At the ingress of Victoria’s Port Philip Bay stands the Queenscliff Ferry Terminal – a beacon of architectural prowess and stainless steel ingenuity. Opened in April 2023 after a decade-long collaboration between visionary architects and dedicated clients, this world-class structure epitomises the marriage of functionality and aesthetic allure.

Linking Queenscliff to Sorrento and beyond, the terminal serves as a gateway to the scenic wonders of Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, and the iconic Great Ocean Road. As the bustling hub for Searoad Ferries’ car and passenger services, it orchestrates over 8,200 crossings annually, welcoming more than 960,000 passengers.

Designed by F2

Located in Pilbara of Western Australia, Gudai-Darri is Rio Tinto’s first Greenfield mine in the region in more than a decade. Stretching across both Banjima and Yindjibarndi country, both Traditional Owners were engaged through the planning and development stages in Rio Tinto’s most technologically advanced iron ore mine yet. Gudai-Darri features the world’s first autonomous water carts, trucks, drills, and trains, as well as a robotic ore sampling laboratory and solar farm. Gudai-Darri has a 40-year mine life and will support thousands of jobs moving into the future.
 

THE CHALLENGE

Rio Tinto faced the challenge of providing a sustainable

Located at One Barangaroo Avenue on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour and opened in 2022, Crown Sydney epitomises luxury with its opulent hotel, world-class casino, signature restaurants and top-shelf bars. At the heart of this luxury, stainless steel plays a crucial role, enhancing both the functionality and aesthetics of the resort. 

ASSDA Member and Accredited Fabricator Stoddart was instrumental in delivering a bespoke solution for 136 different food and beverage areas for Crown Sydney. They fabricated, supplied, and installed an extensive range of stainless steel commercial kitchen and food equipment. This included Halton ventilation exhaust hoods manufactured under license

When considering painting stainless steel, the initial question arises: why paint it in the first place?

If the design choice is simply about colour or aesthetic purposes and the product form has a smooth surface (i.e. sheet or round products), using factory-supplied coloured stock attached with fasteners might be the preferable option. This construction method is commonly used for non-contact areas such as walls or facades, as exemplified in ASSDA FAQ 12: Coloured and patterned stainless steel.

Similarly, in new constructions, there are often reflectance limits to consider. While highly polished stainless steels offer extreme reflectivity, embossed surfaces, like the

In 2022, a remarkable chapter in Australia's biotechnology research unfolded with the opening of the CSIRO National Vaccine and Therapeutics Lab in Clayton, Victoria. This state-of-the-art facility has been designed to play a pivotal role in the research and development of vaccines and drug treatments, ultimately contributing to Australia's innovative potential in the life sciences sector. At the heart of this ground-breaking lab, stainless steel has emerged as a critical component, ensuring the facility's functionality, quality, and safety.

The facility’s primary objective is to transform vaccine and drug candidates into products that can be manufactured onshore in substantial quantities for clinical trials. It

ASSDA Member Stainless Steel Wire & Mesh has played a pivotal role in delivering a stainless steel coastal fencing solution that has now become the gold standard in ecological management and restoration efforts.

Situated in the Northern Beaches of New South Wales, Curl Curl Beach faces the full force of several coastal conditions, enduring relentless assaults from strong winds, salt movements, extreme temperatures, pollution, and high humidity. This region is classified as a corrosive category C5, however, the location which is adjacent to the beach has been classified as CX under AS 4312:2019 Atmospheric Corrosive Zones, Figure 2.1 (Newcastle region)

Minimising mining (primary production) and maximising recycling (secondary production) are core principles of sustainable resource management. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in quantifying the material life cycle of stainless steel and its efficiencies from production to fabrication, manufacturing, use, recycling and, in some cases, disposal.

In 2006, Team Stainless and Yale University started the first project to quantify stainless steel stocks and flow cycles. In 2022, The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology made a more detailed analysis of 2019 data covering 50 countries, territories, and regions.

Stainless steels: A sustainable solution for more than a century

Stainless steels are procured

A FISH-FRIENDLY WATER EXTRACTION FACILITY  

For the past six years, ASSDA Member and Accredited Fabricator AWMA Water Control Solutions have been a proud partner of Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd (RDRML) in delivering one of the world's largest fish-friendly water extraction facilities using stainless steel.

The Rangitata Diversion Race (RDR) plays a crucial role in extracting water from the Rangitata River in New Zealand's South Island, serving irrigation, stock water, and hydropower generation needs year-round. However, the environmental impact on native fish populations was a concern for RDRML.

To address this challenge, AWMA was awarded the design and construct

For years, the plumbing industry has been dominated by materials such as galvanised mild steel, copper, and plastic. However stainless steel is quickly emerging as a standard construction material in various water supply applications.

Stainless steel offers a multitude of benefits, including corrosion resistance, hygienic properties, strength, long-term performance, excellent hydraulic conductivity, and the ability to withstand high pressure and temperature requirements. It has found its place in diverse applications, from desalination plants and reverse osmosis water treatment systems to water supply for high-rise buildings and domestic tapware. Stainless steel provides a safe and sustainable solution throughout the entire lifespan

Coloured stainless steel graces West Side Place

ASSDA Member Fabmetal Specialists has added a touch of luxury to Melbourne City's latest residential landmark by delivering an exquisite package of geometric stair soffit and balustrade cladding, created from coloured stainless steel.

Spanning an expansive 12,000m² site and set to become Victoria's largest residential development, West Side Place elegantly connects Spencer and Lonsdale Streets in Melbourne's CBD. The iconic project boasts an array of mixed-use spaces, including residential apartments, recreational facilities, retail, and dining arcades, and is also home to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton and Dorsett Hotels.

With its world-class design and a

Stainless steel has contributed to one of Western Australia's architectural masterpieces overlooking the Murchison River Gorge.

Kalbarri National Park is located approximately 550km north of Perth in Western Australia (WA) and is dubbed as one of the state's best scenic nature destinations. Delivering a major tourism boost for the Mid-West region, the WA State Government with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions opened the highly anticipated Kalbarri Skywalk in June 2020.

The skywalk allows visitors to immerse themselves in breathtaking views of Murchison River Gorge and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Two cantilevered viewing platforms 'float' mid-air

The Australian Stainless Steel Development Association was inaugurated on 17 December 1992, marking 30 years of supporting, growing, and defending the market for stainless steel in Australia. We are proud of this milestone and have enjoyed the challenges and triumphs delivered for the benefit of our material and industry. It's a testament to our Members, staff, and industry colleagues - past and present.

 
OUR HISTORY

1992

ASSDA is inaugurated with 31 Members to address and harness stainless steel's growth trend in Australia.

1993

First National Conference, PacRim Stainless, is held at the Novotel North Beach Hotel in Wollongong.

Street furniture defines a city's urban landscape, and stainless steel is becoming a material of choice for its long-term cost benefits in addition to its sleek designs, durability, and visual appeal.

In Australia, the City of Melbourne has led the way in sustainable materials selection, undertaking a life cycle costing comparison study over a 25-year term between carbon steel and stainless steel for use in its public street furniture.

The products studied and manufactured included 1200 general waste bins, 500 recycling bins, 800 seats, 400 benches and 80 drinking fountains. Two broad costing components were considered:

1. The initial (procurement) cost

Stainless steel has delivered confidence in the production and quality of the globally-trending beverage, kombucha.

Kombucha - also locally known in Australia as 'booch' - is a fermented tea drink, produced using sugar and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Its composition dates back thousands of years but the drink has grown in popularity over recent times due to its health and probiotic benefits.

Remedy is currently the largest kombucha producer in Australia and New Zealand and the third largest globally. With kombucha market demand expected to grow 15% year-on-year to 2030, Remedy took the lead to consolidate

ASSDA Member and Accredited Fabricator Arcus Wire Group has delivered an innovative duplex stainless steel wire rope cable solution for a hydropower project in the Middle East.

The 344MW Kokhav Hayarden pumped storage hydropower plant is located 120km northeast of Tel Aviv. The project is the first and largest of its kind in Israel, as well as the lowest of its kind globally. The powerhouse lies 275m below sea level and features two 3.1 million m³ reservoirs at different heights. Expected to be operational in early 2023, the hydropower station is designed to provide flexible backup power and stability

Stainless steels are almost universally used around indoor and exterior pools for railings around or into the water, fixtures, furniture, grills, etc. The finishes are bright and readily cleanable for hygiene and are resistant to staining or corrosion by the chemical treatments required for the maintenance of public health.

This article discusses the unexpected problem (and the solutions) that showed up in the 1980s because of the changing design and operation of indoor heated and chlorinated swimming pools when combined with the increased use of stainless steels as structural supports in the ceilings over pools. The problem: 304/316 stainless steel

When working with stainless steel assets, a lot of attention is put into getting the 'pre-install' aspects right. Design, specification, fabrication, and commissioning are all equally important, but how the stainless steel in these assets is cared for and maintained is just as critical for optimum life and performance.

ASSDA Member Kleanwell specialises in asset management through the provision of cleaning and maintenance programs. Their work focuses on products where stainless steel is predominant - lift and elevator cladding, facades, awnings, and ducts among many others.

Jessica Wehbe, Director of Strategic Relationships at Kleanwell, says there is a clear gap

When you last snacked on some almonds, you may not have given much thought to how they were harvested and made ready for your consumption. However, like almost all food and beverages, on their journey to your snack bowl, they encountered some stainless steel bearing equipment.

Australia is a dominant producer of almonds, with the Murray Darling region accounting for almost a third of production. Kooba, located a few kilometres south of Griffith in south-central New South Wales and off the Murrumbidgee River, is the site of a large almond orchard having received significant recent investment.

Irrigation is critical to

Stainless steel has delivered the lifeblood for the evolving brewery operation of one of Australia’s largest independent beer businesses.

Brick Lane was founded by 25 shareholders in 2017 with the vision to grow a sustainable, more inclusive, independent brewery focused on quality, flexibility, and sustainability. Delivering its own craft beer, ciders, seltzers and other drinks, Brick Lane extends its facilities to the wider brewing community, offering its brewing and packaging services to like-minded partners to encourage and support the growth of independent and craft beer in Australia.

Critical to Brick Lane’s success was the design and construction of a state-of-the-art

Australia is in a craft beer renaissance. The materials used in beer production has evolved over the years, and today, stainless steel is the material of choice and industry standard in modern brewing. Let’s look at some of the benefits.

 
Corrosion resistant

Stainless steels are excellent combatants of corrosion. This resistance to attack is due to the naturally occurring chromium-rich oxide film formed on the surface of the steel, which self-repairs in the presence of oxygen.

With the correct selection of alloys and application of good design principles and proper fabrication practices, stainless steel equipment will perform successfully. 300-series