FOCUS ON COIL PROCESSING
With an eye to the future , STILRIDE believes that this approach could help to move production closer to the end user , with heattreated sheet being exported for forming and assembly in local machine shops around the world . It is also looking at how to apply LIGHT . FOLD to other products .
The story behind STILRIDE
It all began with an idea and VIDEO a passion for building a new
Story of STILRIDE type of electric scooter . “ We create clean energy-powered personal mobility devices through flexible and sustainable production technology . We are prototyping the technology on our first eMotobike , STILRIDE folded to perfection by robots , that turn steel to style . The goal is to challenge the traditional view of manufacturing through using robotic origami ( LIGHT . FOLD ) to fold structures from a flat sheet of metal true to the material ’ s characteristics and geometric nature . We want to create a safe , desirable and sustainable production and transportation platform by which all future forms of innovation will be measured . STILRIDE is a dance with steel sheets ,” said Tui Beijer .
“ Around this new concept of personal mobility , we aim to develop a new digitalised value chain around advanced steel sheet manufacturing where even small workshops , with relatively simple equipment , can fold attractively designed tailor-made products robotic bending and laser technology ,” he added .
Several well-established Swedish technology and industrial players are partners in the project . These integral partnerships have resulted in the first product : STILRIDE SUS1 with innovative tech features , sustainable and Hudson Yards rendering . efficient batteries and an electronic engine .
The STILRIDE project is led by founders Jonas Nyvang and Tue Beijer . Tight collaboration between them ; the product development company Semcon ; the steel engineering workshop Brantheim ; the research institute RISE IVF as well as stainless steel manufacturer , Outokumpu , has been the bedrock . The STILRIDE project is part of the Metalliska research programme material , coordinated by Jernkontoret and funded by The Swedish Innovation Agency , Vinnova .
THE ‘ EDGE ’ EXPERIENCE
Creating a stainless steel façade for New York ’ s Edge observation deck .
The Edge is reportedly the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere at 30 Hudson Yards . It is suspended in mid-air , giving visitors the feeling of ‘ floating in the sky with 360-degree views ’. They can look 100 stories down from the thrilling glass floor , lean out over the city on angled glass walls and sip champagne in the sky .
The challenge was to deliver consistency for the stainless steel façade of New York ’ s landmark ‘ 30 Hudson Yards ’ building . The solution was 110 tonnes of Outokumpu ’ s Supra 316L 2mm thick stainless steel sheet with a Deco Linen finish .
As a major new tourist attraction and the centrepiece of one of the largest real estate development in U . S . history , the architect wanted to eliminate project risk as much as possible . Its façade fabricator , Christian Pohl GmbH , worked closely with the team on-site at Outokumpu ’ s rolling mill , Dillenburg , to ensure quality management during material approval and cut-to-length .
The ‘ highest outdoor deck ’ in the western hemisphere
Stainless steel provides architects with a crisp , clean and contemporary façade for prestigious buildings . One example is 30 Hudson Yards , a new 395m super-tall skyscraper in New York City . As well as being a distinctive new addition to the city ’ s skyline , the building is set to become a major tourist attraction .
It is home to reportedly the highest outdoor deck in the western hemisphere , called ‘ The Edge ’, a 24-metre cantilevered outdoor deck that offers panoramic views of the city , as well as a floor window where visitor can look at the ground 100 floors below . The building is also the centrepiece of the US $ 25 billion Hudson Yards development , which is reportedly the largest real estate project in U . S . history .
Architects at Kohn Pedersen and Fox ( KPF ) wanted high-quality materials for its stainless steel and glass façade . Large architectural façades are the most visually demanding application for stainless steel as the human eye has evolved to spot patterns and inconsistencies . Subtle differences in the tone or shade between individual panels could create a chequerboard effect that could undermine the result .
Façade consultant Heintges and its fabricator Pohl faced the challenge of delivering stainless steel panels with consistent colour , shade and finish . Outokumpu and Pohl have worked together on various projects starting in 1991 with Cesar Pelli ’ s Plaza Tower in Costa Mesa , California . Together , Pohl and Outokumpu have developed a material approval process and a joint final quality control process to ensure high colour consistency and homogeneity . Pohl therefore turned to Outokumpu for 110 tonnes of stainless steel in 2016-2017 for the project .
KPF selected 2mm thick stainless steel sheet in the grade of Supra 316L with a Deco Linen finish . This finish is inspired by natural linen fabric and is not visible from a distance but creates a diffuse reflection of its surroundings , defining the structure of buildings and helping them fit with their surroundings .
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