WEDGE GROUP GALVANIZING
What makes galvanizing sustainable?
Hot dip galvanizing has, for many
decades, been widely recognised
to be the most effective and
reliable way to protect steel
from corrosion in a variety of
industries and outdoor
environments.
But it’s also a highly sustainable solution - a factor
which is becoming increasingly significant in the
selection of materials by contractors, due to
enforced regulations as well as the conscious
and ethical considerations involved in ensuring
that buildings are as sustainable as possible.
For many decades, the hot-dip galvanizing industry
has been sensitive to these requirements and have
developed systems, processes and technologies to
offer a range of environmental benefits that make
the process highly resource-efficient.
Compared to other finishes, galvanizing results in
minimal waste as any zinc that doesn’t instantly form a
coating on the metal remains in the galvanizing bath
and is subsequently reused. This is made possible
through the non-ferrous properties of the zinc itself
which enable it to be reused again and again without
any loss of its physical or chemical constitution.
It’s estimated that, worldwide, one tonne of steel
turns to rust every 90 seconds, which means that
for every two tonnes of new steel produced, one is
made to simply replace rust. Through the process
of galvanizing, an outdoor structure that would
potentially last up to a year without being treated,
could last 60 times as long.
This longer lifetime means that scrap metal wastage,
as well as the high economic and environmental
costs associated with the repeated maintenance
and painting of steel structures, are both
significantly reduced.
Rainwater harvesting is another area of sustainability
in hot dip galvanizing. The galvanizing process
uses substantial volumes of water during the steel
cleaning stage, whereby all chemicals must be
thoroughly rinsed away with cold water.
More water is used during the cooling process,
which involves galvanized steel to be placed
in a tank of cold water so that it can be handled,
after reaching temperatures of 450 degrees.
To minimise water usage, Wedge Group
Galvanizing have pioneered an innovative rainfall
collection system at a number of their sites to ensure
any rainfall that falls on to the rooves of plants is
collected and stored on-site through a series of
gutters and tanks, to be recycled back into the
galvanizing system.
Similarly, the company’s plants have been fitted
with heat extractor units to extract ‘waste’ heat
and transfer it back into the overall process.
These innovations, combined with the long life
and recyclability of zinc-coated steel, make
post-galvanizing a highly resource-efficient
and sustainable process with minimal
environmental impact.
For more information, visit:
www.wedge-galv.co.uk
176 2020 - 2021 read online: www.surfaceworld.com