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RA I L POLISHED STAINLESSSTEEL

POLISHED ALUMINIUM

PROJECT MANAGEMENT r

PROFESSI ONA L POLI SHI NG SV S LTD

POLISHEDSTAINLESSSTEELINTHE RAILINDUSTRY YOURPARTNERINPOLISHING Stainless Steel has an impressive historical record when it comes to it's involvement in the Rail industry. Whether it's the trains themselves or the architectural design of the stations, stainless steel has been involved in Rail since it's discovery. In 1930 Edward Budd visited Europe from Philadelphia and became interested in the use of the 'new' metal. Over the next four years, Edward and Ralph Budd designed and innovated with stainless steel, developing spot welding and the first stainless steel passenger train was designed and manufactured; 'The Burlington Zepher'.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock

MANAGINGDIRECTOR OFPROFESSIONAL POLISHINGSERVICES LTD

This was followed by a shift in railcar manufacture in the United States and thousands of stainless steel trains were manufactured.

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As well as the trains themselves, stainless steel is used in a variety of applications in the Rail Industry. From buildings as an architectural feature, to construction integrity, stainless steel offers a myriad of benefits. Its fire resistant properties make it an ideal material to be utilised in underground rail applications. Its resistance to corrosion along with its structural integrity and ease of fabrication give it superior properties when it comes to design. Ease of cleaning and maintenance are other benefits.

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21STCENTURYDESIGN A Bullet Train designed and manufactured in China from Stainless Steel.

Image Credit : CNN

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ANDWHICHPOLISHSHOULDI CHOOSE? Firstly it's worth talking to a polishing company at the start of the design process to ensure that the vision you have of the completed project is going to be achievable and provide benefits to the structure. Simple questions to consider are; is the polished stainless steel inside or outside ? what environment is it? is it 'touchable' by passengers? is there a cleaning regime? All of these will help in choosing a finish that not only looks great but works within the specific environment to help combat staining and other discolouration. If the stainless steel is external then making sure any grain or polishing direction is vertical will help combat aqueous contamination by allowing rain water to run down this grain rather than sitting in it and depositing airborne contaminates.

Some finishes are produced quicker than others and this has not only a cost implication but a time implication so understanding this and factoring in delays due to material supply disruption and inevitable breakdowns is sensible. Your stockholder and polishing company should work together to produce samples for you to test on site and they should be in place and viewed from a variety of heights and angles to ensure you are happy with the finish.

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HOWCANWEENSURECONSISTENCY? BOTHVISUALLYANDWITHINREQUIREDSPECIFICATIONS

Circle Polishing

TRYSOMETHING DIFFERENTON INTERNAL APPLICATIONS

Now you've chosen the finish you require it's about making sure that you end up with consistency and 'matchability'. from sheet to sheet. Firstly talk to your stock-holder about single source of supply. Ideally it's best to get material all from the same cast if possible, and this will depend on the quantity required for the project. Once supply is confirmed a master control sample should be produced from a similar material cast and we would recommend this being held by the polishing company, the stock-holder, the fabricator and the architect. This way spot inspections can be carried out at any stage to ensure a visual match.

Why not have circle polished stainless steel internal wall panels?

WHATSPECIFICATIONSARETHERE? CERTIFYINGANDMEASURINGFINISHES A 1K or 2K finish on stainless steel has a clean cut grain with a roughness average of less than 0.5 microns. This is measured and certified.

For bright or mirror finishes the reflectivity is measured with a Gloss meter and certified.

Both are suitable for internal and external applications.

MULLIONSANDOTHERPOLISHEDSTRUCTURALBARS ASFEATUREDATSTPANCRASSTATION The refurbishment of St Pancras Station in London included hot rolled flat bar polished to a 1K finish. The smooth gained finish has a surface roughness of less than 0.5 microns meaning that it not only is helpful for combatting cross contamination but is aesthetically pleasing. Stainless Steel has natural anti-viral properties which in this Covid-Age is beneficial.

Despite hot rolled material having a heavy 'skin' and surface scale with pitting and other defects, the polishing process removes these leaving a smooth uniform finish. A tactile material means that you want to touch it and finger prints are minimised by the grain pattern.

The final stage of the polishing process involves a chnage of polishing media from alumnium oxide to silicon carbide and the use of these mineral gives a 'clean cut' aspect to the finish, smoothing our the grain and reducing the surface area.

Measuring and certifying the finish is essential in ensuring that the finish is within specification and able to combat contaminates in the air. Urban environments have different contaminates to coastal environments and at the point of design these should be taken into consideration. Choosing the right finish for the right environment is as important as choosing the correct grade of material for the project.

Of course stainless steel is also integral to the structural build, most commonly through the use of reinforced bar set within concrete.

PROJECTMANAGEMENT WORKINGWITHTHESUPPLYCHAIN We have extensive experience in working to tight deadlines on large architectural projects and as such work with the supply chain to ensure continuity of supply. When fabricating facades for building we understand that the smallest delay can cause a major impact and so we can offer daily, weekly or monthly updates and ensure that communication is excellent. We build some 'breathing space' into all major projects to ensure that we are ahead of schedule and to combat unexpected delays such as mechanical breakdowns etc.

As Your Partner in Polishing we dedicate a project manager who will ensure inspection of the finish on your behalf and who will send you photos and videos of your material in production as well as keeping you informed of any defects in the substrate that could cause issues.

SOMEOFTHELARGEST PLATESPOLISHEDIN THEUK We can process plates up to 2mtrs wide and 12 mtrs long.

STAINLESSSTEELCLADHOTELUNDERCONSTRUCTION Polished to our UltraMarine Finish.

From 316L 2B material.

84 Tonnes processed in 20 weeks.

HEAT&FIRERESISTANT IDEALFORUNDERGROUND Stainless steel has excellent Heat and Fire resistant properties making it a desirable material for use in underground rail applications. Its safety record is exceptional. Stainless steels are not ignitable and will also not assist in the propagation of fires by flame spread. The surface of stainless steel is normally inert and stable in oxidizing conditions, such as those found in most flames and heat sources.

SUSTAINABLESTAINLESS The use of stainless steel in rail compared to carbon steels has several sustainable factors. Stainless Seel from the leading mills is produced from 85% recycled material, its durability and the need for minimal maintenance is also a benefit and energy saving light weight design is also a factor. End of life 100% recyclability is also a positive.

Whilst the initial cost of carbon steel may be cheaper than stainless, additional process such as coating and shape-correction narrow the gap. The use of robotics and other manufacturing advances mean the use of stainless steel has the ability to extend the life of a rail car from 30 years to 50 years, vastly reducing the effect on the environment.

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If we can suport you with your Rail Project please contact us.

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