Light Gauge steel news from the Americas – July 3, 2008

Thursday, 03 July 2008 02:45:07 (GMT+3)   |  
       

Mattress recycling program may give new life to old springs

You may not know that there are approximately 25 pounds of steel springs in every mattress. But before you haul your mattress off to the scrap yard, you should also know that these steel springs are hard to recycle - their shape resists compaction, making them virtually worthless to metal recyclers or steel mills. As a result, most old mattresses get tossed out, causing a lot of problems for landfills. Fortunately, the University of Minnesota, Duluth is looking into a way to efficiently recycle them.

"In landfills, it's all about compaction," says Tim Hagen, a researcher at the National Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. "And bed springs just won't compact. It's a huge problem."

Duluth is working with a company that makes baling equipment to try to customize a machine to roll steel mattress springs up like bales of hay, giving the springs value.

Hagen told press about the project, "Right now, the value of the springs is zero because nobody will take them. (But) we're at the cutting edge of what it's going to take to take those springs and put it into a form that the local markets, local communities and (the) steel market can take."

To see a picture of a rolled steel bed spring bale and to find out more about this project, check out a news feature on the subject, posted on Minnesota Public Radio's website.

Steel was material of choice for new Canadian customs building

The new customs building on the Canadian side of the US/Canada border crossing between Buffalo, New York, and Fort Erie, Ontario has earned some attention because of its unique steel design.

The Fort Erie Customs Plaza has shattered the image of the typical dull-looking customs building with its sleek, steel structure. The new customs plaza features an eye-catching glue laminated timber shell supported by white steel columns, with offices tucked under one end.

The customs building was designed as the centerpiece of a re-development of the Fort Erie side of the Peace Bridge, which connects Fort Erie with Buffalo. "They wanted it to be a landmark and architect NORR Ltd. was chosen because the Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority wanted something that simply wasn't a run-of-the-mill design," says Cory Zurell, an engineer for the project.

Steel was integral to the building's atypical design, which somewhat resembles an inverted canoe. "The particular challenge with this building is that it isn't supported by a simple rectangular grid," said Zurell. "Steel provided an economical solution to achieving the design because of the versatility of the material. Some of the columns stop and start within the structure and we were able to use steel transfer beams to transfer the loads to other columns without getting crazy results, like a column coming down in the middle of an area designed as usable open space for vehicle inspection."

Steel was chosen over concrete to achieve the building's aesthetic goals as well as the strength to meet its engineering requirements. To see a picture of the plaza, click here

Industrial heritage center planned for Bethlehem Steel stockhouse

Located next to idle blast furnaces, the old Bethlehem Steel stockhouse is being considered by local officials as the location for a new visitors center where the community can learn about the Lehigh Valley area's cultural and steelmaking history.

Although a large  portion of the old Bethlehem Steel site will be turned into a casino and entertainment complex, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania officials and community leaders have applied for a federal grant in order to restore the 1863 stockhouse - the oldest structure still standing on the plant's 1,800 acres.

"The architecture is intriguing and the location is intriguing because the building is right next to the blast furnaces," said Mike Sterschic, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. "You can't get more iconic than that in telling the industrial heritage story."

The city will learn in September if the project is eligible for the grant. City officials would like to get the project done in conjunction with other cultural projects on the site, particularly SteelStax, a $53 million plan by LVTV PBS-39 and ArtsQuest to build a broadcast and performing arts facility. If funding is procured, ground is expected to be broken for this project in the second half of 2009.

However, city officials like Tony Hanna, city director community and economic development, say that they will make the stockhouse project happen, with or without federal funding. ''We envision this to be a portal to Bethlehem," Hanna told press. "We hope people will come for shopping or gambling and then become oriented to all this site and region has to offer.''


US Steel's Gary Works gives boost to local youth job program

US Steel Corp. Gary Works has given a $100,000 donation to Gary, Indiana's local youth job program.

Mayor Rudy Clay announced the contribution this week, telling city officials and local youth, "The donation will help to draw out some of the impurities in our community as it relates to young people. Now that they will have jobs and a little money in their pockets (they can) do the right thing and go on to get a great education."

Fred Jauss, general manager, US Steel Gary Works, presented the check. Mr. Jauss said that the company is making the donation in order to be a good neighbor by improving the local quality of life, especially for the youth.

The $100k donation will add about 80 young workers to the summer program, which currently funds about 120 youth. In the program, youths are placed within departments around the city according to their majors or interest, with high school students being able to earn $6.50 an hour and college students earning $8.50. New hires will be selected from the city's current waiting list. 

Gary teenagers and young adults who participate in the program say that the program is indeed very beneficial. Participant Hayley Bullock, 15,  told press, "I plan to be an entrepreneur one day. It is good for me to learn how to answer the phone, send a fax and how to run an office, and hopefully I will be able to train others. It really does help to get my friends focused on work and education and off the streets."


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