Our General Manager Structural Systems Dr Stephen Hicks contributed to the current Engineering Insights article on New Zealand steel research activities and its implementation within the new University of Auckland building. This article was first published in Engineering Insight January/February 2015, Volume 16/1 and is reproduced with the permission of the Institution of Professional Engineers…
Weld access holes are frequently required in the fabrication of structural components. The geometry of these structural details can affect the components’ performance. The size and shape of beam copes and weld access holes can have a significant effect on the ease of depositing sound weld metal, the ability to conduct non-destructive examinations, and the…
As reported, HERA House is in last phase of an extensive $2m refurbishment which allowed us to catch up with long deferred maintenance, provide for a more efficient use of space, and give the metals industry a meeting place with a more contemporary and future-focused industry look. HERA has just received confirmation that the Minister…
Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga and Minster for Energy and Resources, recently visited HERA member company BOP Gear Cutters Ltd at their Mt Maunganui operation where he toured the 650m2 purpose-built facility with Managing Director Bill Ross. A highlight of the tour was an opportunity to see a large wind turbine gear being worked on.…
The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) has launched a new publication on Stainless Steel in Agricultural Applications. From a simple feeding pail to the most advanced fully robotised milking equipment, stainless steel is found on farms in numerous applications, where it is an alternative to plastics, light metal and galvanised steel. This new brochure from…
3D printing and additive manufacturing are two of the newest and most discussed topics in design and manufacturing in recent years. A component can be created in almost any shape using successive layers of material, making rapid prototyping and manufacturing a reality and bringing with it low one-off manufacturing costs. What impact can engineering analysis…
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr Nigel Priestley, who was most well-known for his leadership of the investigation of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapse. Priestley gave evidence to the Canterbury earthquakes Royal Commission and chaired a panel that examined the collapse of the CTV and Pyne Gould…
This year has been one of celebration at Steel & Tube. It has marked 60 years since the business began, and delivered on some of the most significant internal changes in our history. We organised a range of activities to commemorate the anniversary, providing opportunities for us to engage with long-standing customers, thank them personally…
Good progress has been made in developing the new steel-concrete composite standard AS/NZS2327. Due to the maturity of the standard, the Standards Australia BD-032 Committee is inviting software companies to participate in the final stages of the development by undertaking calibration studies using the new provisions; companies that already provide design software to other international…
It’s with great excitement that Opus International Consultant and NZ representative on Joint Technical Committee MT-014/02 can report that the long-awaited revision to the 2002 ‘Guide to the Protection of Structural Steel Against Atmospheric Corrosion by the Use of Protective Coatings’ was published last Friday 19 December. The revision is now in three Parts: AS/NZS…
Surface roughness is a measure of the texture of a surface. It is quantified by the vertical deviations of a real surface from its ideal form. If these deviations are great, the surface is rough, if they are small, the surface is smooth. The roughness of a surface has most commonly been measured by an…
This month we describe some of the economic aspects of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in metals and make the case for competitive solutions compared with more traditional methods. It is often mentioned that AM or 3D printing technologies are only suitable for prototyping parts that will eventually be manufactured by more traditional means. This is not…