Menu

infrastructure

construction-workers-install-metal-rebar-and-build-2022-07-05-03-48-52-utc (1)

Fibre-reinforced Rebar Slashes Weight By 75%

, , , , , 0

 

A high-strength alternative to traditional reinforcing bar that is a quarter of the weight of the same size steel product is being brought to Australia from South Korea by Technofast. John Bucknell, Technofast Founder and CEO, believes the South Korean Dong Shin Materials Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) rebar product typically doubles work speed or better while also imposing less load on buildings and structures. The GFRP, for which Technofast is exclusive Australian distributor, is also safer to handle and install, as well as being versatile for architects, builders, and engineers to use for precast and rebar detailing in construction, including those with electro-magnetic field issues because it curtails electro-magnetic interference. “This GFRP rebar is a proven product in service in a multitude of applications, including precasts, bridges, roads, rail, tunnel, tank, dam, dock, flood mitigation, tetrapod (four-legged) structures, factories, logistics centres, modular construction, civil works, infrastructure, tower base, and other domestic, commercial, and industrial applications, and particularly tower structures,” said Bucknell.

Technofast’s link with Korea’s high-quality manufacturing, engineering, energy, and construction sectors extends over more than 20 years, including exports of its EziTite® speed and safety-oriented hydraulic fastening systems. It is produced by one of the world’s most advanced GFRP plants into which extensive R&D and GFRP mass-production technology has been invested over the last five years to offer proven, quality, cost-efficient product. “GFRP rebar used to be more expensive than steel rebar, but new mass production technology in a new plant permits structural steel fabrication at a highly competitive price,” says Bucknell. The 5000-square-metre plant specializes in advanced technologies including GFRP, nanomaterials, secondary battery material, EMI shielding, and machine R&D, he says. “Advanced production technology has cut the time involved in manufacturing. Time also equals cost in construction project cycles, where GFRP rebar not only saves material costs, but also transport, fossil fuel pollution, labour at a time of labour shortages, and heavy equipment costs. Other benefits include compliance with the relevant standards in Asia, the US, and Europe, with guidance on specific types of projects in Australia available through Technofast, which is likely to give a boost to Australia’s structural metal product manufacturing industry.

“Our distribution of this product complements perfectly our own manufacturing and distribution of Technofast’s wide range of hydraulic fastening, safety, and maintenance ranges to a large range of established customer bases across mining plant and equipment and energy, manufacturing and maintenance, construction and civil engineering, primary processing and materials handling, water and wastewater, and ports, electrical and communication infrastructure.”, stated Bucknell. Many existing customers may also have a need for this innovative, safe, and rapidly installed product. In addition to the safety benefits relating to musculoskeletal injuries, use of this material in the applications for which it is suited reduces rebar manufacturing carbon emissions by more than half conservatively, ranging up to 75% as estimated by its smart energy manufacturers, which also produces solar energy systems. The new rebar’s sustainability credentials include reduction of waste caused by traditional reinforced concrete’s vulnerability in some applications to salt, moisture, chemicals, and factors that can produce waste due to frequent maintenance.

closeup-view-cylindrical-grinder-industrial-concept

Flowserve to acquire Canadian industrial valve maker Velan for $245 million

, , , , 0

 

Flowserve Corporation (“Flowserve”), a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, and Velan Inc. (“Velan”), a leading manufacturer of highly engineered industrial valves, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Flowserve will acquire Velan in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $245 million (C$329 million), including the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding Velan equity for approximately $209 million (C$281 million) and the assumption of approximately $36.3 million (C$48.9 million) in outstanding gross debt as of November 30, 2022. Flowserve will also assume Velan’s $31.4 million (C$42.2 million) of cash and cash equivalents, also as of November 30, 2022. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2023.

Founded in Montreal in 1950, Velan is a leading manufacturer of industrial valves with a strong presence in the nuclear, cryogenic and defence markets. Velan is a family-controlled business, with a team of 1,650 people and manufacturing facilities in nine countries. Through its fiscal third quarter ended November 30, 2022, Velan reported trailing twelve-month revenues of approximately $380 million with reported EBITDA of approximately $21 million. Upon completion of the transaction, Velan will become part of Flowserve’s Flow Control Division (FCD) segment. Velan adds significant value within Flowserve’s existing valves portfolio and further builds upon Flowserve’s existing assets through the addition of Velan’s premier brands, strong heritage and technical expertise in attractive and diverse structural steel fabrication markets. The additional scale, footprint consolidation and procurement opportunities provided by the combination is expected to result in substantial synergies. Further, the transaction is expected to increase Flowserve’s aftermarket potential, based on the large installed base of Velan products and the expansive network of Flowserve’s Quick Response Centers (QRCs.)

In addition to revenue synergies created through a global aftermarket footprint, Flowserve expects to realize approximately $20 million (C$26 million) of run-rate cost synergies within two years after close. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Flowserve’s adjusted EPS in the first full year following close. Including anticipated synergies, the economics imply an EBITDA multiple of less than 7x. “We are excited about the opportunity to add Velan and its talented team to the Flowserve family,” said Scott Rowe, Flowserve’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “With its strong positioning in the nuclear, cryogenic, industrial and defence markets and highly complementary product portfolio, the addition of Velan furthers our Diversification, Decarbonization and Digitization (3D) strategy. The transaction also meets our disciplined financial criteria, bringing meaningful aftermarket revenue and synergy opportunities.”

Velan’s Chairman of the Board and of its Special Committee, James Mannebach, commented, “This agreement is the culmination of an extensive and robust review of strategic options to maximize shareholder value and reflects the incredible efforts of our team members to serve customers with a focus on innovation – such as rapid prototyping –  and excellence. The transaction provides Velan shareholders an opportunity to realize an immediate and attractive premium for their shares and is recommended by the Board of Directors and Special Committee of Velan. We see a very bright future for Velan as part of Flowserve’s leading global flow control business, and we look forward to working closely with their team to quickly integrate and realize the significant benefits of this complementary combination.”

oil-rig-303787_1280

Indigenous Australians Seek to Block Santos Gas Project

, , , , 0

 

A group of Indigenous Australians has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop Santos Ltd from developing a $3.6 billion gas project off northern Australia, saying they were not consulted about the drilling. Tiwi Islanders from the Northern Territory’s Tiwi Islands are claiming they have not been adequately consulted about Santos’ Barossa gas project, the pipeline of which will run through Tiwi Sea country. Therefore, Senior Tiwi Traditional Owner, Dennis Tipakalippa, is taking the federal offshore oil and gas regulator National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to court to challenge its decision to approve Santos’ plan to drill the Barossa gas field, saying he and his people were never consulted about the drilling.

“It’s all about our future generations. That’s what I worry for. What are they going to have, who are they going to be? Our lives are not just lived on the land, but in the sea – this home that we have loved for thousands of generations,” Tipakalippa said. Both Santos and NOPSEMA declined to comment on the lawsuit. NOPSEMA referred to its approval of the project, which said “consultation has taken place with relevant persons as required”, including with community-based bodies such as the Tiwi Land Council and the Northern Land Council. The move by the traditional owners comes after a South Korean court last month dismissed their application to block Export-Import Bank of Korea and Korea Trade Insurance Corp from providing loans for the Barossa project’s pipeline.

The Barossa gas field is located 300 kilometres offshore Darwin in Australia. It is operated by Santos with South Korea’s SK E&S as a partner and is due to start producing gas in 2025. Santos sanctioned the $3.6 billion gas and condensate project in March 2021, also kick-starting the $600 million investment in the Darwin LNG life extension and pipeline tie-in projects to extend the facility life for around 20 years. The Barossa development concept includes an FPSO vessel developed using steel fabrication with a processing capacity for up to 800 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas and a design capacity of 11,000 barrels per day of stabilized condensate, a subsea production system, supporting in-field subsea infrastructure in the Barossa field, and a subsea gas export pipeline.

In the latest case, the traditional owners allege the drilling will threaten their culture, way of life and food sources, affecting the breeding patterns and nesting grounds of turtles, dugongs and whales. Santos was required by law to consult with people who might be impacted by the drilling plans and since the company failed to do that, the decision by NOPSEMA is invalid, the lawyers for the Traditional Owners said. Santos said in March that it undertakes consultation with all key stakeholders for all of its projects.

steel-576434_1280

Applications of Steel Fabrication in Mining Industry

, , , , 0

 

Due to their remote location and extreme conditions, mining projects require durable construction materials that can withstand the rigors of mining operations for many years. The remote location means very less access to replacements or repairs and mining infrastructure needs to be able to withstand searing heat, freezing nighttime temperatures, dust and sand storms and even hail and flooding. In this regard, steel fabrication is considered to be the prime raw material for the mining industry. So, what are the features and advantages of steel fabrication which makes it such a perfect fit for mining infrastructure? Let’s find out more in this blog.

Use of Iron Ore and Steel

Iron Ore and Steel

Iron ore is a rock that metallic iron is extracted from. In the modern world, we use iron ore in our everyday lives. Most of the iron ore is used to make steel, which is used in building an incredible variety of things. From trains, planes and automobiles to high-rise buildings and bridges, steel is used in the development of many, many products and industries. We use it to create everything from ships and pipe fabrication to machinery and tools, from building and construction to manufacturing cans of food and much, much more.

Steel is well known for its strength, but it is its malleable qualities that make it a preferred material of choice for most fabricators. Since steel is such a versatile material, it is ideal for applications that require heat induction bending as it can be bent or molded in many different ways without losing any of its durability. It is an essential material for the construction industry, automotive manufacturing, for the infrastructure required to generate and distribute energy and many other sectors ranging from household appliances to shipbuilding. It is a vital cog of the mining industry where the mining infrastructure itself is constructed using steel structural frameworks. It is also a critical part of the oil and gas industry, to know more click here.

Applications of Steel in Mining

Applications of Steel in Mining

Steel is the most common metal in the mining industry because of its benefits and properties, such as its low cost, strength, light weight, resistance to corrosion, durability, and sustainability. With computer-aided design technology, steel can be manufactured with greater efficiency and precision than ever before, which means that it is used for advanced pieces of equipment that contribute to mining, including:

Vehicles and Machinery: Including bulldozers, crushers, excavators, drill rigs, front end loaders, surface feeder-breakers, track loaders, trucks, graders and much more.

Tools: Steel is an essential material for manufacturing necessary tools like shovels, grinding equipment, demolition equipment and various handheld and machinery-installed devices.

Infrastructure: Including water tanks, pipes, vessels, boilers, screens, stairs, handrails, elevators, mine cages, conveyor belts and even basic workplace essentials like workbenches and doors.

Equipment: like high-strength plates, pumps, screens, filters, augers, blades, hammers, rippers and more.

Fabricated Steel Structures

Fabricated Steel Structures

Ensuring a safe work environment and preventing work-related injuries or worse is as vital as it is challenging when dealing with underground mining operations. To protect workers underground, structures made of fabricated steel are used. Underground mine workings must have strong, rigid, flexible supports that meet the required technical requirements and fabricated steel ticks all boxes.

Now, steel is used in every aspect of mining around the world. To even build the mines requires structural steel frameworks. Steel fabrication has been used to create a wide range of equipment for mining purposes.  In our modern age, this fabrication of steel is even more precise and efficient due to the use of computer-aided design technology.

Conclusion

The dependency of the mining industry on steel is patently obvious and hence, the availability of iron ore and steel to develop robust infrastructure based on steel fabrication is essential. Safety is a must-have requirement in mining and the qualities of steel help to meet this requirement in various mining global projects. Steel fabrication is also used in other industries like oil and gas, and this reinforces the fact that, in fabrication at least, steel is king!

industry-406905_1280

Role of Fabrication in Oil and Gas Industry

, , , , 0

 

Good quality infrastructure in the oil and gas industry is an absolute necessity for oil to be transported, transformed, processed etc. But how are all these complex machines developed and assembled for use by oil and gas professionals? The answer is “fabrication” where metal fabrication companies are involved in producing pipelines, hollow sections, platforms, beams, girders, custom-fitted metal elements, pressure vessels and heat exchangers. Metal and steel fabrication plays a crucial role in the oil and gas industry and this blog will look to outline its various applications and advantages in this regard.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of the oil and gas industry is complex. An oil rig or an oil platform is a large structure with facilities to drill wells, and extract and process oil and natural gas. There are different types of oil platforms such as fixed platforms, compliant towers, semi-submersible platform, jack-up drilling rigs, drill ships, floating production systems, tension-leg platforms, and gravity-based structures and spar platforms. All these structures are built on steel legs and steel jackets are commonly used structural steel sections while constructing oil platforms.

Equipment

Equipment

Almost all equipment used in the oil and gas industry are made of structural steel. All kinds of critical parts are manufactured by structural steel fabricators. Pipelines, pressure vessels, and oil and gas separators are some of the applications of structural steel in the oil and gas industry.

Pipelines: Structural steel fabricators produce pipelines based on the type of fluid they will carry.

Pressure Vessels: Pressure vessels are used to hold the fluid or natural gas collected at the oil rig. They are fabricated by steel fabricators for oil and gas companies.

Oil and Gas Separators: Oil and Gas separators are pressure vessels used for separating a well stream into gaseous and liquid components. A major part of it is fabricated by fabrication companies.

Advantages of Fabrication

Advantages of Fabrication

Fabrication, in particular modular fabrication and process skids, allows the oil and gas industry to meet its pipeline and equipment needs by quickly and efficiently delivering the products and services that the industry needs to continue functioning. Among other things modular fabrication techniques provide the following advantages:

Speed of Construction – Time spent waiting for new pipelines to be built and parts and equipment to be delivered is an extremely costly inconvenience to oil and gas companies. Fortunately, modular fabrication allows for a very rapid construction and fast delivery because the process has been finely tuned for maximum speed and efficiency.

Easy Delivery and Installation – Building the new equipment is only half the battle, the rest lies in actually delivering it and getting it setup. Modular fabrication allows pieces to be shipped and stored conveniently, and then installed with a minimum of inconvenience at its final worksite.

High Safety and Quality Standards – Modular fabrication can be done to the highest level of safety and quality standards because the equipment and parts can be tested prior to delivery. This allows any defects to be identified and corrected before the oil or gas company is ever faced with downtimes or safety hazards from faulty equipment.

Closing Thoughts

The myriad applications and benefits of fabrication have been instrumental in supporting the mammoth oil and gas industry. While there is also a cost associated with maintaining heavy machinery and instrumentation, the smooth operations of various aspects of oil mining and production is essential to generating revenues and meeting industry requirements. Fabrication also has uses in other industries like mining, logging etc. – in essence, fabrication is the definition of multi-faceted!

© K999 Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. 2023