Japanese steelmaker Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd (Sumitomo Metals) has acquired technical-evaluation certification for its "SM-HSJ (H-column Simple Joint)" construction method from the General Building Research Corporation of Japan. This newly-developed method uses an advanced technique of connecting H-beams and columns for steel frame buildings.
The method is applied primarily for low- and middle-rise buildings such as plants, warehouses, and shopping centers. It can also simplify welding works to connect H-beams and columns, and is expected to help reduce construction costs.
Sumitomo Metals plans to suggest use of the SM-HSJ method to customers such as general construction companies and design offices, for construction of plants, warehouses, and stores that use H-beams.