Australian Stainless Blog

Stainless steel: Security, style, and functionality

Stainless steel: Security, style, and functionality

Stainless steel mesh has combined form and function in a patient-centred design to deliver a safe, outdoor sanctuary for recovering mental health patients.

Ancient civilisations understood the critical importance of daylight associated with human health, happiness, and wellbeing. Today, there is increased interest in green architecture, with natural light and air becoming a significant design consideration. Studies suggest that light and nature should be strongly considered when building new medical facilities, because of their positive effects on recovery.

Austin Hospital in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburb of Heidelberg is a leading healthcare, teaching and research facility renowned for its specialist services in

Stainless steel water drainage

Stainless steel water drainage

Australian innovation driving sustainability

For over 30 years ASSDA Member Stormtech has been at the forefront of Australian innovation delivering stainless steel linear drainage solutions for the local and global architecture and design industries.

Stormtech is an Australian family business that began operations in 1989 and was established on the invention of a special drainage grate. Founder John Creighton was approached by an architect to help design a hobless shower for a wheelchair-bound client wishing to shower independently. Creative thinking and innovative engineering led to the birth of a unique stainless steel drainage design that delivered excellent surface water removal

Raising the standard with stainless steel

Raising the standard with stainless steel

Water quality plays a crucial role in the decontamination and reprocessing of reusable medical devices, and stainless steel has helped facilitate the standard required for their sterilisation. 

The release of AS/NZS 4187:2014 Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations requires hospitals across Australia to comply with a range of stringent new requirements consistent with European and global standards for sterilisation processes. Its aim is to ensure reusable medical devices are adequately cleaned, disinfected and sterilised to protect patients and prevent infection.

Water quality is critical for sterile processing, and one requirement of the revised standard includes the replacement of non-compliant cleaning,

Common misconceptions about stainless steel

Common misconceptions about stainless steel

Everyone knows that stainless steel resists corrosion, but beyond that, an amazing range of half-truths and exaggerations have evolved - often misleading and sometimes simply wrong. This article examines some of the more common myths, explains why they are wrong, and more to the point, provides correct information.

MISCONCEPTION: There are only two types of stainless steel, 304 and 316. 

FACT: There are hundreds of stainless steels from high strength duplex 2205 supporting bridges, to furnace ducts of ferritic 3/5Cr12 and the high temperature 310, but the most common types are the austenitic 300 series.

Stainless steels were invented a little over

Rejuvenating stainless steel passenger railcars

Rejuvenating stainless steel passenger railcars

1934 marked the birth of the world’s first stainless steel passenger railcar in the United States, and today it represents over 80% of all passenger railcars in Australia. Stainless steels deliver a sustainable materials solution for the rail industry, offering excellent physical properties including formability and weldability, in addition to its high strength, durability and aesthetic appeal.

The typical lifespan of a passenger railcar is 30 to 35 years, however with a proper maintenance program, stainless steel railcars can last more than 50 years. While only requiring minimal maintenance, dirt and other surface contaminants from daily use can affect the

Bankwest Stadium - Stainless feeds the spectator appetite

Bankwest Stadium - Stainless feeds the spectator appetite

Stainless steel continues to be the material of choice for commercial kitchen equipment, meeting and exceeding the rigorous demands of busy food service operations.

Dubbed as the ‘Home of Sport in Western Sydney’, Bankwest Stadium opened in April 2019 in the heart of Parramatta. The 30,000-capacity, multi-purpose rectangular stadium features a steep tiered seating arrangement across five levels, offering the best viewing quality of live events. Sport matches including rugby league, rugby union and soccer are some of the arena’s main events. To complement the unparalleled live event experience, the stadium’s clever design ensures spectators are never more than 30

Terrigal Boardwalk - Stainless sets the scene

Terrigal Boardwalk - Stainless sets the scene

The seaside town of Terrigal on the New South Wales’ Central Coast has welcomed a new addition to its foreshore with a scenic walkway using stainless steel.

The long-awaited Terrigal Boardwalk connects the existing pedestrian networks of the Terrigal Beach promenade and The Haven, providing a safe and accessible route around the headland. The new attraction provides social, health and economic benefits for the local community, allowing visitors and tourists to enjoy the public space and ocean front area.

The project was jointly funded by the Central Coast Council ($2.9M) and the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Regional Growth Environment and

Structural design of stainless steel

Structural design of stainless steel

Stainless steel is used for a wide range of structural applications including:

  • Beams, columns, platforms and supports in processing plant for the water treatment, pulp and paper, nuclear, biomass, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries;

  • Primary beams and columns, pins, barriers, railings, cable sheathing and expansion joints in bridges;

  • Entrance structures, canopies, cladding and support systems for masonry;

  • Security barriers, blast walls, hand railing and coastal structures. 

Case studies of a range of structural applications are available at the case studies section of  www.teamstainless.org/resources/information-center-for-stainless-steel-in-construction.

This introduction to structural design in stainless steel aims to highlight differences between the

Lighting up Chinatown

Lighting up Chinatown

Stainless steel lanterns now adorn the streets of Melbourne’s Chinatown, celebrating the cultural character of the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world.

Chinese lanterns are a symbol of Chinese culture worldwide, initially used to provide light and later adopted for religious worship, decoration and celebration. Traditionally made from silk or paper, the City of Melbourne recently evolved the Chinese hanging lanterns featured on Little Bourke Street from cloth to stainless steel.

In extensive consultation with the Chinatown Precinct Association, the City of Melbourne and GHD (Structural Engineers) reimagined the classic lantern with a detailed design that preserved the

Stainless steel ignites luxury, style and warmth

Stainless steel ignites  luxury, style and warmth

ASSDA Member and Accredited Fabricator Southern Stainless have taken outdoor entertaining to a new level with their custom-designed and Australian made stainless steel gas fire pit.

Alfresco living is a strong part of Australian culture, and Gold Coast based Southern Stainless saw an opportunity to bring warmth and elegance to the outdoor space with the use of stainless steel. Starting the design process in 2015 and with over 18 months of research and development, a stainless steel gas fire pit was born, meeting both Australian Standards and gas regulations. 

Elegant and simplistic in its design, Australia’s harsh coastal conditions

A new twist on stainless design

A new twist on stainless design

With a striking and innovative design evoking visions of the Singapore based Helix Bridge, stainless steel has formed an integral part in creating one of Sydney’s most exciting new structures.

Commissioned by Landcom as part of the Lachlan Line Precinct development project in North West Sydney’s Macquarie Park, the yet to be officially named cyclist bridge provides visual flair, safe accessibility, and excitement to the area. In an area with typically heavy traffic congestion, the project’s promotion of reduced car dependency creates a significant positive impact to the surrounding environment.

The design is the first of its kind in Australia,

Comparisons of hot and cold formed stainless steel

Comparisons of hot and cold formed stainless steel

When comparing hot and cold formed stainless steel, the first question you would ask yourself is: are there any chemical differences between the two? ASSDA has previously published articles on the various surface finishes including the few hot and multiple cold finished processes, however this article concentrates on the differences. 

Since the 1970s, most stainless steel is produced by melting in an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and then the molten stainless steel is transferred to an Argon Oxygen Decarburisation (AOD) vessel or, less commonly, a Vacuum Oxygen Decarburisation (VOD) vessel. These processes control impurities such as carbon, sulphur, nitrogen, hydrogen

Award-winning stainless food plant

Award-winning stainless food plant

World-class processing systems demand high quality products, innovative features, and long-term yield increase, all of which have been delivered through superior workmanship, engineering, and the use of stainless steel.

ASSDA Member, INOX Australia, was engaged by a Melbourne based stock and soup manufacturer to design the integral process, fabricate, install, and commission a beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetable stock processing system. The processing system is entirely fabricated in stainless steel as it has been essential to the project design and fabrication, being the material of choice in demanding hygienic environments that involve high heat. 

Exceeding their client’s expectations, INOX

Stainless steel – a mainstay in water assets

Stainless steel – a mainstay in water assets

A mainstay in the processing of sewage water in water recycling applications, stainless steel once again plays a critical part in working towards a sustainable future.

Western Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), south of Werribee in Melbourne’s Western District, is a critical asset responsible for processing around half of the city’s total sewage. The process requires a massive footprint, where a series of large lagoons use anaerobic (without oxygen) and aerobic (with oxygen) bacteria to sequentially break down and clean the feed water of solids and gases. The resultant recycled water is used for multiple non-drinking purposes, including irrigation and firefighting. 

Screening Melbourne’s drinking water

Screening Melbourne’s drinking water

Stainless steel is playing a vital role in delivering effective bulk water intake screens for Melbourne’s water supply.

Designed and manufactured in Brisbane, ASSDA Member Aqseptence Group Australia has recently delivered one of the largest passive intake screens in the Southern Hemisphere. Having produced more than 4,000 screens for the last  50 years, this latest milestone achieved a nomination in the hotly contested Process Industries category of the 2019 ASSDA Fabricator Project of the Year Award. 

In mid-August 2019, Aqseptence Group was engaged by a joint venture of John Holland and KBR to provide design and construct services for a significant capital

Seven ways to prevent tea staining of stainless steel

Seven ways to prevent tea staining of stainless steel

When used properly, stainless steel enjoys a strong and enduring reputation for visual appeal and structural integrity in a wide range of applications and environments. But, like all materials, stainless steel may become stained or discoloured over time, impairing the overall look. This brown discolouration - tea staining - has been identified in coastal applications in Australia and overseas.

In the late 1990s, the newly formed ASSDA Technical Committee researched the reasons for the brown discolouration. ASSDA’s work, in collaboration with the International Molybdenum Association, led to guidelines published in 2001 explaining the causes and remedial techniques. The work was

Stainless steel - The right choice for an environmentally sustainable upgrade

Stainless steel - The right choice for an environmentally sustainable upgrade

Stainless steel provides a cutting edge and environmentally friendly solution for industrial applications.

Dow Chemicals, a global chemicals manufacturer, recently completed a major upgrade of the wastewater treatment system at their Victorian Point Henry coatings plant. The plant manufactures acrylic emulsions which find use in numerous applications including house paints. ASSDA Members Stirlings Performance Steels and Barwon Valley Stainless provided supply and fabrication services for this impressive wastewater treatment facility upgrade. 

Wastewater produced in the production facility is pumped into flocculation tanks for settling and the clear supernatant is sent for further biological treatment. This treated water is recycled back to

Stainless at first sight

Stainless at first sight

Located in the foothills of Perth, Aegis Amherst opened in July 2019 providing residential aged care in Canningvale, Western Australia. Set at the core focal point of the aged care facility presents a grand stainless steel balustrading ramp façade. 

ASSDA Member and Accredited Fabricator Balustrading WA were engaged by Absecon to fabricate and install a modern, safe, purpose-built ramp that would encompass strength and aesthetic attributes. 

The custom-designed ramp features an impressive 170 metres of grade 316 stainless steel tube. 

The handrails were manufactured from 50mm diameter stainless steel round tube. All stainless steel components were specified with a No.

A stainless approach to protecting the environment

A stainless approach to protecting the environment

Safeguarding Australia’s environmental biosecurity is critical in preventing the introduction and spread of pests and diseases, and the Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility in northern Melbourne is setting the benchmark in international best practice with the use of stainless steel.

The PEQ facility in Mickelham is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built operation constructed to streamline the country’s quarantine services and consolidate five pre-existing Commonwealth PEQ facilities spread across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Managed by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, the 144ha site includes an administration building, modern laboratories, dog and cat receiving areas, horse facilities

Coloured and patterned stainless steel

Coloured and patterned stainless steel

Think stainless steel, and most people think ‘bright, shiny and silver’. But did you know that specifying stainless steel is not limited by its silver appearance?

Coloured and textured stainless steel is an exciting material choice for designers and architects. In addition to offering a high quality and aesthetically-pleasing finish with choice of colour, stainless steel’s superior benefits when compared with plastics or anodised aluminium include resistance to heat, light, abrasion and corrosion, and overall increased durability and performance extending the service life of the application.

This article will take a look back at the development of coloured stainless steel,

ASSDA - Supporting You

ASSDA’s activities focus on networking, promotion, education, accreditation, standards development and problem-solving. View the Association's history of achievements and milestones in supporting the Australian stainless steel industry here.

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