Sidastico is an Italian steel service centre which specialises in processing an extensive array of steels. The company’s capabilities range from structural to high strength grades. Their ambition is to become the best-in-class steel supplier in the European market. As part of this ambition, Sidastico has installed the latest steel processing equipment. They are also at the forefront of developing new products. So, when ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products introduces new high strength steels in extreme formats, Sidastico is one of the first customers we approach to test the product. The steels are used by Sidastico’s customers to create buildings, bridges, pressure vessels, and yellow and green goods.

Growth through innovation

Around ten years ago, Sidastico made a strategic decision to focus its offer on an extensive range of higher thickness steels in different qualities – from structural to high strength and ultra-high strength steels. “At the same time, we embraced a culture of innovation,” says Davide Chilò, CEO of Sidastico. “This has seen us explore and evaluate new materials and processes. Our decision to embrace novel ideas and approaches has enabled us to stay at the forefront of technological advances. It has driven growth and positioned Sidastico as a leading force in the steel sector.”

Dynamic market environment

The market for thicker high strength grades is very dynamic notes Davide Chilò: “That dynamism is driven by evolving environmental regulations as well as changing technical requirements. Our customers are constantly looking for better steels to meet these demands – for both new and existing products.”

Sidastico’s pro-active approach has created a unique collaboration between steel supplier and customer. Sandrine Jourdan, Market Development Manager for ArcelorMittal Europe’s Region South, explains: “Sidastico is one of the most open customers and a valuable resource for ArcelorMittal. It is very important for our business to have customers that are open to test products during the industrialisation process and share the results with us. Their feedback can enhance our offer and enable us to effectively meet evolving and demanding market expectations. This collaborative approach allows us to grow together and learn from one another.”

The collaboration has enabled ArcelorMittal to test new products in a real-life steel service centre, reducing the time to market while ensuring product quality. “Recently, we joined forces to test the properties of Amstrong® Ultra 700MC in widths up to 2 m and thicknesses up to 20 mm,” says Sandrine Jourdan. “Sidastico’s expertise at decoiling, levelling, and cutting has enabled us to deliver high quality sheets to the mechanical engineering market in Italy and Europe.”

“We are also actively testing Amstrong® Ultra 900MCL in thinner gauges – from 4 to 6 mm,” says Davide Chilò. “The surface characteristics of this high strength steel are perfect. We are now working to improve the steel’s tension and flatness.”

The collaboration between ArcelorMittal and Sidastico is not just focussed on ultra-high strength steels. It also includes very heavy gauges of structural grades such as S235JR in thicknesses of 20 and 25 mm.

Knowledge answers customer needs

The knowledge Sidastico gains by being one of the first to test ArcelorMittal’s new steels and grades means that the company is better able to meet the needs of its customers. Due to the close relationship with ArcelorMittal, they are also able to meet specific requests for steels with different technical requirements.

While technical capabilities are important for Sidastico’s customers, so is the level of service the company provides. “We’re not as big as our competitors, but the service we provide makes the difference,” says Davide Chilò, CEO of Sidastico. “We ensure that every customer, regardless of their size, receives the same exceptional treatment.”

Today, customers are increasingly demanding shorter delivery times. In response, Sidastico has recently expanded the capacity of its warehouse explains Davide Chilò: “This enables us to maintain a substantial stock of materials to ensure prompt availability. Our reactivity and innovative spirit mean we are willing and able to deal with specific requests. ArcelorMittal’s wide range of products ensures that they are the first steel supplier we contact when our customers have specific needs.”

ArcelorMittal engineers, customer technical support (CTS), and Research and Development teams can also support Sidastico on customer visits if problems occur. “Technical exchanges and field support are critical,” says Davide Chilò. “This helps us to be transparent with our customers and suppliers.”

About Sidastico

Based in northern Italy, Sidastico has operated as a steel service centre since 1980. The company specialises in the processing of high strength steels in thicker gauges and has recently installed new equipment to enhance its capabilities. Sidastico’s products are typically used to create construction materials, bridges, pressure vessels, and yellow and green goods. Today, Sidastico is active in 40 countries across eastern and western Europe and Africa.

More info: www.sidastico.com

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
Sidastico

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The longevity of solar installations is directly dependent on the quality of the materials used to build them. Today, renewable energy producers expect their solar investments to have a productive lifetime of 25 years or longer. When it comes to selecting materials for the support structures for PV panels, factors such as low maintenance costs and ensuring the structural stability of the installation drive material choices. For the past ten years there has been a standout choice: Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

Magnelis®: third-party verified

This unique coating has been widely adopted and proven in the field. Today, Magnelis® also comes with a variety of third-party certifications. France’s Scientific and Technical Centre for Building (CSTB) has recently renewed its certification.

In the decade since Magnelis® was introduced, there have been significant improvements to the range. These include heavier coatings which are extending the geographic range of solar projects to more aggressive environments while offering longer lifetimes. The heavier coatings are also allowing Magnelis® to be used for foundation poles which are rammed into the soil, replacing post-galvanised material.

“Magnelis® is a pre-coated steel solution which has significant advantages over galvanised and post-galvanised material,” explains Jérôme Guth, Solar Segment Manager for ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “The coating process is controlled online and is fully traceable. Magnelis® can be formed, perforated, and assembled using standard tools. Magnelis® avoids post-galvanising operations and reduces raw material and energy use, labour, and storage and transportation costs. Magnelis® also exhibits a self-healing effect when exposed to the atmosphere,” bringing cut edge protection to a new level. “The corrosion protection products in Magnelis® progressively migrate to the edges of holes or scratches to maintain corrosion protection,” notes Jérôme Guth.

Magnelis® is applied to a wide range of steel substrates, including ArcelorMittal’s S550GD-HyPer® steel grade. This grade is increasingly used by structural engineers to optimise the design of solar structures and increase the loads they can bear.

XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel: a lower carbon footprint for solar structures

Solar mounting structures can now have a lower carbon footprint when using steel substrates produced via the XCarb® recycled and renewably produced route. Once the substrate is produced, it is coated with Magnelis®.

XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steels are created in an electric arc furnace (EAF) using a minimum of 75% of scrap and 100% renewable electricity, resulting in a product with 70% less carbon than steel produced using conventional blast furnace technology. This is a major saving and enhances the credentials of renewable energy.

Alusín Solar, a Spanish company which supplies structures for solar panels, recently signed an agreement to purchase ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel with Magnelis® coating. A key factor in Alusín Solar’s decision to purchase Magnelis® has been the development of a tailored made 15-year ArcelorMittal guarantee for foundation poles in soil.

Coating weights and feasibility extended

From September 2023, ArcelorMittal’s plant in Aviles, Spain will be able to produce Magnelis® in thicknesses of up to 3.5 mm on its recently revamped galvanising line 1. This will increase the availability of Magnelis® in the south of Europe and brings the total number of lines producing Magnelis® across Europe to five.

Magnelis® in heavier coating weights can be used in soils and concrete. Magnelis® ZM620 (indicative coating thickness of 50 μm per side) is already available in thicknesses up to 4.0 mm. “Magnelis® ZM800 (indicative coating thickness of 65 μm per side) is also available for testing in thicknesses up to 3.0 mm,” notes Jérôme Guth. “We are actively looking for partners who would like to implement our thicker coatings, up to ZM800 on request, in their future solar projects. You will achieve longer lifetimes for your solar installations, backed by an ArcelorMittal guarantee. Get in touch with your regular ArcelorMittal contact person to take part.”

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications

Images:
Profil du Futur
Maxshot.PL/Shutterstock.com
ArcelorMittal

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TTV (Thickness Toughness Validator) is a tool developed internally by ArcelorMittal Steligence® Engineering. It is a simple tool for validating the selection of toughness subgrades according to the recommendations and requirements of the EN 1993-1-10 standard. This standard provides design guidance for the selection of steel for fracture toughness, imposing maximum detail thicknesses depending on material, temperature, and load level. The simplified method (EN 1993-1-10, Clause 2.3) is based on a simple table check. As it is general, it is based on safe assumptions that may not always correspond to specific project specifications. The advanced method (EN 1993-1-10, Clause 2.4), based on more advanced fracture mechanics methods, has therefore been implemented in order to perform a more specific check to deliver more advanced results. This tool is entirely based on Eurocode background methods and their application. As such, the advanced method will deliver the same results as the tables of the simplified method if the same assumptions are introduced. The user guide and validation examples are provided in the tool’s download folder.

The aim of this tool is to disseminate structural design knowledge and techniques for a subject that is often less known to designers. With TTV, the process of verifying steel details according to toughness requirements will be easier and will speed up workflow. Moreover, TTV includes advanced methods permitted by design standards, giving the user additional choices for verification methods.

The Steligence® Engineering department is a team of steel construction experts dedicated to the support of designers in a variety of topics. The team can be contacted at: steligence.engineering@arcelormittal.com

Text:
ArcelorMittal Steligence®
Constructalia

Images:
ArcelorMittal Steligence®

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