Solar-Powered Water Wheel in Baltimore cleans 50,000 Pounds of Trash per Day

source: http://www.nbcnews.com

If you go to Baltimore this summer,you might see a strange looking machine strolling slowly in the Harbor. This machine is called the Inner Harbor Water Wheel and its main task is to clean up the trash that gets thrown into the water.Powered by 30 solar panels and the water current, the wheel is able to remove approximately 50,000 pounds of trash per day. It’s estimated that the wheel will stay in use for at least 15 years and by 2020 the harbor will become clean enough to be used for recreational purposes.

Baltimore solar powered wheel – source: healthyharborbaltimore.org

The wheel was invented by John Kellett and it works as follow: two orange booms help funnel debris towards the Wheel, where  trash is intercepted and pushed it onto a moving conveyer belt which empties out into a 16 yard dumpster, located on top of a floating dock. Once the dumpster is full, the dock is detached, hooked up to a boat, and then taken to a RESCO waste-to-energy plant, where the trash is incinerated and turned into electrical energy. The incredible machine has also a secondary use which is to put more oxygen into the water through the rotation of the waterwheel. It helps to attract more fish and improve habitat conditions and water quality. . As a project of the Healthy Harbor Living Laboratory, the Water Wheel also serves to educate people about storm-water management and the Inner Harbor.

source: blog.savatree.com

source: nbcnews.com

The important element about the wheel is the material used. In fact Galvanizing was chosen as a coating because of its sustainability and its reaction to a constant contact with water. Galvanized steel has a very high resistance to humidity but also doeasn’t require costly maintenance over the next 15 years.  Another factor was keeping down maintenance costs to a project that already cost over $800,000 to put together.

source: inhabitat.com, galvanizeit.org

Shanghai Metal Corporation understand the importance of a green environment and is a manufacturer of Galvanized steel and many other products used for sustainable projects all over the world. For more information, you can visit the company’s website or contact us for any inquiry.

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Houria // SMC Editor

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Distribution Poles: From Wood to Hot Dip Galvanized Steel

With the increasing demand of eco-friendly ans sustainable products from both the public and private sector, the main sector to improve is the energy sector itself.
Distribution pole are the main vectors of electricity and have become over the century a common view of our roads and fields. 

wood distribution pole

Steel poles are becoming increasingly popular among utility companies for building  distribution lines or for replacing the traditional wood poles. Many reasons push these companies to use steel ans invest in the new distribution poles. In this article we will try to summarize the benefit of hot dip galvanized steel mainly reported from linemen who have worked with both wood and steel

distribution pole – source: wikipedia.org

Wood pole VS Steel pole

Lighter: 

For similar strengh, a steel pole is 30 to 60% lighter than a wood pole. This makes them easier to lift, load, install and  handle in general.

Cheaper: Thanks to continuous improvement of quality and manufacturing process of steel poles the cost of steel poles come down to a point where they became competitive with wood. 

Flexible:  

Unlike wood poles which can only have a certain maximum size determined by the size of the tree taken from,  the size of wood poles can be determined freely according to the need. Steel poles can be made to handle virtually any load and in any length and can also be made as single piece poles or in sections if that would help handling them in the field.

More Sustainable: 

Galvanized steel poles were a response deforestation issues steel is one of the most recyclable materials around so there is never any environmental concern over disposing steel. an old pole will be recycled to make a multitude of other products. Also , the protective system that is required to cover steel poles is made of zinc which is also an environmentally friendly material and virtually 100 percent recyclable. In addition. The coating systems have been improved so much over the years that it has reduced  the maintenance needed and improved their life expectancy of the poles.

Safer:  

The steel structures do not require a full-length copper grounding wire. They are already self conducting for grounding purposes. As a result, no installation of a ground wire is required.

lineman on distribution pole source: wikipedia.org

source: steel.org,  smdisteel.org

Shanghai Metal Corporation manufactures hot dip galvanized steel products because it believes in its potential and encourages its use for a more sustainable industry and a clean environment.
For more information, you can visit the company’s website or contact us for any inquiry.

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Houria // SMC Editor

Milan’s “Made in Steel”

There is a very interesting event going on in Milan these days. In parallel to the 2015 International Exposition, Milan is hosting the Made in Steel exhibition. If you are involved in the steel business it is a great opportunity to promote your products and learn on the latest news about steel and its industry.

According to the website of the fair, Made in Steel is both an industry and international event organized for the first time in 2005. It is a series of conferences and exhibitions all about steel. Here is how the official website of the event describes the fair’s aim and mise en scène.

A combination that expresses the two souls that co-exist within this event, which consists of a perfect balance between business and information, relationships and knowledge. (from madeinsteel.it)

From lamilanocheconviene.it

If you are in Milan or close by and you do not want to miss the chance to find out more about steel, its industry and market, you still have today and tomorrow  to attend Made in Steel. Don’t miss the opportunity!

From siderweb.com

This is the location of the fair.

Remember! Shanghai Metal Corporation provides you with a great selection of steel products. For instance, we offer good quality Coils & Strips, Sheets & Plates, Pipes & Tubes, Bars, at a competitive price. Visit our website and do not hesitate to contact us.

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Stefano// SMC Editor

Renzo Piano’s Whitney Museum

Today Shanghai Metal Corporation brings you to the Big Apple where Italian architect Renzo Piano has recently announced the completion of the project that will host the new Whitney Museum of American Art. The building is “an asymmetric steel and concrete assembly in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District” (dezeen.com). As reported by the Telegraph: in the latest years, the area has undergone considerable transformation: it “has been cleaned up, if not wholly sanitized.” (telegraph.co.uk). The new building designed by Piano ,in collaboration with New York practice Copper Robertson, fits perfectly this renewal plan. Indeed, the district, “formerly a deserted industrial area, is now the place of fashion and art, of technological start-ups and of the trendiest meeting places.” (living.corriere.it)

from living.corriere.it

Talking about the structure of the museum located along the Hudson River, the Whitney features indoor and outdoor galleries – 50,000+ square feet of indoor galleries + 13,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition space on a series of rooftops (from nycedc.com). Moreover, “most impressive is the fifth floor’s showstopping 18,000-square-foot space, the largest column-free museum gallery in New York City”(from architecturaldigest.com). Finally, from the glass-doors and the numerous terraces, visitors can enjoy an amazing view of New York and the river.

As Piano said “a successful building always tells a story. You have to be able to produce rich narrative. An architect needs a good story to start with…and a good pen to write it” (form living.corriere.it) And at Shanghai Metal Corporation we really like this story!

from dezeen.com

from dezeen.com

from dezeen.com

from dezeen.com

from dezeen.com

Do not  forget that Shanghai Metal Corporation provides you with a great selection metals such as steel which can be use for various applications. Check out our stainless steel products. We guarantee high quality and competitive prices.Feel free to contact us for further information. We have English-speaking staff who will be more than glad to help you.

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Stefano // SMC Editor

How Will Washing Machines Look Like in Future?

We can’t imagine our lives without smart phones, internet, TV, cars, but what about washing machines? Would you be able to carry the water outside the house, soak, beat, scrub, rinse the clothes few times a week? According to a 1886 calculation women had to fetch water at least 8 times every day from a pump, well or spring.

The history of washing clothes and washing machines

A washing machine – 1930

To reduce a manual labor spent on washing clothes, washing machine’s technology was invented and developed. The first washing machines were hand-operated and constructed from wood, but later generations of washing machines were made of metals that allowed to set a fire below the washtub and keep the water warm during the day. (source)

The first evidence of ancient washing soaps was found at Sapo Hill in Rome when the ashes containing the fat of sacrificial animals was used as a soap.

The future of washing clothes and washing machines

One thing is sure – we won’t wash our clothes manually!

Swirl Electricity-Free Washing Machine 

This concept of clothes washer was meant to be used in those areas where there is a bad access to the electricity and water. The washing tub has a handle that allows it to be wheeled to the source of the water. After that the “ball” becomes a thing for playing – the motion scrubs the clothes. It can be also used for transporting water for the whole family.

 

The Wall-Hanging Washer

The Shine concept from the Electrolux Design Team in Italy considers the fact that by year 2050 everybody will leave in urban environment and the living space will be limited. They created a tiny washing machine that can be hanging on the wall or integrated beneath a bathroom counter top. Lights are counting down the remaining time and giving an amazing lightning into a room.

The Re-cycle Laundry Center

Designers Fernanda Villanueva and Arturo Ariño got inspired in not only an appearance of the recycle symbol but also in words “reuse, reduce, recycle”.  The concept has three separated pods, the first one is a washing machine, a dryer and the third one is a water tank/filtration unit. (Find more designs of future washing machines here. )

Shanghai Metal Corporation offers customers hot dip galvanized steel coil, hot dip galvanized steel strip, electrogalvanized steel coil and sheet that are used in manufacturing washing machines. For more information please visit our website or send us inquiry. English speaking staff will help you to find the most suitable product for you. Download an application by scanning QR code below or follow us also on Social Media.

    

Silvia M.//SMC Editor

read more articles written by this author here.

Credits: wikipedia.org, inventors.about.com, weburbanist.com, johnlewis.com,designtoimprovelife.dk, googleimages

Can a reflection from glass-steel skyscraper melt things?

The owner of a luxury car Jaguar XJ parked his sweetheart across the street from the curvy 37 story glass-and-steel skyscraper designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly in London  before an afternoon business meeting. Only two hours later, this car was giving off smells of melting and displaying clear signs of damage. The developers of the building who nicknamed it as “Walkie Talkie” for its distinctive shape, agreed to pay for the damages.

So how could skyscraper melt the car? 

“Fundamentally it’s reflection,” Chris Shepherd of the Institute of Physics told the BBC “If a building creates enough of a curve with a series of flat windows, which act like mirrors, the reflections all converge at one point, focusing and concentrating the light.” The curves of “Walkie Talkie” skyscraper acted like a magnifying glass to concentrate the light on only one spot, the exact spot where Jaguar XJ was parked.

“That spot”

A burn mark on the carpet from sunlight reflected off the “Walkie Talkie” Tower

According to Kheir Al-Kodmany, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Walkie Talkie’s designers forgot about the fact that southern-facing building would generate a lot of heat. If it had been a northern-facing building, it would have been an issues. Luckily London isn’t a very sunny city.

“As we get more shiny, glassy metal buildings, reflected light will become a bigger deal,” John Frederick, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Chicago says. “The high reflection is good if you’re inside trying to keep intense sunlight out, but if you’re outside, you’ll be the recipient of that reflected light.” Well, sometimes it is just better to walk, leave your car safely parked at home and protect the environment.

Shanghai Metal Corporation offers high-quality steel products, stainless steel, galvanized steel, steel and other metal products widely used in architecture, automotive industry etc. For more information don’t hesitate to visit our website or send us inquiry. English speaking staff will guide you further. Download a new application by scanning QR code below or follow us on Social Media.

 

    

Silvia M.//SMC Editor

Read more articles written by this author here.

Sources : theverge.com, popsci.com, nydailynews.com, googleimages

What you didn’t know about air-conditioning

I am not a big fan of air-conditioning but in some parts of the world you just can’t survive without it. There is no doubt that the invention of air-conditioning is considered to be one of the most important achievements in the twentieth century and has hugely impacted the world. Despite the fact, that the air-conditioning is just here, quietly humming, you probably don’t know much about it.

Basic facts about air-conditioning

Willis Carrier

The first modern air conditioner was Willis Carrier in 1902 for a publishing company in Brooklyn. Temperature and humidity were kept low so paper didn’t contract or expand. The air conditioner wasn’t intended to be used for comfort.

Each air conditioner has four basic components : pump, evaporator, condenser, and expansion valve. Most of air conditioners start out as a raw material in the form of steel shapes and steel sheets. When the sheet metal is processed into fabrication, it is cut, punched, formed, drilled or bent into am useful shape or form. It is made of galvanized sheet metal that uses a zinc coating providing a protection against corrosion.

Air conditioner

Interesting facts about air-conditioning

• the first public places having air conditioners were movie theaters. During hot summer days, these theaters were the coolest places in town so you can probably imagine those crowds. Studios started to release their best productions in the summer and that’s how modern summer blockbuster  was born.
• each year United States uses the same amount energy for powering the air conditioners as Africa uses to power the entire continent.
• the introduction of air-conditioning actually lowered the natural human tolerance for heat.
• the first building using the air-conditioning was The New York Stock Exchange Building in NYC in 1903 designing and building houses was changed after air conditioner was introduced. Brick structures with high ceilings, porches, breezeways that provided shade for cooling occupants are gone.

Shanghai Metal Corporation uses air conditioning for cooling employees and at the same time sells galvanized steel, steel sheets and other high-quality metal products. For more information visit our website or send us inquiry and our English speaking staff will help you to choose the best product for you. Download a new application by scanning QR code below.

    

Silvia M.//SMC Editor

Read articles written by this author here.

Original pictures and websites : madehow.com, divinecaroline.com, timothyoffheating.com, googleimages

Architectural Triumphs With Galvanized Steel

Corrugated and sheet metals such as galvanized steel have come a long way in the architectural and construction communities from when they were simply a strong and effective material used as roofing. It has come to the point now where they can be the feature of a home or building and used both inside and out.

This idea of galvanized steel as a universal building material is shown below where the house features has used it for both a roofing material and as exterior wall cladding. This industrial appearing material, when combined with the natural aesthetic of wood creates a juxtaposition between man and nature, especially given the lush backdrop of rural Australia.

From an interior perspective there is an increasing trend to use both corrugated, flat and shaped galvanized steel for both ceilings and walls. The remarkable example below featured in the master bedroom of  a modern home show how the metallic surface of galvanized steel can add a touch of modernity to a design, with the corrugated sheeting offering a texture rarely seen in the interior of a home.

The versatility of this material is undeniable, with designers stretching their imagination to previously-thought impossible lengths. As is witnessed in the examples below; the ability to bend, shape, curve and erect this material at extreme pitches can lead to some outstanding design possibilities. The home on the left features a nearly 100% external composition of pre-painted corrugated galvanized steel proving the residents with high bush-fire protection, energy efficiency as well as a remarkable aesthetic!

In contrast to these curves seen above the design featured below presents an opposing dynamic of this material. With its sheer pitched sides, long straight lengths and intense angles it is hard not to appreciate the capabilities this material offers to architects and the remarkable results that are left for the eye to enjoy.

Shanghai Metal Corporation is a world leader in innovative metal manufacture and will strive to meet all of your building and design specifications. To find out more, please visit our Website or send your inquiry here. Our English speaking personnel will be more than pleased to help you. Follow us on  LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Or you could try our new mobile app by scanning our QR code.

Sources: Ral Homes, Colorbond, ArchiExpo & Freshome

Dominick F.//SMC Editor

Read more articles by this author here.

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Cover Your Games in Galvalume

People who were fanatic gamers in the 90’s (and hopefully still are) for no doubt enjoy watching videos of the Angry Video Game Nerd James Rolfe. One of the most interesting videos might be the one where he tells about the outrageous setting of playing Mortal Kombat, a combat game with lots of blood,  in a gaming arcade next to children’s skating rink (watch it here). Locating arcade games has been getting more ethical than that, but the material of arcade game containers still are very much as they were back in the days.

Despite its importance, the manufacturing of game machines has not gained a lot of popularity in the game industry. Not many people know that the exterior part of game machines is made out of galvanized steel. Galvanized steel is a perfect material for game or even vending machines, because of its large number of benefits.

More precisely the material is painted galvanized steel coil that machine manufacturers usually buy from the Asia Pacific region. Before China used to be the only major producer of steel in Asia but now other countries are also emerging. Still, China’s superior advantage is the ability to offer the customers’ required products with the required speed and capacity. China is also a mature and experienced steel producers which guarantees the high quality of Chinese steel.

Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the best Chinese steel product providers that has a long experience in serving international clients. For example game machine manufacturers buy prepainted galvanized steel coil from us. Just visit our webpage and send us an inquiry and our people will help you in English. Please also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Tuomas P. // SMC Editor

Pictures and original articles: CG Terminal, Game-Machine.net, The Nerd Machine

Read also our other articles about galvanized steel

For Our French Readers: Métal léger, décoratif, et respectueux de l’environnement

Pourquoi faire lourd quand vous pouvez faire la leger?

Pourquoi faire polluant quand on peut faire ecologique?

Pourquoi faire ennuyeux quand on peut faire original?

Le métal est partout. Si je vous dis qu’il est un moyen facile d’utiliser de métal de la même manière qu’il est utilisé nos meubles de tout les jours, mais économiser jusqu’à 70% de la quantité de metal utilisée, qu en penseriez vous?

Il n’ya pas de tour, ce dont je vous parle est tout simplement d’utiliser de l acier perfore et pas plein.

Que pouvez y gagner? Eh bien, tout d’abord, les sociétés leader dans cette activité vous permettent de choisir parmi une grande variété de motifs de trous, ce qui signifie que vous pouvez personnaliser le matériel. Deuxièmement, vous obtenez un rapport poids solidite tres interessant, ce qui signifie que vous obtenez un mobilier à la fois très solide et léger. Troisiemement vous économiser de l’argent, du matériel et faites moins de pollution. Last but not least, en fonction de votre créativité, vous pouvez trouver un moyen très décoratif et artistique de l’utiliser.

Reston sur ce dernier point. Voici un truc que je peux vous conseiller de faire, très abordable et vraiment cool. Tout d’abord, obtenir une feuille de métal perforé, avec un motif de trou que vous aimez.

Deuxièmement, ayez une lampe a lumière concentrée (comme lampe de bureau) et un miroir (il est beaucoup mieux si sa taille correspond avec le métal perforé) Troisièmement, créer un jeu de lumiere personnalisé unique en plaçant la feuille de métal perforé juste à côté du miroir et illuminer l ensemble avec votre lampe!

Si vous cherchez à décorer votre habitation plus originalement, laisser Shanghai Metal Corporation vous aider. Si vous êtes dans le secteur des meubles / construction, et envie d économiser de l’argent, d etre plus ecologique, d améliorer votre rapport poind resistance et d’évoluer dans l’originalité de vos matériaux fournis, s’il vous plaît jeter un oeil sur notre site here, et assurez-vous de joindre à la conversation dans nos pages  Linkedin group, Facebook, Twitter, et Instagram. Vous pouvez aussi essayer notre nouvelle application mobile en scannant le code QR juste en dessus avec votre smartphone.

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

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Source: architonic.com, christinelholmes.wordpress.com, indesignlive.sg, gizmag.com, architizen.com, dezeen.com

Arthur P.//SMC ecrivain en herbe