"steel"

The ancient printing house of “De Vooruit” in the Center of Ghent, was completely stripped to only the ancient concrete supporting structure. From there the renovation to an ultramodern student home was to be made with steel, providing safe stairways, safe and easy to walk on platforms, as well as outside sitting areas for the students. This was all to be made in aesthetical harmony with other products, such as COR-TEN steel that was used in the project. This to create a modern look, aspiring to the students.The project criteriaPcP had to meet the criteria for a sustainable, durable product which was safe and comfortable to walk on. At the same time, the product needed to blend in well with the COR-TEN steel being used for other parts of the project, providing a modern look that would appeal to students. Another challenge was installing the new steel structure onto the existing concrete supporting structure of the original building.The solutionLannoo Konstruktie chose the OPTIMO® O2, Spiral treads – Type K and panels, as these high-quality products met all the stated requirements for the new student accommodation building. In addition, it was a bonus that the OPTIMO® O2 perforation is easy to walk on in all types of shoes, and is even suitable for outdoor furniture, such as tables and lounge chairs.“The strength-to-weight ratio of the PcP solution is very favourable. This was very helpful for us, as we had to mount the new steel structure onto the old concrete supporting beams. It was important to have a light but very strong panel and steps. PcP was ideal for this purpose.”– Christophe Lannoo, CEO, Lannoo KonstruktieThe resultThe ancient printing house of ‘Dagblad Vooruit’ in the centre of Ghent was completely stripped back to its concrete supporting structure. The structure was then developed to create ultramodern student accommodation using steel with safe stairways, safe and comfortable platforms as well as exterior seating areas for students. This work all harmonised aesthetically with the other building materials, such as the COR-TEN steel used in the project. The aim was to create a modern and inspiring student residence.Architectural steel platform and spiral stair treadsThe project lasted a total of five months from first production to final installation of the panels and steps. In total, 150 spiral K treads were used for three spiral stairs on the three-storey building. More than 100 OPTIMO® O2 treads were installed, together with almost 300 square metres of OPTIMO® O2 panels, both standard and customised. For Lannoo Konstruktie, it was a very attractive project to be engaged in, and likewise for PcP, which is used to projects which are more industrial in nature.

A stylish redevelopment of a courtyard at Stratford University. The project needed products that matched the aesthetic of the Stratford Cultural Quarter landscape. Artform were chosen as the preferred supplier on a range of architectural street furniture. The Parc Vue range of case style furniture was specified. The package included the Parc Vue Tables and Chairs by Landscape Forms along with a selection of sleek stainless steel bins and bollards, and elegant timber and steel benches.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol began an extensive expansion project, safety was top of mind as always. Portuguese coating application company Nanosteel was looking for a coating that offered reliable PFP (passive fire protection), was fast to apply and could be used for all 6,000 tons of structural steel – regardless of the steel’s profile or the corrosion environment in which it would stand. Our solution was Hempafire Pro 315 Fast Dry.

The challenge was to construct a roof top extension on top of the luxury hotel NOBU in Shoreditch. The plan was to add an additional 1 storey of hotel rooms, suites, dining areas and open terraces that would replace the existing planted roof. The chosen solution was Tarmac Toplight C lightweight structural concrete in a pump mix with the addition of steel fibres, ensuring maximum weight loss of 35% with no compromise on structural concrete performance.By adding steel fibres into the lightweight mix the composite metal deck system could be installed without the need for traditional expensive and slow steel reinforcement across the deck. The use of lightweight concrete, furthermore, reduced the load by 35% which meant the existing structure did not need to be reinforced or under pinned. The construction programme time was also reduced considerably.

The landscape at Blenheim Palace has undergone a transformation to include a large state of the art adventure playground for visiting children. ASA Landscape Architects led the project, overseeing the preparation and install. Playground specialists CAP.Co provided the apparatus while we were asked to fabricate the CorTen steel retaining walls and landscape edging. Within the design are various winding, sloping pathways and we were tasked with providing long lasting and durable edges of varying heights. EverEdge Titan heavy duty steel edging was specified for use on the pathways alongside EverEdge Custom 3.0mm thick CorTen steel retaining walls supported by buttresses bolted into a concrete base. The fabrication was especially tricky on this job as the retaining walls required curves, a taper and a 30mm wide flat top edge.We worked closely with Radcot Groundworks to ensure the product met with a demanding set of specifications and, once installed, the steel walls have become a beautiful feature in the design of the play area.The finished product is long lasting, hard wearing and maintenance free making it ideally suited to the site and the CorTen finish sits attractively within the landscape. 

SubFloor raised steel flooring was used to renovate, raise and level a 285 m² listed museum floor into a modern meeting space in Ellesmere Port, Liverpool.This simple and elegant solution raised an uneven stone floor up to 300 mm to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height. Steel joists were used to meet moisture requirements in the port area and underfloor heating plates were assembled on top.Products:Steel Joist 45x30x3800 mmSubFloor Screw 300 mmScrew FootInsulation Bearer 120 mmInsulation Bearer 95 mmHeight Variation: 50 - 303 mmSystem Weight - c/c 400 mm: 2.88 kg/m²Materials:Steel SUB250 GD, Z100 GalvFibre-reinforced VitamidePolyamidePoint Load 50 x 50 mm: 5.78 kN6.78 kN/m² - Between screws10.54 kN/m² - Over screw at joist edge[According to SS-EN 1195:1998] 

This major redevelopment of Charlton Park Academy school involved replacing temporary mobile classrooms and a single storey building with a two-storey steel framed brick building to better meet the needs of students, teachers and carers. A structural flooring solution was required for use over precast planks, covering 800m2 on the ground and upper floor at a depth of 75mm to 120mm. Space and access would be challenging, due to the small footprint of the site, proximity to the existing school building and access from a busy main road. Given the large floor area, a traditional sand cement screed would have been very time consuming to place. Tarmac’s TOPFLOW SF a self compacting steel fibre reinforced concrete was chosen as the solution. Its flowing nature would allow it to be quickly pumped into place and adapt to the variable thickness criteria. TOPFLOW SF is designed to act as a structural topping with both, steel mesh & fibre reinforcement. The steel fibres added to the TOPFLOW SF gave its robustness and flexural strength as it was being placed over a precast plank system that could flex with loadings. They also reduced the risk of cracking. By replacing steel mesh reinforcement, it helped avoid problems with access, storage and handling and kept the site open for parallel trades. Using TOPFLOW SF rather than a sand cement screed or reinforced concrete, improved productivity and saved time. This saved 13 days or just over 2.5 weeks on the programme. 

Curved steel and timber benches make a welcoming environment at a community sensory garden.

Canal were approached to manufacture and install an exclusive feature staircase for a private residence in Fulham. The staircase structure was installed from the basement to the ground floor and then leading upto the first floor and master bedroom. The staircase was manufactured in mild steel, featured oak box treads with a laminated glass balustrade and stainless steel handrail. The team added a high build deep black finish to each of the treads to blend with the contemporary and elegant staircase design.

Raiz cocktail bar is a trendy nightspot in the centre of Ponta Delgada, the bustling capital of the Azores. A busy venue, popular with locals and tourists alike, Raiz bar is a modern, industrial design, featuring exposed steel beams and glass walls with steel staircases connecting two floors. It was important to the owner, Gabriel, that as a main feature of the building design, the steelwork was not only protected against corrosion and fire, but also looked good, to enhance the ambience of the bar.One night, soon after closing, a fire took hold. The fire raged through Raiz bar destroying many fixtures and fittings and causing a substantial amount of damage. Initially it was thought the cause was from an electrical short-circuit, but having been ruled out it is now being investigated as a deliberate, criminal act. The fire burned for three hours before being brought under control and finally extinguished by the fire crews. Being outside of opening hours, the building was empty and fortunately no one was hurt.As the damage was assessed, it became apparent that the steel structure remained intact. Gabriel’s choice of Hempel’s intumescent coatings not only protected the steel against the heat and flames, but allowed additional time for the Fire Department to bring the fire under control.

The museum was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly whose design was picked from more than 100 entries worldwide in a competition to design the building. As this building was new and not built upon more historical foundations, they could be totally innovative and creative with their washroom design. They wanted a colourful, artistic and dynamic feel for their washrooms. They chose all their products in stainless steel which matched the blue backgrounds of their washrooms beautifully with flashes of bright stainless steel against a sky blue background.

Stainless steel litter and recycling bins help the University of Leeds maintain high standards on campus.

In 2012 the town of Walsall underwent a major regeneration. The Waterfront North site was developed and was based on 2.2 acres of brownfield land, where more than 300 homes and apartments, as well as a Premier Inn hotel were to be constructed. RCM were appointed by Whitbread to provide Y-wall, an advanced flexible calcium, silicate based fibre cement building board, for the construction of the Premier Inn. This was to be used as an external sheathing board, covering the structural steel frame, infilled with SFS steel.

We were delighted to complete this project for Worthing district council in Sussex, in the summer of 2023. Showcasing our Spiel Bau range of equipment, we installed a beautiful stainless steel multiplay structure, and stainless steel aerial runway. Fun colour combine with excellent play features, with the Mikado tower’s nets, slides, climbing walls and bridges giving children hours of endless fun. We surfaced the area with black with blue fleck wet pour rubber flooring. 

THE PROJECTThe Highbury Square project features multiple banks of freestanding Steel 2 mailboxes finished in a classic Window Grey (RAL 7040) colour. The mailboxes used in the project feature jet black vinyl numbering, and the banks are securely fixed to the floor of the location with the use of a pair of supporting legs.Project Type: Private AccommodationProduct: Steel 2 MailboxInstallation: FreestandingAccessories: Vinyl Writing. Supporting stands.Colour Finish: Window Grey (RAL 7040)

We supplied our ASF 650 trough for this project in the centre of Leeds. The bollards were the standard product with no additional engineering for specific loading, but utilised our lid system which itself withstands over 8000kg spread load. The standard ASF 650 trough bollard is a steel trough with a reinforced durbar lid, finished galvanised, and hosting a 1000mm high, 101mm diameter stainless steel bollard.These bollards were used in a tunnelled area and had additional black reflective band.

Just over 4000 meters of our WeatherFAST Fatra Coated Steel was specified on the Hamad International Airport in Doha

Modern stainless steel railings created by Broxap help to showcase the beautifully landscaped surroundings of Bicester business park.

Bok Tower is a transitional steel frame construction built between 1927 and 1929 and houses a 60-bell carillon (set oftuned bells). The tower is 205 feet tall, has eleven floors with the belltowerfrom levels 8 through 11. The Gothic revival architecture has three forms of masonry that adorn the exterior: coquina brick, intricate marble detailing and sculptures clad the steel columns and decorative tile panels. It was facing structural corrosion which C-Probe Systems effectively managed using an ICCP system.

Investment in the infrastructure at Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke has included the refurbishment and extension of the 3,000 space car park. Lang+Fulton worked with Bell Associates to design a new façade using their STEREO-KINETIC® Wall cladding. The gradation of the stainless steel tiles was designed to allow for ventilation whilst transforming the appearance of the original car park and linking it to the new extension with one seamless frontage. The panels were mounted on to an independent steel frame which was bolted back to new structural steelwork.

Parc Central shopping centre in Tarragona, Spain, has been one of the leading shopping centres in the Tarragona province. In 2013 the second floor was fully refurbished. For the interior, the architects chose Easy Glass MOD 0760 balustrade and a combination of stainless steel and wooden handrails. On the roof terrace 100 metres Easy Glass Slim were installed, with a stainless steel cap rail to create a stylish finish. The full glass balustrade ensures the safety of people sitting outside while they enjoy a clear view of the surroundings.

Furnitubes designed and manufactured a number of AKRI retaining steel wall planters with ped and tray system for rooftop scheme in in Bexleyheath, south London. AKRI’s unique ped and tray system allows the planters to be left freestanding, sitting on a layer of waterproof membrane. Decking and pergolas were installed and benches were later retro-fitted to the planters to seamlessly integrate seating, manufactured in all steel to accommodate the required A fire rating, creating stunning landscaped roof tops across both buildings in the heart of a bustling city.

The Housing Trust’s first encounter with Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roof Systems was during a refurbishment project at Pendle House, Denton. A home for the elderly, the building needed a new roof but couldn’t accommodate traditional products due to large spans between the trusses and the need for reduced weight on the supporting structure. Metrotile was chosen due to the lightweight and eight-pan profile design. It was after this project that the many benefits of Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing became apparent to New Charter Housing Trust and more projects swiftly followed

Areas around Torbay have recently been provided with outdoor sanitiser stations in the hope to encourage hand hygiene for shoppers in the high streets. Dart Valley, the southern division of Franke Water Systems UK, are specialists in hygienic solutions and adapted one of their current stainless steel hand sanitising stations to provide a bespoke solution for areas around Torbay. The technical team at were proud to be part of a local project and spent a significant amount of time designing the bespoke sanitisers to ensure all requirements were met. The finished product was a touch-free, automatic free-standing sanitiser station, manufactured from 2mm grade 316 stainless steel, which is weatherproof and an ideal solution for an outdoor product. 316 stainless steel contains an addition of molybdenum that gives it improved corrosion resistance, a key design factor for an outdoor product in a seaside town. Stainless steel is robust and vandal resistant, meaning it can withstand such heavy use and help prevent any potential damage. The robust body of the sanitiser station also features a maintenance hatch with high-security tamper-resistant screws, so that the stations can be regularly refilled. The touchless dispensers exceed the design of those seen in most supermarkets and stores, which can often be found grubby with overspilling. Such design considerations as touch-free and using easy to maintain materials should be at the forefront of any hygienic product, particularly in busy areas.

Buckingham Primary School, Hull, are determined to provide their pupils with an inspiring, broad curriculum against a backdrop of contemporary, stimulating, and practical facilities. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, carried out a recent revamp of their school washrooms using specified KWC DVS products. The full list of products provided are as follows: • 1 x SOLX1200T - 2 Person Miranit Washtrough, 1200mm Long Complete With 2 Tapholes & Centre Waste • 2 x F3SV1001 - Self Closing Pillar Taps • 4 x CHRX699 - Stainless Steel Mini Jumbo Toilet Roll HolderOur Miranit range is hard-wearing, and stylish. The Jumbo toilet roll holder is made from stainless steel providing a hygienic and easy to clean solution. Its smooth, surface-stain finish, and non-porous surface means that dirt and bacteria struggle to establish themselves on its exterior. When they do, they can very easily be wiped away. The easy maintenance makes stainless steel an excellent choice in environments such as these where strong hygiene practice is essential. Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented, “We work with KWC DVS on a recurrent basis and can always rely on them to provide us with quality products. A trusted partner, we’ve worked on various projects together. Their Miranit composite range and stainless-steel products were perfect for the youthful but practical washroom refurbishment the school was after.”

The construction of Lidl's largest Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) in both Great Britain and globally has brought 125,000m2 of class B8 storage to the new 58 acre facility - located just outside London on the M1. A new distribution hub servicing more than 150 Lidl stores in London and the surrounding counties, this RDC is the first to feature automation, bringing over 1,200 jobs to the Luton and Dunstable area. ChallengeFull envelope construction provider FK Construction were contracted to construct the building envelope, cladding the building with Kingspan KS1000MR composite wall panels, fixed back to ultra heavy steel. SolutionBeing a secret fix panel, the fasteners needed to fasten through 100mm of insulated panel to fix back securely to the framing. Fixfast supplied in the region of 500,000 DF25-SSA4-HT fasteners for the construction of the external walls and internal coldstore applications, being able to self--drill through steel up to 25mm thick. Hex headed, available with washers for roof, rooflight or wall applications - and in A4/316 grade stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance: these fasteners are the solution for fixing into ultra heavy steel.(images courtesy of FK Group)"FK have forged a close working relationship with Fixfast over many years and in partnership successfully delivered a number of high-profile schemes"Alistair Bolton - Construction Procurement Director at FK Group

The ChallengeWith the architects hoping to realise their vision of space and light on the ground floor, but the fire officer demanding fire safety partitioning around the base of the lift shafts, Pyroguard tendered a stylish, high-performance solution – a lobby encased in glass and steel, capable of delivering best-in-class performance credentials and aesthetic appeal in abundance.Working closely with steel frame and glazing specialist Pacific Fire Control, Pyroguard designed a modern glass wall, with a glazed door and stylish, thin steel frames which were independently fire tested by Efectis France.The scheme amendment was accepted by both the architects and the fire officers, declaring Pyroguard as their manufacturer of choice for this flagship leisure development.The SolutionA subsidiary of India’s largest business conglomerate, the Tata Group, the Indian Hotels Company is known for its relentlessly high standards, which are visible across its portfolio of hotels.Meeting this quality benchmark head-on, Pyroguard supplied 390 square metres of ultra-thin lightweight Pyroguard Firesafe, which offers protection from flames, smoke and radiant heat for between 30 and 120 minutes.This EW-classified product is UV stable and offers exceptional light transmission, making it the perfect solution for encasing the lift lobby. The toughened glass was installed in fire-resistant steel screens and door frames around the lobby.

Finish: Interpon D2525 Steel Bronze 1 Y2206F Parts Coated: Windows, Railings, Cladding Panels Architect: PRP

Hunter Douglas Architectural supplied the steel interior ceiling and aluminum exterior ceiling for the new conference center (BMCC) in Bruges

Finish: Interpon D2525 Anodic Y2206F Steel Bronze 1 Architect: Nicholas Hare Fabricator: Britplas Applicator: Vertik-Al

The Queensferry Crossing is a stunning piece of modern engineering. Spanning the busy Forth Estuary near Edinburgh on the east coast of Scotland, it has a total length of 2.7 kilometres, making it the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. The crossing’s road deck is made with over 35,000 tonnes of steel, that was manufactured in China and the UK and transported to Scotland by sea. With our coatings protecting four of the world’s ten largest cable-stayed bridges – the steel manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) knew our coatings were ideal for the job.

Canal were approached to manufacture a bespoke, straight staircase for a residential property in Kent. The architect wanted to allow as much light in as possible to permeate throughout the property which meant incorporating extensive amounts of glass into the design. The specification required a contemporary steel staircase structure with glass balustrades and treads. The structure and handrails were manufactured in stainless steel and a satin polish finish was applied to provide a brushed appearance. Pig nose fixings were applied to the glass and stringer, which married up the initial welded fixings to hold the glass panels in place.

Mace Group purchased the units directly and free-issued them to the steel frame contractor, VBH JV (a joint venture ofHollandia and Victor Buyck). Some of the units were 7m x 1.5m wide which Ambar Kelly designed to incorporate horizontal fire protection and drylined fire walls as part of the RiserSafe® system. This allowed for a group of shafts, or openings, to be combined into one unit, which reduced the number of trimmer steels and concrete beams required for walls, thereby reducing crane lifts and construction time. (Courtesy of James Reid Photography.

Dublin airport’s new Terminal 2 has been described as 'a first-class mix of form and function’ – a contemporary, high-spec building designed for efficiency. Having the perfect balance of form and function in mind, stylish stainless steel fittings complemented the sleek modern lines of the washroom and offered features essential to a smooth, efficient washroom experience. 'No touch' stainless steel taps and hand dryers, combined with panel mounted soap dispensers (with easy to access 5 litre refillable soap bottle), helped create a washroom that looks good and that is quick and easy to use.

The Silo is part of the transformation of Copenhagen’s North Harbour, a vast post-industrial development that is creating a new city district. Designed by COBE with clients Klaus Kastbjerg and NRE Denmark, this former grain storage facility, the largest industrial building in the area, has been reinvented, housing residential apartments and public functions. Regarded as a landmark project across Europe, The Silo shows that galvanized steel facades can be lightweight, functional and aesthetically on point. COBE chose galvanized steel as their preferred material for its honest and lively qualities, which reflect the industrial heritage of the building.

The latest architectural wonder to rise from the banks of the Thames is Switch House, the highly anticipated extension to Tate Modern, which opened in June 2016. Ancon’s contribution to this landmark project was the fabrication of 12,000 special stainless steel corbels and over 600,000 stainless steel pins which now support and restrain the stunning brick façade, helping to turn this unusual design concept into a reality. With construction now complete, Ancon’s critical structural components are completely hidden from view, leaving onlookers to simply marvel at the overall effect and the ingenuity at work.