Blog posts tagged with '#steelbending'

Gratitude Beyond Measure: Celebrating the Skilled Hands and Hearts of Albina

As the leaves change and the season of gratitude settles in, we’re reminded that true strength doesn’t come from machines or materials, it comes from people. At Albina Co., our greatest asset has always been our team; the talented, skilled individuals who bring precision, passion, and pride to every project we take on.

A Legacy of Craftsmanship

For generations, Albina has been built by hands that know their craft inside and out. The knowledge our team carries isn’t something you can find in a textbook, it’s earned through experience, mentorship, and a deep respect for the work.
Many of our team members represent multiple generations of the same family, continuing a legacy of craftsmanship that stretches back decades. They’ve grown up around the sound of machines humming, the scent of steel, and the spirit of teamwork that defines our company.

Skill, Dedication, and Heart

In an industry that demands precision, our people deliver excellence day after day. Whether it’s a complex bend, a detailed fabrication, or an innovative solution to a tough problem, our crew’s skill and dedication are unmatched. But beyond their technical ability, what sets them apart is their heart - their pride in doing the job right, their loyalty to one another, and their commitment to safety and quality.

Thankful for Our Albina Family

This November, we pause to give thanks to every person who makes Albina what it is - our staff, our customers, our vendors and everyone else. Each of you carries forward a legacy of quality, integrity, and teamwork that defines our success.

We are proud to stand beside you, to learn from you, and to celebrate all that you bring to our Albina family.

Here’s to the people who bend more than steel - you bend time, tradition, and talent into something extraordinary.

Thank you for making Albina strong, today and for generations to come.

Robson Square Ice Rink: An Olympic Legacy Brought to Life by Precision Bending

If you’ve ever laced up your skates at Robson Square’s iconic ice rink in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, you’ve experienced more than just a winter pastime - you’ve stepped into a piece of Olympic history. Nestled beneath its instantly recognizable curved steel domes, the rink is a structural landmark that blends architectural artistry with community spirit.

It’s hard to believe this urban skating hub has had such a storied past. Originally opening in the early 1980s, Robson Square’s rink later closed in the 1990s before being revived, reimagined, and expanded in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Today, it stands as one of Vancouver’s coolest (literally) and most beloved winter gathering places.

Behind the Curves: Albina’s Contribution

Those striking cruved steel overhead domes didn’t come to life by accident. Albina had the pleasure of bending and rolling the steel that brought this structure its smooth, sweeping geometry.

For this project, Albina processed the following materials:

12¾" OD x .500" wall polished stainless steel

8 pieces rolled to 37' 11 11/16" and 18' 9 3/8" radii

4 pieces rolled to 37' 11 11/16" radius

14" OD x .500" A53B ERW

1 piece

The result? Strong, graceful curves that define the atmosphere of the rink and continue to withstand the test of time, weather, and thousands of visitors every winter.

A Structure That Skates Through History

Robson Square’s rink isn’t just a place to chill with friends or enjoy a twirl on the ice - it’s a testament to community revitalization, Olympic legacy, and the engineering precision that made its signature silhouette possible. Albina is proud to have played a part in shaping one of Vancouver’s most cherished winter attractions.

Public libraries have always been more than buildings - they’re hubs of creativity, learning, connection, and community identity. The Granite Library in South Salt Lake is a perfect example of this spirit. As part of Utah’s largest public library system, it stands as a modern gathering place where technology, education, and imagination blend seamlessly.

Albina had the privilege of contributing to this project by bending structural steel components that support both the function and the architectural vision of the space.

For this project, Albina bent two key materials:

TS 10" X 6" X .375" Wall A500 GR B

1 pc bent the Hard Way to a 14'-11" radius

TS 16" X 8" X .375" Wall A500 GR B

2 pcs bent the Hard Way to a 19' radius

Albina is proud to be a part of projects like the Granite Library that strengthen neighborhoods and create places where people can learn, gather, and grow. No matter the project, Albina is committed to producing dependable curved steel that brings bold designs to life.

The Sherwood Pedestrian Bridge spans over highway 99 from the YMCA to Sherwood High School. The bridge is a wonderful way to connect the community and provide convenient access to the high school campus. Albina bent various materials for this project including large pipe, channel and some angle totaling 145,000 lbs of curved steel.
 
14” OD X .500” WALL A500 GR C
10 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 128’-5” radius.
12 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 140’-1” radius.
 
14” OD X .375” WALL A500 GR C
4 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 124’-3” radius.
10 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 91’-9” radius.
4 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 100’-5” radius.
 
10” OD X .3125” WALL A500 GR C
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 172’-11” radius.
3 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 164’-0” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 160’-11” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 160’-8” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 142’-6” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 135’-0” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 110’-1” radius.
 
C15 X 33.9# A36
8 pcs rolled to radii ranging from 1’-7” to 4’-1”.
 
MC18 X 42.7# A36
2 pcs rolled to a 10’-0” radius.
 
4” X 3” X 3/8” ANGLE A36
5 pcs rolled to a 10’-0” radius.
 
2½” SCH40 T316 S/S
2 pcs bent to a 4’-1” radius.
2 pcs bent to a 2’-2” radius.
2 pcs bent to a 1’-9” radius.
2 pcs bent to a 1’-7” radius.

Did you know that Albina played a key role in bringing the Denver Broncos' massive new scoreboard to life?

As part of a $100 million renovation at Empower Field, Albina provided 20 pieces of Tube Steel measuring 16” x 12” x .375” WALL A500 GR C, rolled the easy way to a 978-foot radius. These precision-rolled components helped form the structural support for the stadium’s brand-new scoreboard.

Standing 225 feet wide and 72 feet high, the scoreboard is now the tallest in North America and 70% larger than the previous screen. In fact, it's ranked as the fifth-largest scoreboard in the NFL, offering fans an even more immersive game-day experience.

Photo credit: Adam Poticha.

Check out these curved handrails Albina did for 4 different apartment complexes located near Salem, Oregon. For these projects Albina bent 2,476 pcs of pipe to a 3” radius, and coped 6,437 pcs, totaling 8,913 pcs! You could say that Albina is apartment handrail bending experts!
 
The Grove Apartment Complex
1¼” SCH40 A53B ERW UNCOATED
2292 pcs - 591 pcs bent to a 3” radius, 1,701 pcs coped
1¼” SCH40 A500B UNCOATED
208 pcs - 120 pcs bent to a 3” radius, 88 pcs coped
 
Crawford Crossing Apartment Complex
1¼” SCH40 A53B ERW UNCOATED
56 pcs – 28 pcs bent to a 3” radius, 28 pcs coped
1¼” SCH40 A53B ERW WHEELED
1144 pcs – 337 pcs bent to a 3” radius, 807 pcs coped
 
Jory Apartment Complex
1¼” SCH40 A53B ERW WHEELED
1236 pcs – 495 pcs bent to a 3” radius, 741 pcs coped
1¼” SCH40 A53B ERW WHEELED
1968 – 328 pcs bent to a 3” radius, 1,640 pcs coped
 
Southtown Apartment Complex
1¼” SCH40 A53A UNCOATED
2009 pcs – 577 pcs bent to a 3” radius, 1,432 pcs coped

The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon consists of 2 buildings containing collaborative labs, classrooms, and an innovation center. The labs are designed as relaxing, stimulating environments encouraging teamwork and innovation. The building was full of friendly people and lots of advanced technology! On our tour we saw the 3 spiral staircases, and the sky bridge that Albina did the bending for. For the stairs Albina bent 8 pcs of 2” Thick X 8” Wide A572 GR 50 Plate, 8 pcs of 2” Thick X 8” Wide A572 GR 50 Plate (with stitch cuts), and 16 pcs of 1” Thick X 8” Wide A572 GR 50 Plate (with stitch cuts). For the sky bridge Albina bent 22″ OD x 1″ Wall Carbon Steel Pipe to a 105 foot center-line radius. The bridge spans Franklin Boulevard and serves as a connector between campus and other U of O research facilities. Next time you are in Eugene, be sure to check out the Knight Campus! 

Albina was honored to be a part of Curtis Pittman’s “Be the Light” sculpture for the Sandy Springs, Georgia Veterans Memorial. The sculpture stands at 30 feet tall and represents the cities gratitude toward their veterans. The park where the piece is located gives thanks to men and women who served in all branches of the military and hopes to inspire future generations as well. The sculpture also was installed with lights so once it is dark outside, it will glow.

For this project Albina bent 57 different segments of material.

CH 1” X 1” X 1/8” 6063-T52 ALUM
28 pcs bent to customer supplied instructions, radii ranging from 4ft to 16ft.

4” OD X .313” WALL A500B
15 pcs bent to customer supplied instructions, radii ranging from 8 ft to 15 ft.

2½” SCH40 A53B ERW
10 pcs bent to customer supplied instructions, radii ranging from 3 ft to 7 ft.

3” SCH40 A53B ERW
4 pcs bent to customer supplied instructions, radii ranging from 5 ft to 11 ft.

Photo Credit to Curtis Pittman (www.curtpittman.net)
Additional information from (https://www.sandyspringsga.gov/news/city-invites-community-honor-veterans) 

This year Albina Co. played a part in 3 of DJC’s top projects of 2025! Albina did bending for components of the Legacy Silverton Emergency Department project, the Oregon State University Cordley Hall project, and the PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment Phase 1 project! 

Legacy Silverton Emergency Department

Albina bent

1 pc of W12 X 22# A992 to a 80’-0” radius

4 pcs of C8 X 11.5# A36 to a 58’-3” radius

4 pcs of TS 8" X 6" X .250" WALL A500 GR C to a 65’-3” radius

Oregon State University Cordley Hall

Albina bent

3 pcs of WT3 X 6# A992 to a 10’-0” minimum radius

4 pcs of WT5 X 11# A992 to a 17’-3” minimum radius

8 pcs of 4" X 4" X 3/8" ANGLE A36 to a 1’-6” radius

9 pcs of WT3 X 6# A992 to a 8’-5” minimum radius

10 pcs of WT5 X 11# A992 to a 14’-8” minimum radius

1 pc W6 X 12# A36 split for rolling Tee

5 pcs W10 X 22# A992 split for rolling Tee

4 pcs of 3/8" THICK A36 PLATE X 9' 2-7/16" WIDE to a 14’-0” radius

2 pcs of 3/8" THICK A36 PLATE X 9' 1" WIDE to a 8’-0” radius

2 pcs of 3/8" THICK A36 PLATE X 8' 1-3/8" WIDE to a 8’-0” radius

PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment Phase 1

Albina bent

8 pcs of 1½" OD X .120" WALL 304SS #4 FINISH to a 2.5” radius

We’re thrilled to share that The Fabricator magazine has published a feature article on Albina and some of the unique capabilities we bring to the table—especially when it comes to our Davi plate rolling machines!

The piece dives into the story behind how we acquired our Davi equipment and the fun Top Gun-inspired nicknames we’ve given each one. (Yes, we do feel the need for speed when it comes to rolling precision and innovation!)

One standout section tells the story of our collaboration with artist Damon Hyldreth. Together, we pushed the boundaries of what’s possible by rolling plate in a truly unconventional way to bring one of his sculptures to life. It was a perfect example of creativity meeting capability.

The article also offers insight into the vision and leadership of our President, Brian Smith, whose “Field of Dreams” philosophy—“if you build it, they will come”—played a key role in our decision to invest in cutting-edge plate rolling technology.

Beyond the machines themselves, the article explores how we integrate advanced technology into our operations. From iPads and a custom-developed app to the use of Microsoft HoloLens, we’re committed to staying ahead of the “curve”.

All in all, it’s a fantastic read that gives a glimpse into how we “roll” at Albina—combining innovation, passion, and a little bit of movie magic to get the job done right.

Check it out and see what sets Albina apart in the world of steel bending and rolling!