soviet union – Shanghai Metal Corporation

The dissolution of the Soviet Union is arguably one of the greatest geopolitical disasters of human history. It resulted in the rise of ethnic nationalism and ethnic based conflicts across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Many of the new countries had mixed Russian and local population and after centuries of repression under the Russian Empire, and later the Soviet Union, tensions were high. This is the basic history behind the current war in Ukraine.

Russia is backing the anti Ukrainian forces with both financial and military aide. As a result many European Union members have levied sanctions against Russia which have the potential to hurt all parties involved. As the 6^th largest exporter of steel there is a massive gap that will need to be filled and this is where China can not only make a vast amount of profit, but also improve relations with the EU.

The economic recovery in the EU is fragile at best and any major shock could end the recovery and cause a recession. This is of particular concern in Europe where many nations are dependent on Russia for their raw materials and mineral resources. As many EU members want to limit their dependence on Russia, China is presented with a great opportunity to become Europe’s new de facto supplier of raw building materials.

China and the EU are becoming more interdependent on each other and adding Chinese steel to the equation will only increase economic cooperation. Furthermore, as Russian sanctions begin to take affect all over Europe the governments of these regions will most certainly be grateful to any nation that helps them avoid another economic crisis.

Shanghai Metal Corporation has been following the developments in Eastern Europe closely and with great concern. We take the economic health of the EU and the world as a whole very seriously. One of our main products is structural steel and it will be an honour to supply the EU if and when the need arises.

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)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/07/21/russia-retreats-from-us-as-sanctions-begin-to-bite.aspx

http://www.issb.co.uk/global.html

http://de.bearing-news.com/ascat-technology-to-improve-steel-industry-product-quality/

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/russian-steel-firm-threatens-eu-job-losses-over-sanctions-301721

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101855249

http://russianreport.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/day-of-victory-on-red-square/

Pictures: telegraph.co.uk, thevirtualtravelers.com, ukrainetrek.com, newsweek.com, ibtimes.com

China has moved a step closer to creating a supersonic submarine that could travel from Shanghai to San Francisco in less than two hours. Not much is known about the team’s progress because it is a military project, but the SCMP reports that Germany, Iran and the US are working on similar projects.

The team from the Harbin Institute of Technology was inspired by a supersonic torpedo invented by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Water yields more friction on an object than air, which should mean that a submerged boat or weapon could never travel at the same speed as an airplane.

But the Soviet military figured out how to put a missile inside an air bubble to cheat this rule of science — a process known as ‘supercavitation’. They created the Shakval, a torpedo that could reach speeds of over 379 km/h, much faster than any other torpedo available.

The Chinese team, led by engineering professor Li Fengchen, sought to apply the same process to a submarine by overcoming two central problems. The submarine would need to be launched at speeds of up to 100 km/h in order to generate the air bubble. It would also require very advanced steering because the ship’s rudder would be inside the bubble, not touching the water. The answer was found in the form of a manmade liquid membrane that would cover the submarine’s surface. The result is a vessel that could reach the speed of sound, crossing the entire Pacific Ocean in approximately 100 minutes. Once supercavitation is harnessed, it could be incorporated into any underwater activity.

Shanghai Metal manufactures the stainless steel used in submarine hull manufacturing. To find out more, please visit our website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Or you could try our new mobile app by scanning our QR code.

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