safety – Shanghai Metal Corporation

Do Bombs Really Tick?

“Actually, baggage handlers don’t worry about ticking ’cause modern bombs don’t tick. But when a suitcase vibrates, then they gotta call the police. Nine times out of ten: it’s an electric razor. But… every once in a while… it’s a dildo.”

— Airport Security Officer, Fight Club

Movies are there to entertain, so its understandable they don’t waste time on specifics and science. However, some movies invest so much time in developing a scifi premise or a character’s vast expertise in bomb making that it’s slightly insulting when they present us with something so amateur. (See our past article ‘are locks as easy to pick as in the movies?’ for more on movie realism.)

This is older than television; if you look at animated cartoons from the early to mid 20th Century, one of the more common mayhem-related props is a bomb—black, bowling-ball-sized, with burning fuse stuck in the top, and possibly the word BOMB on it in big happy white letters.

On TV they always have blinking lights (red is a popular color), audible beepers and/or a timer counting down on them. Some bombs have all three. Older depictions have a loudly ticking alarm clock taped to a bundle of dynamite.

In reality, modern bombs that aren’t sanctioned by government are generally made not to be identified so wont tick, beep or otherwise indicate its true form. Military and construction bombs however are labeled to the extreme. Construction is due to health and safety, and military because as the majority are designed to explode on impact, labeling won’t affect their efficacy.

So to answer the question, no, bombs do not tick.

Shanghai metal manufactures the carbon steel strip for clockwork feeds which do indeed tick. As an ISO 14001 (International Quality Management System) Company and recipient of the “Star Enterprise Award,” Shanghai Metal Corporation prides itself on exceeding international standards of quality and reliability. We guarantee the best prices, quality support, and fast delivery. To find out more, please visit our Website or send your inquiry here. 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.

Source: TV Tropes

Siobhan R.// SMC Editor

Scaffolding: An Essential in Consturction

Looking around nearly any construction site you will almost always see scaffolding erected as an essential part of the sites day to day operations. Scaffolding serves many purposes; firstly, to protect workers from falls or provide a rail so that they can work at height with ease. Secondly scaffolding, when in a modular fashion or along the side of a building can act as a walkway or internal ladder so that other parts of the site can be accessed.

Scaffolding has been used ever since humans have been building constructions of significant height, given its necessity. In fact cave paintings that date back to over 17,000 years ago in Northern France suggest that scaffolding was used to reach the ceiling. The Ancient Egyptians and early Chinese used it to build many of their taller structures.

Just as changes have been made in our buildings, advances have occurred in terms of the materials used in Scaffolding, with wood and rope being the norm in days gone by, to now having metal scaffolding and fasteners being the most commonplace. However Bamboo is frequently seen in less developed parts of Asia and even the heavily developed city state of Hong Kong, as pictured below.

Shanghai Metal Corporation, being a worldwide leader in the supply and manufacture of Galvanized Steel are proud to be a part of the formation of tubing that is essential in making scaffolding structures, with a particular emphasis on galvanized steel for use in outdoor applications. This product offers a rust resistance and extreme strength allowing its safe use on a construction site. To find out more about these products or to discuss customization and individual requirements please visit our website Here. For more updates on this and other exciting developments follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin. By scanning the QR code below with your Smart Phone you can connect to our app.

Dominick F.//SMC Editor

Sources: Wikipedia; Raynes Park Scaffolding;

Navigating a World of Darkness

Imagine waking up in the morning and seeing nothing but darkness. This is the reality for approximately 39 million people around the world who suffer from complete blindness. Recently there have been incredible scientific advances in curing blindness such as gene therapy and doctors have even managed to create a bionic eye that, through electrical stimulation of the brain, allows the patient to see.

Unfortunately, these treatment options are incredibly expensive and given that 90% of the worlds blind live in low income countries they are completely unaffordable. So the questions becomes how can we help the blind navigate the crowded bustling cities of the developing world? The answer lies in the paths and sidewalks themselves.

Without vision ones only means of navigating their surrounding is through sound and touch. Many blind people use sticks to feel around in front of them, yet this is can be tedious and time consuming for the affected person.

The solution lies in installing differentiated paths within the sidewalks so that they can simply walk along them and know that they are safe. Currently many cities have these paths; however, they are made out of concrete which can deteriorate as a result of too much foot traffic.

Fortunately, many cities are turning towards other materials such as metals as they can survive more abuse. The best metal products for this improvement are cerro fabricated products (CFP). CFP products work perfectly for this task as they are durable and can be made into whatever pattern is necessary to differentiate the path from its surroundings.

Shanghai Metal Corporation is committed to improving the quality of life of people the world over. We believe that blindness is a major issue in the world and we are committed to alleviating the suffering of the afflicted. CFP products are part of our commitment to improving the quality of life for people the world over.

For our full list of products that we offer check out our website here. Be sure to join the conversation in our LinkedIn group, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Try also our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

Jordan S.//SMC Editor

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Sources: smcbuildingsystem.com, zeroturnaround.com, flickr.com, who.int, technologyreview.com, telegraph.co.uk, cnn.com, newyorker.com, 3news.co.nz

Pictures: theconversation.com, dvice.com, yxhealth.com, wearablestoday.com, pinterest.com, world/kiwi-doctor-targets-blindness-in-cambodia-2013061608

Aluminum Ensures Smooth Sailing At Sea

Whether it is a leisurely Sunday afternoon fishing trip to the river, an excursion around the world by sea, or shipping containers full of vital materials from one country to the next, aluminum has shown to be a first-choice option for construction of vessels used in the boating and marine industry. No matter the activity, may it be for recreational or professional use, safety is always made priority and aluminum is trusted by captains across the industry.

Yachts constructed from aluminum are able to withstand areas of rough seas without worrying about hazardous materials, in the water that go undetected, puncturing their vessel.

Its lightweight compound, durability, resistance to stress, and rigidity lead to better performance, low cost of ownership and most importantly higher security. Aluminum’s superior strength to weight ratio allows for building stronger and stiffer boats while keeping them light for performance. When compared to steel, it has been proven that aluminum hull boasts about 29 percent dent resistance and 12.5 percent greater resistance to puncture due to the ductile nature of the aluminum. That means that in the case of sudden impact, aluminum based boats will not rupture, making it a safer option than other materials. In addition, aluminum does not burn nor does it support combustion. Fire resistance is the second element of safety at sea after resistance to puncture.

Volvo Ocean Rate 2014-2015 Route set to start in September.

When it comes to water sports, the need for speed is critical and aluminum’s light weight composition allows boats to reach speeds unobtainable before. For example, one of the most famous infamous global circumnavigation boat races is the Volvo Ocean Race, which takes place every four years. The race usually takes over nine months and covers 39,000 nautical miles. It takes place over 11 legs and incorporates stops at 12 ports around the world. Weather permitting, the race usually begins in Europe in September and runs through the Atlantic Ocean, corners around Africa’s southerly point, and then braves the often treacherous waters of the Southern Ocean before cornering again at Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America and heading home up the Atlantic.

Shanghai Metal Corporation understands the importance of safety in the boating and marine industry and is committed to offering products that abide by quality standards and are sustainable for the environment as well. Learn more about the products we offer and services we provide at our website here. Be sure to join the conversation in our LinkedIn group, Twitter, and Facebook.

Kristie K. // SMC Editor

How To Survive an Elevator Crash

We all have that one advice giver in our lives that feels like they know it all. And I am sure it’s from them you heard the following so-called facts:

Myth #1: Jump before impact

Resist the temptation to remain standing and jump at the end of the fall to save yourself. This mythical advice is unfounded and defies basic laws of physics. To begin with, it would be almost impossible to remain standing in a plummeting elevator and even more difficult to plan a jump that perfectly corresponds with the elevator hitting the bottom of the shaft. The elevator floor is the safest place to be – lie face down and spread your weight evenly.

Myth #2: Attempt Escape

Ignore everything you’ve seen in the movies. Attempting to open elevator doors or to crawl into the shaft will drastically increase the extent of your injuries and your chance of dying. Most elevator-related injuries and fatalities happen to construction or maintenance workers, followed by people who fall down shafts or are crushed after being caught in elevator doors or between floors.

These fears derive from the old style elevators. Modern elevators incorporate safety features to help prevent fatal falls. Traction elevators, which move cars up and down using steel cables, pulleys and counterweights, have a speed-sensing governor. If the car zips downward too quickly, the governor activates brakes on the elevator’s travel rails.

Shanghai Metal manufactures value added the hot rolled steel strips used in the manufacture of the new safer elevators, and are high quality to avoid such occurrences. To find out more, please visit our website, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can also read more articles by our team at SMC:

Umbrellas – Can You Guess Where They Are From?

Pylons – The Under Appreciated Life Bringer

Imagine A Summer Without Air Conditioning

The Secret To The Perfect Shave – Stainless Steel Razors

Man Of Steel: Why It Wasn’t Called ‘Superman’

The Science Behind Saw – Could It Really Have Cut Through Bone?

What Hollywood Finally Got Right About Science

Modern Metal Revamps Ancient Weapons

Why You Should Thank Carbon Steel for Your Flavorsome Stir Fry

Good News for China’s Steel Sector

Quiz – How Much Of Your High School Chemistry Do You Remember?

How You Can Get Your Own Game Of Thrones Valyrian Style Blade

Tired Of Wasting Money On Expensive Morning Coffees? Why Not Invest In A Stainless Steel Coffee Maker

Is Stainless Steel Really Stainless?

Sources: EHow, Live Science, SurvivalTraining, io9

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Siobhan R.// SMC Editor

The Truth is Revealed About the Health Concerns Associated with Aluminum Cookware

Speculations about the risks of cooking with aluminum utensils have put stress on consumers for years. In the 1970s, a Canadian researcher published a study showing Alzheimer’s patients had high levels of aluminum in their brains. Since then, research has been back and forth on the correlation between aluminum and Alzheimer’s. As of today, there is no clear proven connection between the two but some are still hesitant to use aluminum cookware and cans.

Evidence

In 2011, Health Canada released a study that cooking a meal in an aluminum pan can add 1 to 2 mg of aluminum to your food. But what exactly does that mean? The World Health Organization estimates that people can safely consumer about 50 mg a day without harm. So adding a few mg wouldn’t be detrimental but people still need to be cautious about the amount consumed.

Prevention

When you replace old pans, consider upgrading to anodized aluminum pots.

Aluminum has been effective in cookware due to its ability to withstand high heat. It is a great choice for people setting up a kitchen or camping because it is lightweight and inexpensive. If people take safe precautions when using untreated aluminum pots, the health risks can be lowered. One study showed that untreated aluminum pots react to cooking highly acidic foods such as tomatoes or sauerkraut, so use alternative surfaces such as stainless steel for such dishes. Another suggestion is to avoid storing leftovers in aluminum, because the longer the food sits, the more aluminum it can absorb from the pan. Since more aluminum will dissolve out of old utensils, throw away your aging aluminum cookware.

Shanghai Metal Corporation is committed to offering products that are safe for our consumers. SMC strives to provide the best customer service from the production phase through after-sales follow-up, our goal remains ensuring our clients receive all necessary support. Additionally, we continuously remain a trusted, responsible member of the global society. For more information visit our website here. Be sure to join the conversation in our LinkedIn group, Twitter, and Facebook.

Sources: Health Canada, World Health Organization, Livestrong.com

Kristie Kaaa / SMC Editor

Stainless Steel, the Light at the End of the Tunnel

Stainless Steel comes in a variety of alloys and other product forms. Stainless Steel products will survive even when they are placed in the harshest conditions. For example, Stainless Steel does not need any added products to protect it from corrosion. It also has fire resistance properties that are helpful for the construction of buildings, roads, and tunnels.

Recently, more and more tunnels utilize Stainless Steel. Making use of Stainless Steel is an innovative strategy that helps improve the safety of the tunnels that do employ Stainless Steel for its structure. Many tunnels are built to pass through rocks or mountains. Other tunnels are built under rivers, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water.

Tunnels usually go through a wide variety of conditions daily including surviving through a great range of temperature and high levels of corrosive chemicals. Corrosive chemicals can come from emissions and de-icing salts. Emissions can include many different types of particles including mineral dust deposits, water soluble chlorides, abraded rubber tire fragments, black soot, etc.

Since tunnels go through so much, tunnel engineers have chose to rely upon Stainless Steel. To minimize maintenance and heighten durability, operators of numerous tunnels have intelligently chosen Stainless Steel grades that work best for the tunnel’s environment. For instance, some tunnels are built with Stainless Steel that has a slightest molybdenum content of 6% in order to prevent the failure of fixings.

Other ways that tunnel engineers depend on Stainless Steel are using them for fire doors, barriers, and reinforcements. Also, they rely on Stainless Steel for failure-proof fixings, which are necessary for attaching lighting, fire-fighting equipment, ventilations, etc. Some tunnels use covers of ventilation made from Stainless Steel. These covers are usually subjected to high levels of corrosive atmospheric gases. Furthermore, since Stainless Steel is a strong fire resistant metal, many tunnels have used the material to support fixed fire fighting systems.

For instance, the Kehu Tunnel in Helsinki, Finland employs a fixed fire fighting system which comprises of five rows of 16 mm diameter Stainless Steel piping and spray nozzles. In case a fire erupts in the tunnel, the high-pressure system produces a fine water mist that will quench tunnel fires.

As one may realize, Stainless Steel is a very powerful and useful material. Stainless Steel is versatile because of its strength, its corrosion resistance properties, and ﬁ re resistance characteristics. Stainless Steel has been able to increase the safety, to reduce damage, and to prevent many disruptions or closings of tunnels.

To learn more about Stainless Steel products and SMC, CLICK HERE.

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Stainless Steel Cookware, the Safe Option

You probably think that if your food is thoroughly cooked, then the food is safe enough to eat. However, did you ever stop and think about your cookware? How safe are your pots, pans, and utensils?

Like most people, you may be unaware of the possibility of your food being filled with particles from your cookware. If that is the case, now is the time for change. A safe alternative to regular cookware is Stainless Steel cookware. Why Stainless Steel? Stainless Steel resists corrosion. This means that the surface of stainless steel will last for a long time. The materials will not break off or flake. With Stainless Steel, you will not need to worry about contaminating your food with chemicals and metal particles. When it comes to your health, you cannot take chances.

The best part of choosing stainless steel cookware is that they are extremely sturdy and durable. You will even save disposable income because they do need to get replaced often. As a matter of fact, stainless steel will outlive any non-stick surface. Many may argue that non-stick cookware is easier to clean, but stainless steel is actually the better and the healthier investment for you and your family.

In truth, Stainless Steel cookware may be a safer option than most if not all non-stick pots and pans. Why? Non-stick cookware will corrode faster and will contaminate food more than stainless steel. Will you take the risk of melting the Teflon coating off of your non-stick cookware? Melted Teflon is extremely hazardous and toxic. Stainless Steel is not difficult to clean with proper care and proper use. On top of that, you do not need to worry about melting Teflon off with stainless steel cookware. With most non-stick cookware, there is a heat limit. If you surpass the heat limits, you may be endangering yourself and your family.

Remember that Stainless steel combines many metals including nickel, manganese, chromium, etc. Make sure to purchase high quality stainless steel cookware. The better the quality of the stainless steel, the less amount of nickel will get into your food. For example, if a pot is made from a type 430 stainless steel, then you know that it contains less than 0.50 percent of nickel. The chances of contamination are very minuscule. In the end, the choice is up to you. Research the type of stainless steel cookware you wish to purchase. Make sure you are getting the high quality Stainless Steel that you deserve.

Think about using Stainless Steel utensils as well. Utensils get washed and used everyday. You want to make sure that the utensils you are putting in your mouth are safe for your health. As far as safety of the food, performance, and longevity, your best bet truly is Stainless Steel.

To learn more about High Quality Stainless Steel products and SMC, CLICK HERE.

For Stainless Steel Utensils that you know you can trust, CLICK HERE.

To follow Shanghai Metal Corporation Stainless Steel tweets, CLICK HERE.