[ Duplex ]
[ Duplex ]
option . Almost 80 % of Stalatube ’ s raw materials already consist of recyclable materials . In addition , the thickness of the high-strength tubes could be reduced thanks to the strength of the material . The size of the tubes could be shrunk from the original 160 × 80 × 6 mm to 150 × 100 × 5 mm , which also resulted in savings on raw material and transportation costs . Stalatube ’ s Account Manager , Heidi Simberg , is pleased with the seamless cooperation with the customer . “ In every project , it ’ s important to understand not only the customer ’ s requirements but also what purpose Stalatube ’ s products will ultimately serve . The designer may not always be familiar with all the options available in stainless steel .”
Taking advantage of expertise Using a shared tool proved worthwhile . The project ’ s design office provided the steel tube manufacturer with an Excel tool that was utilised to calculate the required tube measurements . The tool found an optimal outcome that best met the designer ’ s requirements . Heidi Simberg : “ We are the best experts of our own products , which is why we encourage customers not to hesitate to take advantage of our expertise and experience . We have a range of different options available , and we always want to offer the customer the most optimal alternative for their project . That ’ s why we ’ re happy to be involved in the design process from the outset .” Documentation of the tubes is also an important part of the process . The tubes used for the tram shelters had to be CE marked . A material certificate was also delivered to ensure quality .
Savings with the cut-to-length service The project required several different lengths of tube that differed from the standard length . The customer is very happy with Stalatube ’ s cut-to-length service . The tubes delivered to the customer were manufactured in the desired lengths at the Lahti plant , which spared the customer from having to cut the tubes on site . This also resulted in zero material loss in manufacturing . The surfaces of the tubes were polished to a satin finish by a Spanish subcontractor chosen by the customer . The round corners of the tubes were ground by hand .
Ultimately the project cost no more than austenitic stainless steel would have cost due to savings in , for example , the quantity of material required and transportation costs .
Cheapest not always cost-effective Since high-strength Lean Duplex as a raw material is generally more expensive than an austenitic material , did the project end up being more expensive than originally estimated ? Khaoula Loukili : “ In the end , the costs of the project are exactly the same because we achieved a more durable end result with a smaller amount of raw material and saved on transportation costs thanks to the reduced total weight of the tubes . In addition , the cut-tolength service saved the customer one entire work stage , which translates into a smaller amount of material needed and lower labour costs . On top of everything else , this solution is the most environmentally friendly one at all stages .”
The project is a demonstration of cooperation where all parties to the project – designer , wholesaler and tube manufacturer – work together to find the best possible solution for the end customer . All parties are satisfied with the result . And more shelters are in the pipeline , as construction of the second section of the tram line will begin as soon as the first section is completed . A small part of steel tube expertise from Lahti is now a visible feature of the cityscape of Barcelona . The first tram shelter is already up on Gran Via . Next summer , the Lahtibased Stalatube ’ s steel tubes will be an eye-catching feature of the cityscape of Barcelona . Grade 316 flat bars welded together with Lean Duplex tubes were used as the roofing material .
42 Stainless Steel World June 2023 www . stainless-steel-world . net