The South African Stainless Steel Co-Operative Development Initiative (SSCDI) is currently investigating the use of 3CR12 as an economically viable material for roofing, as it offers major lifecycle costings benefits.
According to SSCDI director, Neels van Niekerk, high-performance materials such as stainless are sometimes viewed as expensive and difficult to fabricate. This perception often detracts from their use, and the opportunity to take advantage of their real value.
High-performance materials such as stainless can be particularly effective in situations of demanding durability and low total life costs, with major savings in the long term.
According to van Niekerk, 20% of stainless production in the Far East is used in the architectural, building and construction (ABC) sector, while in South Africa this figure is only some 5%.
“At the moment we are investigating ways and means of growing the use of stainless in the ABC sector, and are currently studying overseas markets, especially those in Japan, Taiwan and Korea,” said van Niekerk. “We are confident that one sector which could boost growth substantially is roofing.”
In another innovative move, the SSCDI is investigating the use of stainless in the LPG gas cylinder market. According to SSCDI director, Ken Dewar, LPG gas cylinders are increasingly manufactured in stainless in Spain.
“Manufacturing costs are lower, durability is increased, and maintenance is substantially simplified, while the cylinder is much lighter due to the unique properties offered by stainless,” said Dewar.
The SSCDI unit will be soliciting support from the relevant players in this country in order to promote the use of stainless containers in the LPG gas cylinder industry.
These initiatives are to promote sustainable growth through the identification of local, as well as export, opportunities, and to develop the capabilities to meet them.
