GLOBAL ISSF AWARDS SEE LOCAL STAINLESS TRIUMPH
The ISSF New Application Awards 2021 have been announced with two South African companies recognised for their innovative stainless steel technologies best practice, market development, safety, and sustainability. Columbus Stainless scooped Gold with its innovative and ecofriendly Amalooloo sanitation technology; followed hot on the heels by Outokumpu with Silver for its Stilride Electric Scooter demonstrating the industrial origami technique.
The Amalooloo, developed from reclaimed 3CR12 is an ecofriendly and affordable sanitation system that eliminates toxic sludge, the leading cause of sanitation disease and death in rural South Africa, to deliver a dry composting system that results in an organic fertiliser byproduct. As a patented and unique option for both Waterborne and Dry (Ventilated Improved Pit) structures, the Amalooloo system works via a holistic sanitation loop that collects solid organic waste material in a specialised bottom substructure, where it undergoes primary and secondary drying processes unique to its state-of-the-art ventilation; guaranteeing an odour and fly free sanitation system it is able to produce recycled organic, safe, and nutrient-rich fertiliser as a byproduct. Constructed out of precast reinforced concrete, all components are bolted together using stainless steel 304 fasteners and anti-theft bolts, with the doors, door frame and metal trims made from 3CR12 for rigidity to house the critical locking mechanisms that ensure privacy and safety for its users.
COST EFFICIENT VALUE CHAIN
Demonstrating an innovative way of processing metallic flat sheet material into complex geometries via industrial origami, Outokumpu was recognised in the New Application Awards when they took home Silver for their Stilride Electric Scooter. An original application of stainless steel, the scooter demonstrates the potential to create a new cost-efficient value chain in mobility with a reduced need for joining, delivering cleaner energy and lower maintenance and lifecycle costs. Products, where flat sheet steel is used as input material, are often formed through roll forming, deep drawing, hydroforming, etc., then joined together using various joining techniques. Such techniques require investments in pressing tools and large machinery which often only pays of when very high-volume products are manufactured. Challenging the traditional view of manufacturing, Stilride takes advantage of the ancient origami technique to open up for complex designs by simply folding the sheet into amazing 3D structures. This will reduce the number of parts and the need for joining, create clean-energy powered personal mobility device. To maximize weight reduction, potential high strength stainless sheet material was chosen as the main construction material which meant challenges had to be overcome relating to the folding of very high strength stainless steels. A methodology to locally heat-treat the folding lines with laser was applied within the project; with the prototypes of the Stilride electric scooter now available to showcase.