Reuse of steel tubes and profiles

Steel is a consumer product; you don't consume it. Steel beams and tube profiles retain the same properties as new, if properly conditioned. It can often easily be used a second or even multiple times without side effects, which is why it fits perfectly in the pursuit of a circular economy. With the 'Donor Steel' platform, Swanenberg Iron Group stimulates the reuse of steel. Especially in the infrastructure sector it offers unprecedented opportunities and environmental benefits.

Steel pipes and profiles is material that is perfectly reusable.

"Reusing materials, reducing CO₂-emissions and nitrogen offsets, it's the talk of the day. Steel pipes and profiles is material that is perfectly reusable," says Frank van der Loop of Swanenberg IJzer Groep from Schaijk. "Through active participation and involvement in various initiatives concerning this subject, we stay abreast of the possibilities concerning the reuse of steel. And that goes pretty far. Partly due to stricter government regulations regarding traceability of steel, we try to find out the exact properties of, for example, used pipe profiles, steel structures of buildings and old transport pipes. The right information to be able to give these profiles a second life."

With a stock of over 150,000 tons of steel tubes and beams, Swanenberg Iron Group can deliver very quickly upon request.

Recertify

Swanenberg Iron Group has been the greenest steel supplier in the Netherlands for 55 years. "After all, we have been trading in used steel all these years," says Van der Loop. "With a stock of over 150,000 tons of steel pipes and beams, we can deliver very quickly upon request. In the past we started buying and selling used steel, through changes we are now also one of Europe's largest stockists of both new (first choice) with full factory certification and unused surplus lots. We are also putting more and more effort into changing regarding the application of the material. Here we are mainly referring to the certification of already rolled products. Often a product can be used in multiple capacities. Pipes originally produced for use as gas pipes can, in consultation with the manufacturer, be recertified according to a different standard for acceptance in the infrastructure sector, for example. These include applications such as combi wall, strut frame, pivot piles and pile driving. Furthermore, we work closely with testing laboratories that -if necessary- can perform chemical and mechanical analyses to guarantee steel qualities of the steel used so that they can be used for the intended application."

Pipes originally produced for application as gas pipelines can be recertified in accordance with a different standard in consultation with the manufacturer for acceptance in the infrastructure sector, for example.

Cheaper

Using used steel profiles does not require the production of new steel. "Remember that a steel structure, if properly conditioned, lasts an incredibly long time," Van der Loop emphasizes. "The service life is often much longer than the useful life. Consequently, there is an awful lot of used steel in circulation. Because of current regulations (EN1090, etc.), new steel is quickly turned to for a project. A pity, especially when there are no further requirements or when steel grades are known and therefore used products with the same properties as new steel can have a second life. Using used steel in this way provides an enormous environmental benefit. More and more clients are fortunately aware of this. It brings cost benefits, so it's a win-win situation."

Using used steel is more economical, often available from stock and better for the environment. The infrastructure sector has already discovered this and is reaping the benefits.