British Steel has unveiled on July 1st the weathering steel structural sections, a new product for the construction market which can be used for a range of outdoor structures in exposed locations including bridges, buildings, and catenary gantries on railway lines.
Self-protecting, durable and attractive, the weathering steel is manufactured by British Steel in Scunthorpe, in Lincolnshire, and rolled into sections at its Teesside Beam Mill. The new product has been brought to market following a rigorous research, development and testing programme.
The steel’s corrosion rate is so low that structures fabricated from unpainted weathering steel can achieve long lifespans, in some cases up to 120 years, with only minimal maintenance.
The weathering steel is company’s “commitment to delivering quality products and services through rigorous research and development. It is a high-strength, low alloy steel that defends itself from corrosion by forming a protective oxide patina (layer), eliminating the need for paint or other protective coatings. This makes weathering steel an attractive and economic solution for many structures,” British Steel Commercial Director, Construction, Ben Cunliffe, said.
The new product offers significant advantages over other metals for structures that are exposed to low maintenance, being ideal for bridges and structures where access is difficult or dangerous. It offers cost reduction with no need for protective painting and low maintenance reduces associated costs and provides increased speed of construction. The mature weathering steel often blends pleasingly with the environment, changing and improving with age, providing attractive appearance and has environmental benefits – no volatile organic compounds from paint or disposal of blast-cleaning debris from future maintenance.
In March 2020, Jingye Group, a Chinese multi-industrial company, has completed the acquisition of British Steel. British Steel’s headquarters are in Scunthorpe and it has rolling mills in Teesside and Skinningrove in the UK and in Alblasserdam in the Netherlands.
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