print invoices or manually enter data.

Prevision orders allow late specifications

In the initial phase of the project, Inter-Max decided to use EDI Light to send and receive orders and order confirmations automatically. But in response to Inter-Max’s need to specify colours and coatings late in the order process, ArcelorMittal made modifications to the system to allow ‘prevision’ orders. Previously this had only been possible if the customer called or emailed their ArcelorMittal contact. By November 2019, the two companies were able to test and approve the new functionality which is now available to all ArcelorMittal customers on request.

“The solution is based on the latest data exchange format and uses files in CSV format,” explains Krzysztof Szczerba. “After several months of intensive work, Inter-Max successfully began placing prevision orders for coiled sheets from ArcelorMittal. It means we can submit an order for a steel substrate, and define the type of coating and colour later in the process.”

Streamlining processes and planning

Inter-Max now sees all orders placed with ArcelorMittal in its own software. They can also see when shipments are due. “This enables us to be much more efficient when we are planning production schedules,” says Krzysztof Szczerba. “It also helps with our own logistics, the analysis of market trends, and the strategic planning we do for Inter-Max’s future activities.”

For Inter-Max, the EDI Light system with late specifications has transformed its business notes Krzysztof Szczerba: “EDI saves us time and money as it prevents the chance of operators making mistakes. We no longer need to spend time chasing these errors. That translates into a higher level of organisation within the company, and has a positive impact on our economic results.”

About Inter-Max

Inter-Max started operations in 1992 as a sheet metal profiling operation. The company was one of the first in Poland to introduce ArcelorMittal’s range of innovative organic coated products including Granite® Deep Matt, Granite® HDS, and Magnelis®.

More info: Inter-Max

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Images: Inter-Max, ArcelorMittal, deepadesigns, viviamo, and violetkaipa / shutterstock.com

Related link(s)

EDI website

Mini-Air is a new covering system for soft fruits such as strawberries and blackberries. Developed by Meteor Systems from the Netherlands, Mini-Air provides protection from the elements and an ideal growing environment. Meteor Systems utilises Granite® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products to create growing gutters which are an integral part of the Mini-Air system. Normally used for cladding, roofs, and gutters, Granite® can also withstand the aggressive growing environment required for strawberries and remains food safe over the decade-long life of the tray.

The ideal climate for crops

Meteor Systems developed the Mini-Air system to create the ideal climate for crops. The low structure offers good ventilation, which is necessary to minimise the chance of disease or moisture affecting the crop. Gutters at the roof level gather rain from the covers which can be stored and used to water the plants. Underneath the cover, the Granite® growing beds are raised to create an ergonomic working environment for pickers and maintenance personnel.

Granite® roll-formed on site

A key advantage of Mini-Air is that it can be tailored to the constraints of each location, as Sebastiaan Smeur, account manager for Meteor Systems explains: “Mini-Air is designed to be installed on site by a fruit grower or local contractor. They just need simple tools to complete the installation. For example, the Granite® steel is roll-formed into growing gutters to ensure there are no joins.”

Each gutter can be up to 300 metres in length, although 100 metres is usually specified as it is the best length for maintenance and picking. However, the exact length can be decided by the grower in line with their practices and the area available.

Meteor Systems typically uses Granite® Standard or HDS to form the growing trays. The steel is either 0.6 or 0.8 mm thick, depending on the fruit to be grown. As well as supporting the growing plants, the gutter enables growers to re-use excess water. “Growers typically give plants 125 percent of the water and nutrients they need,” explains Mr Smeur. “The water the plants don’t use is collected and analysed. For example, growers can check the volume of water consumed, and what nutrients are left in the water. This allows them to closely monitor the health of their plants and adjust the parameters if required.”

Food safe and sustainable

The substrate used to grow strawberries is very aggressive. Nutrients which are added to the irrigation water can also have an impact. “Granite® is ideal in this application because it has multiple coating layers,” notes Mr Smeur. “We can specify polyurethane and polyester coatings on one or both sides, depending on the plants to be grown.”

Granite® is part of ArcelorMittal's Nature range. These steels do not contain hexavalent chromium (recognised as a human carcinogen) or heavy metals and comply with Europe’s REACH regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation, and restriction of chemicals.

A long-term partnership

ArcelorMittal and Meteor Systems first started working together in the late 1990s. At that time, Meteor Systems began producing its first growing gutters using steel from ArcelorMittal. “We’ve been making these systems for almost 20 years and the first project we installed is still in use,” says Mr Smeur.

Flat pack on an industrial scale

Introduced in 2016, the Mini-Air system is now being used by fruit growers around the world to grow strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. “Mini-Air was developed with the involvement of growers and to solve their problems,” says Mr Smeur. “We continue to work with them after the system is installed to find ways we can make it easier to install and use.”

Growers typically order a Mini-Air system directly from Meteor Systems. The company then ships everything as a flat pack. “It’s like an IKEA product but on a much larger scale,” says Mr Smeur. “Everything the grower needs is there, including an installation manual. They can build it themselves or hire a local contractor to do the installation.”

Contact with our support teams

Meteor Systems is regularly in contact with ArcelorMittal’s technical support teams. “ArcelorMittal is very reliable and produces good quality steels,” says Mr Smeur. “With ArcelorMittal we have a long and close relationship and we work very easily together. If we have a problem, we know they can help.”

Granite® is the perfect choice for the Mini-Air growing gutters because of its environmental credentials says Mr Smeur: “Fruit growing needs to be a safe and sustainable industry. Because it is made of steel, Granite® is fully recyclable. And its stable coating is fully food safe.”

About Meteor Systems

Meteor Systems was founded in 1997 to manufacture drip irrigation systems for vegetable and fruit growers. Today the company develops, produces, and supplies the international horticulture industry with complete and moveable systems for cultivation, irrigation, and growing. Meteor Systems is headquartered in Breda, the Netherlands and has offices and a production facility in Ontario, Canada.

More info: www.meteorsystems.nl

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Photos: Meteor Systems