Stainless steel responds admirably to the strength and durability imperatives of public art at the Ipswich Workshops Rail Museum, opened to the public earlier this month.

The Workshops began operations in the 1860s and initially assembled components imported from England, but by the early 1900s railway stock was being manufactured from the ground up. During the peak employment period of the 1950s there were over 3 000 workers. To reflect the Workshops’ importance in shaping the identity of the town of Ipswich, west of Brisbane, the design brief called for a monument concentrating on the social history of the Workshops

The overwhelming response from the architecture community to our earlier article on precision folding of stainless steel sheet using vee-cutting technology has prompted a more in-depth look at the process. 

Thanks to vee-cut technology, stainless steel sheet can be formed into angles as precise as those obtained by extrusion. This technology is now being carried out in Sydney, allowing the local manufacture of a whole range of stainless steel architectural products. The technique is particularly suited to elements such as door fronts, window frames, shopfronts, showcases, elevator doors as well as all forms of cladding.

In a completely new method

Stainless steel is well-known as a versatile and attractive medium for large scale public artworks. Two recent projects by Perth’s Stusha Studio make use of different treatments of the material to deliver attention-grabbing results.

INSPIRED BY NATURE
The Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital in WA commissioned shade structures in two courtyards and Stusha Studio responded with four elements, representing a flower, a seed, a leaf and a fruit, inspired by the orchards of the area and the seasons. The structures provide a shadow-play on the courtyard floors and walls, blushing the areas with shade.

The elements are made of stainless steel

Pedestrians using Brisbane’s scenic RiverWalk when it opens next March will be strolling across 150 tonnes of stainless steel reinforcing, embedded in 287 concrete pontoons linked to form an 875 metre long walkway from the CBD along the river to New Farm Park.

Although the 5.4 metre wide walkway will feel like a single solid structure, it is actually made up of a series of 13.5 tonne concrete blocks, half of their bulk floating below the water level.

Stainless steel balustrades will preserve open views across to Southbank and back to the CBD while ensuring public safety. These combine subtly

Advanced engineering solutions are required to handle conditions found on offshore drilling and processing platforms. The saltwater environment is highly corrosive, the flare presents extremes of temperature and the force of winds and currents is constant. The most durable and reliable materials need to be employed, which is why stainless steel plays and important part.

An impressive project making use of stainless' strength and corrosion-resistance is the Bayu Undan Gas Project in the Timor Sea, 5OOkm north of Darwin (pictured). Here, stainless steel is used to line the 18" pipelines between the processing platform and the wellhead platform 8km distant

Stainless Steel Mesh

Woven metal fabrics are a popular architectural product in Europe, where stainless steel mesh is used for a high-level finish in many internal and external settings, such as wall and ceiling panelling, space dividers, external cladding and facades.

Now Sydney firm Interspace Manufacturing Pty Ltd is making and installing woven stainless steel wire mesh screens using metal fabrics from iO Metal Fabrics Pty Ltd, a German firm with an Australian presence and a member of ASSDA.

ASSDA member Interspace has been designing and manufacturing store fittings and custom fixtures for displays and exhibitions since 1970. The firm

Hastings Caves, one of Tasmania’s major tourist attractions situated a scenic two hours’ drive south of Hobart, has received a major upgrade.

According to the Site Co-ordinator Keith Vanderstaay, the caves "have been reinvented with the completion of a state of the art, computer-controlled lighting system which will change the way everybody will see the cave."

New stainless steel handrails allow visitors to navigate the cave in safety, and are designed to last for generations, minimising the need for maintenance in the caves' sensitive environment.

Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service, as part of a safety review of structures used by

At a time when so many industrial processes are computer-driven, there is still a place for human knowledge and experience in the highly specialised area of hydro-turbine manufacturing.

Steel Castings Pty Ltd, situated in Port Melbourne, has a reputation for precision moulding which has secured the firm contracts to produce two 'Pelton Runners' – the heart of the turbine – for a Victorian Hydro Power Station, working with the Norwegian designers, GE Australia and Acron Engineering.

Steel Castings have been making Peltons since the mid-90s. Measuring 2m in diameter and weighing in at 3.5 tonnes, these units are the largest

The Australian construction and food processing sectors can specify stainless steel tube in large sizes with confidence in its quality and timely delivery, now that local production has commenced at a Victorian plant.

Manufacturing by an Australian firm will also make it easier for specificiers to communicate their special requirements.

Stainless Tube Mills' special purpose factory in Melbourne’s outer east is producing longitudinally welded tube in diameters up to 300mm and wall thicknesses up to 8mm – the largest seamwelded stainless steel tube available in Australia. Tube in this size range has always been imported.

The recently commissioned draw mill,

 A major new development project at the Jindalee Winery at Moorabool near Geelong utilises over 100 tonnes of grade 304 2B finish stainless steel.

Shepparton’s J Furphy & Sons fabricated 95 wine storage and fermentation tanks, ranging in size from 75,000 to 1,200 litres.

The new tanks provide almost three million litres of temperature-controlled storage capacity for grapes processed from the adjoining vineyard and a much larger vineyard which Jindalee’s owners, Vince and David Littore, operate in the Murray Darling region near Mildura.

Three years ago the Littore Brothers acquired the former Idyll Vineyard and winery at Geelong which they

Quick and easy tips for keeping that shine

Retaining a sparkling finish on stainless steel surfaces is just a matter of a few simple steps. And you don't need expensive products or special equipment - ordinary household cleaners are usually all that's required. You just need to bear in mind a few easy DOs and DON'Ts...

It'll come out in the wash

Stainless steel looks best if it's cleaned regularly with plenty of water. Drying afterwards makes sure streaky marks aren't left behind.

Remember that simply wiping with a damp cloth is not as effective as it can smear dirt

Melbourne's public life is populated with unique, strong and take-as-you-find personalities. Its culture – from high to mass – is influenced by figures like Jeff Kennett and Sam Newman, who shape Melbourne's view of itself and its environment.

While the former Premier's impact on the Victorian capital has been comprehensive, the refurbishment of Brighton Sea Baths as an upscale nightspot part-owned by Mr Newman has contributed a smaller scale landmark which is just as likely to provide visitors (male ones, anyway) with a memorable impression of the city.

The retired Geelong player and AFL Footy Show co-host, well-known in Melbourne

Pressed stainless steel cladding has been used to spectacular effect on the Dame Roma Mitchell Arts Building of Adelaide Institute of TAFE, the training ground for many of Australia’s future performing and visual artists.

The originality of the design complements the creative nature of the activities housed in the building, situated on the edge of Adelaide’s Light Square.

Completed in December 2001, the four-storey complex comprises an art gallery, basement workshop facilities for ceramics and sculpture, two theatre spaces, and various studios and workshops.

Stainless steel fulfils a dual function. Not only does it provide aesthetic appeal, the pressed surface

The last issue of Australian Stainless contained an overview of coated abrasives and guidelines for achieving the desired surface finish. This technical series continues with a comparison of grit size and hardness. Read Part 1. Read Part 3.

Early versions of abrasive sheets and rolls were made by sprinkling naturally occurring grit, such as sand or emery, onto cloth or paper coated with animal hide glue. The resulting 'sandpaper' was used for surface finishing in woodwork or preparing a surface for paint or varnish. Because the application of the grit was random the product soon became dull and lost its

Australian-made weighing technology is the first choice for global giant Caterpillar Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment.

Local firm Transcale, designers and manufacturers of electronic weighing equipment specifically for the mining and transport industries, exports its equipment worldwide to over 11 countries in North and South America, Southern Africa and South East Asia.

Transcale's focus on the mining sector means that cutting edge technology needs to be protected from some of the harshest environments in the world. Extremes of heat and clod, record rainfalls, drought, high salt or other corrosive minerals are just a few of

A Style Statement in Stainless

The transformation of Sydney's Walsh Bay from derelict wharves and sheds into a prestigious residential complex, complete with cultural, retail and commercial facilities, provides a stage for Australian innovation in design and technology, including some of the finest examples of stainless steel structural and architectural applications.

Located amid Sydney's landmarks -the Opera House, Circular Quay, The Rocks and Sydney Harbour Bridge -the Walsh Bay Precinct is said to be "the most significant urban renewal of heritage Sydney to be undertaken for many years."

According to developers Walsh Bay Partnership (WBP), a joint venture project between

Grade 316 stainless steel offers superior corrosion resistance and has become the norm for architectural applications within 5km of the coastline. Another natural use for grade 316 stainless is in boating and marine sports gear, which has to withstand the corrosive effects of salt water.

Deck fittings and equipment made in 316 stainless are stronger and more durable than most alternatives. Their lifespan is further enhanced when kept clear of salt encrustations, grease and dirt. This is facilitated by a very smooth surface which doesn't present miniscule pits and crevices where corrosion can begin.

An example of grade 316 being

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Posted 1 July 2003

John Hodgkinson is mad about hams! The managing director of ASSDA member Smo-King Ovens really loves his products and is passionate about helping butchers generate more business through their use.

You may not have noticed these stainless steel ovens that are an important element of nearly every quality butcher shop in Australia. Just as you can tell a good patisserie by their éclairs, you can tell a good butcher by their smoked hams!

Of 304 stainless steel construction, Smo-King ovens are used extensively for smoking and cooking hams, bacon, roast meats, poultry, fish and a wide

A decor has to be unique to stand out among the trendy cafes and nightclubs in Park Road, Milton, one of Brisbane’s most fashionable locations, and it certainly has to possess the wow factor to compete with the multitude of sensory experiences which greet clubbers out to see the latest bands and DJs.

A unique interior, using stainless steel, which would wow the patrons, was the brief SOBAR NightClub owner Darren Perris gave Brisbane fabricator Klein Architectural, along with just 48 hours for concept, design and installation before opening night.

The mission was accomplished with patterned stainless surfaces to capitalise

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Posted 1 July 2003

Consumers expect processed foods to be tasty and nutritious, affordable and safe. To meet these expectations, food contact equipment has to be hygienic and productive.

A manufacturer’s wish list for its food processing components might read like this:

>    durable, with easy release and easy-to-clean surface
>    inert, non-toxic and non-contaminating
>    corrosion-resistant and non-degrading
>    suited to continuous, in-line sanitation and cleaning
>    impervious and non-absorbent to food products, odours, stains and colourings
>    economical, reliable and safe over its entire working life
>    temperature versatile and highly conductive, eg from cooking to cryogenic temperatures