Watch hundreds of steel cans being produced at a Soudronic canning factory.

Advantages of Steel Packaging

Steel is one of the most commonly used packaging materials by manufacturers, because it is widely available, cost-effective and easy to work with. Steel packages can be customized to just about any shape and size depending on the needs of the business, and the continuously improving quality of steel lets manufacturers use less material without losing rigidity.

Steel as a packaging material is tamper-resistant, durable and has an extremely long shelf life, hence the reason why canned food seems to last forever. At the end of its life cycle, steel is 100 percent recyclable and does not lose any of its properties or qualities in the process. Plus, at least 25 percent of every steel can must be made of recycled steel, and its magnetic properties make it even easier to recover for recycling.

Steel is 100 percent recyclable and the most-recycled material in the world. (Source: Causeway Coast and Glens)

According to the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL), steel packages are the most recycled packages out of all packaging materials, and its recycling rates keep climbing. In Europe, over 77 percent of steel packages are recycled and in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, rates exceed 90 percent.

New Innovations

Today, there are numerous new technologies taking steel packaging to a whole new level. Higher-quality alloys of steel and innovative new methods for processing steel are making everyday products safer, more convenient and efficient. Here’s some examples to show the advances being made in steel packaging.

Bacteria-free stainless steel surfaces

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology recently invented a new way to fight harmful bacteria such as E. coli on steel surfaces. Instead of the traditional antibiotics that are temporary and can aid bacteria in developing resistance, this new process uses an electrochemical etching chemical process to create thousands of tiny nano spikes on stainless steel surfaces. By switching up the levels of voltage and current flow in the electrochemical process, the researchers ended up with a rougher, “spiked” surface.

The spikes are about 25 nanometers long, and will kill both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria on contact, without damaging human cells. The human eye cannot tell the difference between nanotextured steel and regular steel, and the technology increases corrosion resistance as well.

Nanotextured steel can kill bacterial upon contact without harming human cells. (Source: The Engineer)

Though the technology is new and is awaiting additional tests, it could be a permanent solution to treating bacteria and potentially change the medical and food industries completely. Nanotextured stainless steel can be used not only for packaging, but the manufacturing equipment that come in to contact with food. Researchers are also working to apply the technology to spine implants and other implants that come in direct contact with the body.

The world’s lightest 3-piece aerosol can

German company Henkel and packaging manufacturer Ardagh Group developed a new, sustainable aerosol spray can for Henkel’s beauty products using high-quality steel. The can is a mere 0.13mm thick, using up 15 percent less materials than its counterparts, but is also more rigid. The world’s lightest aerosol can also reduce C02 output by 3500 metric tons and water consumption by 900,000 cubic meters per year.

High-quality steel makes this aerosol eco-friendly. (Source: Pack World)

The development is in line with Henkel’s efforts to contribute to a circular economy. Thus the company aimed to design a packaging material that is not only effective and sustainable to produce, but is also 100 percent recyclable.

As the most recycled packaging material in the world, steel will continue to package food, beauty products, paints, chemicals and more manufactured goods. Especially with advances in the quality of steel alloys and innovative ways to process steel, manufacturers can be assured their products will be safe and sound in effective, cost-efficient, sustainable and safe packages.

Last year, California experienced the worst wildfires to date. (Source: Live Science)

It wasn’t just wildfires. The fire that broke out in Grenfell Tower in West London last June claimed 71 lives and sparked a public outcry for stricter building regulations around fire safety. The material used as cladding to wrap the outer part of the building came under scrutiny as it was extremely flammable and contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

To prevent further disasters, architects, builders and policymakers need to reexamine the materials that go into building people’s homes, workplaces and public facilities.

Materials Matter

Steel is one of the most popular materials for construction as it is 100 percent recyclable, cost-effective and easy to work with. Moreover, World Steel Association’s Steel Construction Fact Sheet shows that steel is the most-researched and best-understood construction material available today. Its inherent characteristics and widely-available reinforcement options make steel the safest construction material for fire resistance.

eel is one of the strongest construction materials under high heat. (Source: CIC)

Fire resistance refers to the duration of time a building can withstand the load of the building, limit the passage of flames and gases and insulate the building against rising temperatures during a fire.

Steel is considered to be a fire-resistant material because it can retain all of its strength in temperatures up to 370ºC (700ºF). At 500ºC (930ºF), it loses 30 percent of its strength and at temperatures above 538ºC (1000ºF), unprotected steel loses close to half of its strength.

To put things into perspective, aluminum starts to decrease in strength when temperatures rise above 100ºC (212ºF), and at 204ºC (400ºF), aluminum loses 60 percent of its strength. Copper also loses 25 percent of its strength at 204ºC (400ºF).

Putting Materials to the Test

Darchem Engineering conducted the first-ever fire-resistance test in 1990 comparing galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum and fiberglass. Each material was exposed to temperatures from 1000 to 1050ºC (1832 to 1922ºF) for a period of 5 minutes. Both types of steel passed with minimal damage, while aluminum collapsed after 26 seconds, and fiberglass collapsed almost immediately.

Fire-resistance tests show that stainless steel is one of the most fire-resistant materials available. (Source: Applus)

They also conducted a 2-hour test with the same materials exposed to temperatures from 552 to 555ºC (1026 to 1032ºF). For stainless steel, the testing time was extended to 3 hours and it still had the least amount of damage out of all the materials. Galvanized steel passed the 2-hour mark, but did produce some molten zinc. Aluminum failed after 12 minutes, while fiberglass gave out in 6 minutes.

The results showed that steel, especially stainless steel, is the most fire-resistant material. However, one can never be safe enough when it comes to fire safety, and there are several ways to increase the fire resistance of steel that fall into 3 major categories.

Passive Fire Protection

Passive fire protection methods include boards, sprays and films that insulate the steel surface or structure against high temperatures. Fire protection boards are the most common type of passive fire protection as they can be customized and designed to fit the interior of the building. However, they are quite labor-intensive and costly compared to other options.

Boards are the most common types of passive fire protection. (Source: IPCOM)

Active Fire Protection

Active fire protection refers to any automatic or manual measure that can be taken to detect or fight fires. These include water sprinkler systems, alarms, smoke detectors, first responders and more. With advancements in AI and smart sensors, active fire protection will see vast improvements in the years to come and software systems will likely play a great role in fire prevention and protection.

The majority of active fire protection measures will become automated. (Source: Frontier Fire)

Intumescent fire protection

Intumescent fire protection includes paint-like substances that swell up in high temperatures and act as insulation against the heat. Typically, the intumescent substance will become 50 times thicker than its original state at about 200-250°C, well before steel undergoes any structural damage. Recently, intumescent paints have become much more prominent than passive types of fire protection as they are cost-effective, and can be applied on and off-site saving builders time and money.

Most recently, scientists and engineers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and national industrial developer JTC Corporation came up with a new intumescent fire protection paint called Firoshield. It is much cheaper than other types of intumescent paint and takes half the time to apply. The innovation will allow steel buildings to maintain its structural integrity for 2 hours with only 5 layers of paint, compared to the 15 layers required by other paints. 

Such innovations are expected to reinforce the safety of steel buildings, giving people more time for evacuation and limiting the spread of smoke and flames. On a final note, the fire-resistant qualities of steel should be taken into consideration not only for building frames and exteriors, but also for staircases, doors and other parts of a building that must stay intact for safe evacuations as well as for the safety of first responders.

What are Asphalt Roads Made of?

Asphalt roads are made of a mixture of aggregates, binders and fillers. The aggregates are typically iron and/or steel slag, sand, gravel or crushed rock, and they are bound together with asphalt itself, which is a bitumen.

Asphalt comes from natural deposits, or more commonly, as a by-product of the petroleum industry. It is a prevalent material for waterproofing, caulking and preserving, and is now most frequently used for road surfaces.

The iron and steel slag used as aggregates for asphalt roads are iron and steel by-products. Steel slag is residue from the steelmaking process, made of minerals like silica, alumina and titanium from iron sand, and combinations of calcium and magnesium oxides. During the steelmaking process, slags float on top of the molten iron, forming a barrier against oxygen and maintaining the internal temperature.

In road construction, these are the preferred aggregates as they harden well, enabling a thinner layer of pavement than what can be achieved with crushed stone aggregates. Slag is also very hardy, resistant to both weather and wear.

Steel slag is a sustainable aggregate for asphalt road production. (Source: National Slag Association)

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Use of Steel Slag Aggregate in Pavements report in 2015, a high iron oxide content in steel slag aggregates creates pavement that is both hard and dense, making it a superior choice over natural aggregates such as rocks in creating hot mix asphalt.

Also, when used in bituminous pavements, slag offers the advantages of high skid-resistance, stability, resistance to rutting, fatigue resistance, deformation resistance, high cohesive strength and compatibility with typical asphalt binders. Steel slag is also used as a base course material, the material under the surface layer of an asphalt road, track or surface.

The Environmental Benefits of Steel and Steel Slag

Base course material containing iron and steel slag as well as asphalt mixture containing iron and steel slag were designated as a procurement item under the Green Procurement Law. These materials are recognized as items with environmental benefits. The use of slag minimizes environmental impact as it saves energy and conserves resources.

Steelmakers need to actively find ways to reuse steel by-products to reduce their overall waste. For example, POSCO is dedicated to reusing by-products of steel making as it has a strong commitment to environmentally friendly practices. In 2016, POSCO recycled 98.4 percent of its steelworks-generated by-products, 77 percent of which was blast furnace slag and steelmaking slag.

In fact, 88 percent of POSCO’s blast furnace slag is turned into granulated blast furnace slag for cement material. POSCO carefully tests all of its steel slag products before clearing them for reuse, ensuring that every market item is suitable for its intended application.

Hot slag, or steel waste, is poured into piles to cool before being used for asphalt road construction.(Source: Fractum)

While POSCO works to improve its recycling capabilities, manufacturing and other industries are starting to see the benefits of steel and iron slag. These materials are being used everywhere, from rail ballast to artificial ocean reefs.

Steel slag is far from industrial waste, as POSCO’s efforts show. This steelmaking by-product has serious potential, now and in the future, and is a highly versatile, easily-used material for road making and other applications.

Demand for sustainable materials is on the rise in flourishing industries such as construction and manufacturing. Steelmakers like POSCO who put by-products to full use and invest in research to apply them to different industries will share the economic benefits and play a vital role towards greener business practices in the coming future.

Among the attendees of the signing ceremony were Adam Bradley, CEO of Top Tubes, Byeong-ryong Suh, Head of POSCO Construction Steel Materials Sales Group and Chae-il Lim, Head of POSCO Daewoo Hot-Rolled Sales Group.

Top Tubes is a UK-based company established in 1994. POSCO first supplied test products of PosMAC steel to Top Tubes in 2012, and in 2013 sold PosMAC for the first time in Europe. In 2016, when zinc-magnesium coated steel was gaining traction globally, CEO Bradley visited South Korea to discuss an extended application plan for PosMAC.

Then, in June 2017, Top Tubes launched MAGNAtube, a premium pipe brand using PosMAC, marking the first time an overseas client established a secondary brand using PosMAC.

Top Tubes plans to actively promote the use of PosMAC in their MAGNAtube products, to feature PosMAC steel’s advanced corrosion resistance compared to namal galvanized steel and its cost-effectiveness in comparison to stainless steel.  

CEO Bradley said, “We have the utmost confidence in POSCO’s products due to the various verification processes of PosMAC. We also expect that MAGNAtube will prove to be a leading, strategic product that will shape the future of our brand.”

POSCO plans to continue to be a reliable partner to Top Tubes and other potential partners in the European market. In order to achieve this, POSCO has developed technical and customized solutions including corrosion-resistant materials suited for the wet and salty climate of the UK, optimal welding wires and a corrosion-resistant pipe seam welding technology.  

Cover photo courtesy of Mining Global.

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Aging Water Pipeline Systems Around the World

Outdated water pipelines systems such as prestressed concrete cylinder pipelines (PCCP), lead pipes and corrosive iron pipes are causing problems worldwide.

PCCP is common throughout the U.S. They are large in diameter, meaning that when they fail, it can be catastrophic. PCCP failures have ruptured and leaked, cracked and dented, or otherwise ceased to hold up to the high capacity, high-pressure needs they were once installed to meet.

Why are they failing? Generally speaking, PCCP was not held to high standards during 1970s-era installations. The reinforcing wires used within those pipes were not manufactured with enough thickness, ultimately leading to corrosion and brittleness as the pipes reach the earlier-than-expected end of their usefulness.

An example a ruptured PCCP (Source: Hazen)

These pipes are failing wherever they are in use – all over the United States and all over the world. Florida and Maryland have been forced to handle catastrophic failures. In California, PCCP in need of repair or replacement cost USD 40 million for 4.5 miles of relining work. The overall cost of fixing pipes underneath southern California is estimated at $2.5 billion.

That’s just a drop in the bucket, looking at the overall cost of repairing or replacing PCCP in the U.S. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and American Water Works Association estimate that national replacement and repair work could cost $40 billion.

Governments do not want to make the same mistake again while replacing or repairing water pipelines, and there is a clear need to choose a material that can withstand time, pressure and environmental stresses.

The Solution: Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the material of choice in modern pipe installation and replacement projects.

As an example of how this material can offer great benefits, Tokyo’s Bureau of Waterworks began replacing leaky, old cast iron pipes with stainless steel in the 1980s. The material was chosen because of its strength and its well-known resistance to corrosion. All of the pipes in the water distribution system were replaced with stainless steel by 2012, drastically reducing water loss.

A worker inspects a steel pipe during pipe replacement in Japan. (Source: World Steel Association)

Choosing stainless steel for this kind of work is becoming a global standard. Seoul is another major city that replaced its outdated water pipelines with stainless steel. Around 96 percent of Seoul’s pipes were replaced by 2013, and the remaining pipes will be replaced by 2018.

In Taipei, pipes installed before 1979 were mostly made of lead- causing health and safety concerns for Taipei’s citizens. Over 70 percent of existing lead pipes were replaced with stainless steel by the end of 2016, and more replacements are underway.

Why Stainless Steel is Superior

It is clear that PCCP is not an option many would consider, given the huge costs related to replacing it. Even with the vast material options available, there is a clear reason governments and agencies are choosing stainless steel for waterworks systems.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is chemically resistant and lightweight, like steel, but can easily be degraded by sunlight. Because waterworks systems need a long lifespan, it does not make sense to choose a material that can be affected so heavily by environmental factors.

Ductile iron is an option, but is generally rejected because it requires more infrastructure to work, owing to its weight and short laying lengths. More and larger support foundations are required to hoist systems made from this heavy material. Ductile iron requires special lining when used in waterworks systems, as it can be affected by iron bacteria and precipitation.

High-grade stainless steel is naturally resistant to corrosion. It offers high strength and pressure resistance. It is a material that maintains resistance to microbes, and can be manufactured to resist heat.

POSCO’s stainless steel, particularly duplex steel, is ideal for waterworks, for all of the above-mentioned reasons. POSCO’s Lean Duplex steel or PossSD features superior anti-corrosion and intergranular corrosion resistance. It is employed regularly for applications such as water pipelines, and sea-water and chemical equipment. Watch the video for more details.

As cities see PCCP and other old pipe systems failing, materials like PossSD will ensure that replacement water pipelines do not suffer the same fate.

When creating new pipelines, and bringing old systems back to life, stainless steel is the best choice. It is lightweight yet strong, resistant to microbes, corrosion and other damage, and it can withstand all the pressures, temperatures and elements that exist within a pipeline system.

As the majority of the world’s pipeline systems have or will be reaching the end of its lifespan, cities will have to plan ahead and incorporate the best possible materials to ensure clean and safe water delivery, as well as to minimize future costs for repairs and replacement. Stainless steel is already relining or replacing outdated pipes all over the world, and will help governments eliminate safety and budget concerns.

Cover photo courtesy of Overeem.

In-hwan Oh, President of POSCO, said, “We implemented a customer-oriented core research infrastructure to help us evaluate products in a production environment similar to that of customers. By doing this, we aim to develop leading technologies and provide preemptive and proactive solutions to customers.”

The Steel Forming Laboratory will be used exclusively to evaluate the products ordered by POSCO customers by looking at properties such as formability, weldability, coating weight, corrosion resistance, and fatigue life. These evaluations will also be used to provide basic customer support such as quality certification. The new Steel Forming Laboratory will primarily be used for more differentiated tasks such as providing application technology solutions involving steel products.

The Steel Forming Laboratory houses various equipment, including roll forming machines and presses, which are used to evaluate the formability of steel products such as POSCO GIGA STEEL and develop new forming technologies. POSCO is the first steelmaker in Korea to use the 2,000-ton hydraulic press in order to evaluate the formability of large components such as the side outers of automobiles. In addition, other equipment such as the high-speed crash test machine, full-scale fatigue test machine, and wheel durability test machine can evaluate the impact and durability of the molded parts of automobiles. They also provide customized analysis results using 3D scanners.

POSCO’s new Steel Forming Laboratory has various facilities for the evaluation and advancement of large components for customers. Above, a POSCO employee can be seen operating the 2000-ton hydraulic press, the first to be purchased by a domestic steelmaker.

POSCO will use these machines to implement its “POSCO One-Stop Development” system, making it possible to perform every step from developing application technologies for steel products to production verification testing without the involvement of customers, a move towards further reinforcing its Solution Marketing services.

Customers may find it difficult to adopt newly developed steel grades right away, but with POSCO evaluating formability (one of the mandatory criteria for selecting steel products) on behalf of its customers, the burden of selecting new steel grades will be reduced.

POSCO will continue to pursue shared growth by conducting joint research with not only large OEM companies, but also small and medium-sized parts companies that find it relatively more difficult to operate various testing machines.

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POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon (left) shakes hands with Tom Schuessler, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, at the signing ceremony between ExxonMobil and POSCO.

ExxonMobil, the world’s largest oil company, upholds strict standards when choosing materials, and for the last five years has been working with POSCO to manufacture and test slurry pipes at worksites. Last year, a 1.2 m long slurry pipe – made with POSCO’s high manganese steel – was installed at ExxonMobil’s Kearl Oil Sands Project in Canada. It demonstrated a resistance to wear five times higher than conventional materials.

With its abrasion-resistant properties, POSCO’s high manganese steel can greatly reduce overall operating costs and increase oil production. “Seamless collaboration has led to the quick commercialization of this new high manganese steel technology, which will set a new standard for oil sands mining operations,” said Tom Schuessler, president of the ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, who attended the ceremony.

POSCO and ExxonMobil employees pose for a commemorative photo shoot after inking a high manganese steel supply contract at the POSCO Center.

In response to president Schuessler, CEO Kwon suggested furthering their partnership by utilizing high manganese steel in various other businesses within the oil sands industry.

POSCO also plans to use its high manganese steel in the making of heavy construction and bulletproof military equipment as well as steel pipes and facilities to move various minerals including oil sand slurry.

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Under the theme of ‘Breaking Barriers,’ this month The Steel Wire invited Chanyong Park, an editor from Esquire Korea, to look at some of the world’s most well-known watchmakers and why they utilize certain types of stainless steel. Below is his take on different types of stainless steel that have been used to make some of the most iconic wristwatches.  

Stainless Steel in Wristwatches

In general, wristwatches are made of stainless steel. Although other types of materials, such as gold, titanium, ceramics, and carbon, are often used, stainless steel provides excellent rigidity at a reasonable price. This is the reason brands like Rolex, Apple, and many other brands put great emphasis on utilizing stainless steel to make wristwatches.

What should be considered when choosing the material for your wristwatch? There are two main factors. The first is the sensitivity some people may have to the materials in stainless steel as they can cause allergic reactions or rashes.

Second is its ability to withstand a variety of conditions from hand washing to strong impact. In particular, it is important to have properties like corrosion- and shock-resistance. Wristwatches should also be able to withstand temperature changes and not become discolored over time. When taking these factors into account, stainless steel is an ideal choice.

Various Types of Stainless Steel

The grades of stainless steel are classified based on their composition of steel and non-steel materials. Because steel naturally rusts over time, other materials are added to prevent rusting. Steel can be classified into several distinct categories: 200, 300, and 900-series based on its composition.

300-Series Stainless Steel Types

• Type 301: contains iron, chromium, and nickel
• Type 302: consists a higher amount of carbon to make it stronger
• Type 304: most commonly used type of stainless steel
• Type 304L: contains less amount of carbon, used for welding
• Type 304LN: contains nitrogen to increase tension
• Type 316: second most widely used stainless steel, contains a small amount of molybdenum to resist corrosion
• Type 316L: contains less amount of carbon compared to 316

Type 316 and 316L are great materials for making wristwatches because they can both withstand extreme temperatures and are more corrosion resistant. They are also allergy-safe and are used to make medical devices.

Rolex and the Reason for 904L

Rolex, one of the most well-known luxury watch brands, puts great emphasis on using specific types of stainless steel. Instead of using the more common 316, it uses Type 904L. Although 904L is more difficult to make and consists of extra materials such as chromium, molybdenum, nickel, and copper, it has numerous benefits. It is more resistant to acids, has a harder surface, and appears brighter, making it suitable for modern wristwatches that are not only functional but decorative.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King (Courtesy of Official Rolex website)

Rolex utilizes 904L with the greatest of quality control. Since 904L is harder than other types of stainless steel, Rolex had to design its own new tools to work with 904L stainless steel. Once Rolex receives the material from its steel suppliers, Rolex casts and scans it. Rolex sends back steel that does not meet its standards, and re-melts and hardens the approved steel in order to eliminate any inclusions.

In using 904L, Rolex wristwatches stand out as they appear more polished, look warmer, and age extremely well. Rolex has been using 904L in watch cases since 1985 and from 2006, it began to utilize 904L in the band. If you ever wondered why your Rolex watch shines differently than your father’s, what you noticed was the difference between 316L and 904L.

However, for those with a nickel allergy, rashes can occur because 904L carries more chromium, molybdenum, nickel, and copper. Those who want to wear a Rolex watch but have a nickel allergy can either purchase an older version of the watch or simply replace the band.

The debate between 904L and 316L continues with watch lovers. Although some may argue that it is not necessary to use 940L due to nickel sensitivities, 316L and 904L are both highly recognized materials, even being used in medical devices.

Audemars Piguet and the Reason for 316L

Although Rolex uses 904L, there are many other brands that continue to use 316L and make even more expensive wristwatches. Audemars Piguet is one of them. Its Royal Oak, made from 316L, is considered to be the brand’s most iconic wristwatch. Royal Oak is unique among luxury wristwatches as it was one of the first to move to stainless steel in 1972. This broke with the industry standard of using gold in luxury watches.

Royal Oak Chronograph Automatic (Source: Official Audemars Piguet website)

Before the Royal Oak, stainless steel was typically seen in watches made for divers or pilots that focused on durability. Audemars Piguet was the brand that broke the rules by offering a luxury watch made from steel, following its slogan, “To break the rules, you must first master them”.

Royal Oak was a challenge for watchmakers with regard to surface treatment technology, design, and branding. There are two ways to treat the roughed-out surfaces of ceramic, one is brushing on the barrels and the other is polishing on all edges. Audemars Piguet alternately brushes and polishes each angle of the octagonal clock of Royal Oak. The key is to brush it in one direction. In 1972, the price of Royal Oak was 10 times more than the Rolex Submariner. However, Royal Oak succeeded manufacturing luxury brand watches with stainless steel.

Sinn and the Reason for 212

German watch manufacturer, Sinn, specializes in making shock absorbent watches that utilize a very unique type of stainless steel. It uses Type 212 from ThyssenKrupp, a type of stainless steel that is particularly resistant to seawater making it useful for diving.

Sinn Diving Watch EZM3 (Source: Official Sinn website)

According to its website, “Sinn was the first company to manufacture diving watches that complied with European diving equipment standards and the first to test and certify them for pressure resistance, water−resistance, and resistance to fogging.” The use of this specialized stainless steel has helped Sinn and other watch manufacturers take their watches to new levels.

Wristwatch technology began in England over 100 years ago and was further advanced in Switzerland. After two world wars, the concept of wearing a watch around the wrist spread, and then the Japanese-led quartz movement reshaped the market. The Swiss changed its strategy to turn watches into a luxury item, and now, American IT entrepreneurs are redefining it as wearable tech. Stainless steel’s  use in such precision-dependent instruments is a testament to its value and capabilities.

*The author is a POSCO contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

For some artists, steel can be heavy and difficult to work with. In addition, considerations for ductility, corrosion resistance, and price must also be taken into account. Working to address these issues, POSCO has partnered with many artists, architects, and designers to provide the right steel to match their artistic vision.

In the three pieces below, POSCO’s World Premium Products were used to offer unique solutions for each design concept. See how these three pieces of art utilized steel to not only make them stronger and longer-lasting, but also to make them more beautiful.

POSCO’s Solar Pine – Art that Generates Energy

The Solar Pine sculpture is located at POSCO Energy’s headquarters in Incheon, South Korea. POSCO Energy wanted to install a structure in its Green Park that utilized solar power, could be mass-produced, and displayed an aesthetic beauty that could be used in parks and green spaces around the globe. Its pattern resembles the geometric shape of a pine cone with an angled roof with solar panels. During the day, its unique pattern casts a beautiful shadow on the ground below, and at night the energy absorbed by the solar panels is used to power lighting on the Solar Pine and also within the park.

At night the Solar Pine lights up using the energy absorbed through its solar panels. (Photo courtesy of Kyungsub Shin)

The upper structure is 7.2m in diameter and contains nine separate modules with 54 solar panels that can generate 1200W per hour. Also, because it is made for mass production, each piece is made in the factory and bolt-assembled on location – making construction simpler while also lowering costs.

The Solar Pine roof is tilted to provide maximum energy absorption for the 54 solar panels. (Photo courtesy of Kyungsub Shin)

POSCO’s Solar Pine is built with PosMAC steel, an advanced, high-strength steel that is lighter and thinner than galvanized steel and more resistant to corrosion. PosMAC is ideal for structures like the Solar Pine, which require strong, lightweight steel that can withstand the elements. PosMAC has also been used in other designs requiring this combination including POSCO Humans’ floating solar power system, high-durability homes, auto parts, and several new green energy projects in India.

During the day, the light shines through the roof of the Solar Pine, replicating its geometric design in shadows on the ground. (Photo courtesy of Kyungsub Shin)

POSCO’s Steel Igloo

Steel is typically used as structural support; however, when designing the Steel Igloo, architect Kim Chan-joong decided to use POSCO’s World Premium Product PossSD, an advanced steel that offers superior strength and ductility.

The reflective surface of the Steel Igloo combined with the punctured surface creates a unique viewing experience. First constructed for an exhibition at Kumho Art Museum, it was later moved to a forest near Suwon, Korea.

The Steel Igloo is made from 177 steel sheets, each punctured with holes allowing light to break through. The combination of the holes and the reflective surface of the steel create a very unique experience for those lucky enough to see it in person.

POSCO worked with Kim during the manufacturing process, helping with the polishing, bending and reflective effect that was requested in the original blueprint.

PossSD, which stands for Super Ductile Duplex, was used because of its notable characteristics that make it suitable for an outdoor art display like the Steel Igloo.

The punctured holes of the Steel Igloo allow light to come through and create shadows on the surrounding walls.

PossSD combines austenitic and ferritic steels to maximize the strength of each while minimizing the weaknesses. Austenitic and ferritic steels are both considered fairly easy to produce, but both have certain drawbacks. Austenitic steels are low-strength and but also offer high resistance to corrosion. Ferritic steel, on the other hand, is stronger but less resistance to corrosion. They also use less nickel than austenitic steel, making it slightly more economical.

By combining those two types of steel in PossSD, POSCO was able to create a unique product that is stronger and more ductile than most ferritic grades, while also being twice as strong as both types of steel by themselves. It also offers stronger corrosion resistance while also being more cost effective.

Stepping inside the Steel Igloo allows viewers a completely different experience with light shining inward.

Pangdolane – Resting in a Rock Made of Steel

Pangdolane is a wordplay on the Korean words pang-dol, a type of volcanic rock found on Jeju Island and an-ae, meaning inside. POSCO worked with multiple artists, scientists, and architects to create this public art piece that also provides a small shelter for those visiting Jeju Island.

Pangdolane sits near a beach on Jeju Island. (Photo courtesy of Scale.kr)

With its gray color and holes of varying sizes, the exterior of Pangdolane resembles the basaltic rock for which it is named. Inside Pangdolane, visitors can rest while enjoying the shadows created by the design of the structure.

Sitting inside Pangdolane lets visitors see a completely different view. (Photo courtesy of Scale.kr)

Located on a beach on Jeju Island, designers were faced with issues of corrosion. The air in coastal regions typically has a higher saline density, which causes metals, including steel, to corrode much more quickly. Therefore, POSCO’s World Premium Product PosMAC was used to construct Pangdolane. PosMAC is specifically designed to be both more resistant to corrosion and self-healing. When designing Pangdolane, PosMAC was the obvious choice as its special properties ensure that it will stand the test of time – even on the beach.

Steel is often used in buildings to make them stronger and long-lasting. But steel does not have to be behind walls and floors; it can also be used on the exterior. In each of the art pieces above, POSCO’s World Premium Products were used in order to provide specific benefits that fit each situation’s needs. Whether it is having a higher resistance to corrosion or providing a lighter solution that can be mass-produced and bolted on site – POSCO’s World Premium Products have been able to overcome many of the problems that come with working in steel to make sure that these pieces of art can be enjoyed for decades to come.

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The Steel Wire recently spoke with Bruvel about his Flow Series of sculptures. With ribbons of stainless steel, Bruvel has created stunning representations of life, its dualities, and its binding contradictions.

You’ve worked with a variety of media including oils, pencils, pastels, wood, and bronze. With the Flow Series you began using stainless steel. What inspired you to start working with steel?

Among all the different material I use for my artwork, stainless steel or inox steel has the qualities I needed to materialize the sculptures of the Flow Series. I wanted to create different variations of reflectivity for the surface of my artwork to fuse with its environment by simply reflecting it. The reflections can be made from grained surfaces up to a highly reflective mirror polish surfaces. If I want to represent the feeling of water or the sensation of the wind pressing on the skin like in the sculpture of the Wind, I can play with these variations to further the feeling of flow and my personal interpretations of patterns inspired by nature.

“Bringing stainless steel to this new platform was to bring the paradox of the sense of permanence that stainless-steel gives, its natural resistance to rusting over time and stability in harsh environment…”
– Gil Bruvel

Steel seems like it would be a difficult medium to work with. How has steel allowed you to express your creativity, compared to other media?

Stainless steel is indeed a rigorous material needing very structured methods to work with. But at the same time, it allows this illusory notion of opposite between the rigidity of steel and this sense of fluidity and movement I can infuse it with. It momentarily freezes the ephemeral, the constant motion of nature, permanence and impermanence.

Gil Bruvel works on My Mirror Remains (Photo courtesy of Gil Bruvel)

It is impressive to see you create such elaborate pieces using steel. Can you describe your work process? How do you go from idea to steel sculpture? How long does it take? What tools do you use to mold your sculptures?

I start with various sketches and a considerable amount of time figuring out what my intentions are about a specific piece. This represents multiple iterations with sketches whether it is inspired by, as examples, erosions carved by the wind or water, dunes formations, ripples in the sand, physical sensations, motions, emotions, the grass or leaves in trees pushed by the wind and the infinite myriads of patterns small or large nature is made of.

Then I start to model the concepts until I think it is ready to receive a silicon mold. With this mold, we pull a wax for the lost wax process at the foundry and to finally do the casting. After removing the sprues and chasing the surface of the steel, I start to play with the reflectivity of the surface up to the most polished parts of the final sculpture.

It takes many months to create a sculpture from the original concept to the final cast.

Gil Bruvel’s Dichotomy sculpture that “meditates on and celebrates the dual nature of existence.” (Photo courtesy of Gil Bruvel)

Which steel sculpture would you consider to be your best, or favorite? And why?

My favorite sculpture of the Flow Series is of course the next one I am about to do with the renewed excitement to apply the new skills and knowledge I gathered from the previous works with the integration of new ideas and concepts as well as continuing to explore and studying new patterns.

“Among all the different material I use for my artwork, stainless steel or inox steel has the qualities I needed to materialize the sculptures… -Gil Bruvel

I like the sculpture of Dichotomy for the simplicity of its message about the human condition. The vertical lines in opposition with the horizontal lines contained within this same bust, whatever contradictions or oppositions we experience are simply part of who we are.

The sculpture of Rain is also one of my favorite for its meditative aspect. The sculpture entitled River with its metaphor of the river flow carrying our memories and experiences.

The Wind, the euphoric awareness of being alive, feeling the wind against our skin. And many other sculptures.

Offering a variation on the theme of human frailty, My Mirror Remains explores what it means to be fully human. (Photo courtesy of Gil Bruvel)

What message are you ultimately trying to convey through the Flow Series? How does using steel help you communicate that?

All the above might contribute to this question, but mainly I see art as a platform, an opportunity to experiment with my own perspective, in the form of artwork to show and share the results of these experimentations. To keep building a universal language we can all relate to. I think the universality of steel lends itself to this idea. Our planet is shrinking with the way we communicate and art can be what binds us together.

How is your artistic vision embodied through your use of steel in the Flow Series? How is it connected (or different) from your other work?

The many different material and methods I use to create my artwork goes in parallel with my passionate pursuit of knowledge. The Flow Series has been a centerpiece to my creative process, and I see it as a continuum to my previous experiments with other materials. Bringing stainless steel to this new platform was to bring the paradox of the sense of permanence that stainless-steel gives, its natural resistance to rusting over time and stability in harsh environment comparatively to other material; and at the opposite, the artistic expression of fleeting moments and ephemeral nature of our experiences we have, the constant changes and impermanence of life.

The Steel Wire is excited to have had the opportunity to talk with Gil Bruvel. His artistry and expertise surpass expectations and his exquisite sculptures show us the beauty that can be found in steel.

Watch the video below to see some of Gil Bruvel’s favorite pieces and hear more about his work process and inspiration. You can find out more about the artist and his exhibitions by visiting his website or following him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

BRUVEL from One Story Productions on Vimeo.