ArcelorMittal Projects India: Customised & Sustainable Steel Solutions
Yogesh Berwal, Commercial Director – India, ArcelorMittal Projects, shares information on the company’s products and applications, and its customized solutions, design and installation support, for enabling faster completion times of developers’ projects in India.
With the Indian government's focus on infrastructure development and its initiative to make India a global manufacturing hub, how do you assess the future demand for value-added steel in construction projects?
Steel intensive construction segments like Housing, Industrial, and Marine construction offer tremendous growth opportunities for value-added steel solutions due to their inherent advantages of durability, quick completion timelines, and reduced environmental impact due to their potential for recyclability. Contrary to the linear take-make-dispose economy, steel discourages wastage of large amounts of embedded materials, energy, and labour. At the end of its lifecycle, 100% steel can be recycled.
Marsden point
What technologies and R&D does ArcelorMittal employ for decarbonization, including waste reduction, and zero waste in its manufacturing plants?
We had committed in 2021 to reduce European CO2 emissions by 35% by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2050. In fact, decarbonisation is the most important aspect of ArcelorMittal’s long-term strategy. We align with the Paris Agreement’s goals and the European Green Deal. Our new brand XCarb® is designed to bring together under one umbrella all of ArcelorMittal’s reduced, low and zero-carbon products in steelmaking activities.
ArcelorMittal EcoSheetPile™ range of steel sheet piles are manufactured through the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) route, with relatively low CO2 emissions, compared to the average emissions for the global steel industry, which is around 2.3 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of primary steel produced. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) of the EcoSheetPile™ product range is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with the EAF route using 100% recycled material.
With 1,700 full time researchers, 14 research and development sites in 9 countries around the world, and $286 million spending in 2022 (of which around 83% was spent in Europe), ArcelorMittal’s global R&D (100+ programs in progress) is a cornerstone of sustainable development; it ensures a constantly evolving and expanding portfolio of ArcelorMittal products.
GCPTL project
What is ArcelorMittal Foundation Solutions?
ArcelorMittal Foundation Solutions is part of ArcelorMittal Projects, a global supplier of complete, customised and sustainable steel solutions. The ArcelorMittal Group is the worldwide leader in the production of steel sheet piles, with ArcelorMittal Foundation Solutions as its exclusive sales organisation. We also specialise in the production and supply of foundation pipes as well as the design of various steel structures.
The use of steel sheet foundations in India is growing at a steady pace but has not yet reached its full potential. What reasons or challenges do you think are hindering its growth?
Global manufacturing of Hot Rolled Sheet pile started in early 20th century and this unique solution has evolved to be competitive with continual improvements in steel grades, shapes, weight optimisation and availability of piling equipment.
India remains a “concrete built market” ecosystem wherein project owners and contractors prefer to replicate established construction methods. Other reasons are some myths surrounding steel construction, belief that there is limited availability, lack of design know-how, local project references, and perceived high costs due to imports.
So, to raise awareness among developers and builders on the benefits of steel sheet pile foundations, we organize stakeholder engagements, provide design know-how and support, prepare and showcase piling methodology, ensure stock availability locally and timely site delivery, and provide our quality certifications.
Business Bay- Kolkata
What types of hot rolled steel sheet piles does the company provide and what are their application areas?
Hot Rolled Sheet Piles are manufactured in various shapes and sizes like:
- Z & U types to cater to Section Modulus up to 5150 CM3/m.
- Flat Web Sheet Pile, thickness 9.5mm to 13mm, offering interlock resistance from 3500-6000kN/m
- HZ-M King Pile with milled grooves on flanges & thickness up to 40mm to cater to Section Modulus up to 46500CM3/m
- Foundation Piles of high wall thickness, large diameters and long lengths up to 80 metres.
Steel grade, length, surface finish etc. are based on specific site requirement. Applications include quay walls, locks, land excavations, retaining walls, tunnels, underground car parks, breakwaters, and embankments of rivers and canals.
How does ArcelorMittal steel sheet piling solutions enable faster construction and lower costs compared to concrete alternatives?
Sheet Pile is a prefabricated steel retaining wall built with suitable piling and handling equipment. It is less labour oriented. For temporary use applications, sheet pile can be delivered across India within a week. Excavation work for basement can be expedited quick as shoring work progress of 200 -225 sq.m /day is realistic with sheet piles, which are also available on lease at competitive prices. For permanent use applications, sheet pile delivery timelines are pre-agreed with the buyers.
Please name some of the company’s notable projects where the sheet piles have been customised and used extensively.
We have a diverse product range to cater to various requirements. We also customize the sheet piles to meet specific project requirements of the project owners and developers by optimising design. We also undertake geotechnical reviews and recommendations. Quick delivery is possible from our stock in India. We also provide piling support at site (third-party), and installation support. Our notable projects include the following:
- GCPTL, Dahej Jetty Piling Pipes
- Cochin Shipyard – Drydock Project, Cochin
- JSW Iron Ore Berth, Paradip
- JSW East Quay Coal Terminal, Paradip
- Ghodbunder Shore Protection, Thane
- Kesi Ghat Yamuna River Redevelopment Project, Vrindavan
- Essar Steel, Hazira ( Now AM/NS)
- Simpark UG Car Park, Kolkata
- Nuclear Power Plant, Kudankulam
- KIIDC Checkdam
