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Blog posts tagged with 'Steel Bending'

Do You Have Your Elevator Speech Ready?
Do You Have Your Elevator Speech Ready?

Photo Credit: Campus Planning & Facilities Management University of Oregon

Do you ever find yourself stumbling over your words when people ask you what you do or to describe what your company does? My father taught me at a young age that I should always have my elevator speech ready so I could describe to someone what we do in the amount of time it takes to travel up a few stories in an elevator. Since we can't ride in elevators with anyone other than our immediate family anymore, here is a quick 30 second video of some of the amazing rolled metal projects we have been a part of!

Photo Credits:
Signature Curved Steel Sky Bridge at the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact by Campus Planning and Facilities Mgmt. University of Oregon.
Portside Pier San Diego Bay CA. (Building and Staircase) by @haleyhillphotography
Barbara Walker Pedestrian Bridge along Portland's Wildwood Trail in Portland Oregon by Ed Carpenter
Circular Staircase at the "Trinity Complex", home to American Airlines Headquarters in Fort Worth, TX by Viva Railings LLC
Hayward Field Stadium Roof and Tower by Oregon Track & Field
Williams Creek Shoup Bridge in Salem, Idaho by Linda Ulery

"Daunting Curves Ahead"- Article in O & M Metal Fabricator
"Daunting Curves Ahead"- Article in O & M Metal Fabricator

A recent issue of O & M Metal Fabricator Magazine, produced by NOMMA, features a case study written by Jeff Fogel with input from key members of the Albina Team, on the great spiraling feat it took to create the spectacular spiral staircase at the American Airlines Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

We spiral bent Tube Steel 16″ X 16″ X .625″ WALL A500 GR B bent down to a an 18 foot radius, using our induction heating process to create the spiral stringers for the staircase. In addition to the 16″ square, we produced another set of spiral stringers consisting of Tube Steel 14″ x 6″ x .625″ wall REALLY tight, exposed and bent to a 5′-6″ radius on a 45° pitch. These are the type of bends that ONLY Albina can do! The 1.7 million-square-foot complex, dubbed the “Trinity complex,” consists of four seven-story buildings. It cost nearly $300 million to build and houses over 6,500 employees. There were 10 tower cranes on the project and more than 1,000 construction workers on-site during the peak of the project. Viva Railings LLC (Photo credit & Glass/Railing Fabricator). Read “Daunting Curves Ahead"

American Airlines Headquarters Steel Spiral Staircase

Steel Spiral Staircase in the Lobby of the American Airlines Headquarters
Signature Spiral Staircase at the Buddy Holly Hall of Arts & Sciences
Signature Spiral Staircase at the Buddy Holly Hall of Arts & Sciences

The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Science in Lubbock, Texas is a 220,000 square foot state-of-the-art campus featuring two theaters, event space, a full-service bistro and a ballet academy under one roof. Albina bent various materials for the signature spiral staircase in the Christine DeVitt Lobby. See LINK IN OUR BIO to get a sneak peek inside!

TS 16" X 8" X .625" WALL A500 GR C
16 pcs: Spiral bend the easy way
Bent down to a 7 ft plan view radius.

TS 10" X 6" X .625" WALL A500 GR C
10 pcs: Spiral bend the hard way
Bend down to a 14' 11" plan view radius.

Steel Spiral Stringers for The Buddy Holly Hall of Arts & Sciences

Top Down view of the Steel Spiral Staircase at The Buddy Holly Hall of Arts & Sciences
It's Here, It's There, It's Everywhere! Curved Steel at the Forefront of Construction at the University of Oregon
It's Here, It's There, It's Everywhere! Curved Steel at the Forefront of Construction at the University of Oregon

Photo Credit: Univeristy of Oregon Track and Field.

Two major construction projects are just wrapping up at the University of Oregon and curved steel is at the forefront of both projects!

The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact Sky Bridge.

Curved Steel Pedestrian Bridge at the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact
Photo Credit: Campus Planning & Facilities Management University of Oregon

Albina Co., Inc. bent 22″ OD x 1″ Wall Carbon Steel Pipe to a 105 foot center-line radius for a signature sky bridge that spans Franklin Boulevard and serves as a connector between campus and other U of O research facilities. The $225 million, 160,000-square-foot first phase opened in the Spring of 2020. Click on the link in my BIO to take a virtual tour of the building. Photo Credit: Campus Planning & Facilities Management U of O.

“The Front Runner in Steel Bending. We Tower Above the Rest” We were thrilled to be an integral part of reconstructing Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Hayward Field is the world-class home to @OregonTF.

Albina created the curved steel diaphragm used to support the roof structure and provided various bent materials to help construct the landmark tower at the northeast corner of the facility. Designers wanted to create a structure that was open and airy, allowing spectators to enjoy great views and natural daylight, in an intimate environment.

For the roof, we rolled 600 lengths, varying from 28’-0” to 75’-6” long, of 14" OD X .375" / .500 WALL A500-18 GRADE B&C. That is 1,500,000# lot weight (750 tons) of rolled steel, 32 inbound trucks and 90 outbound trucks. The 14” OD material was laid over the top of the plate that we bent for this project. We bent 300 lengths, varying from 3’-0” to 37’-0” long, of PLATE 1½" THICK X 16¾" WIDE A572 GR. 50 and PLATE 1½" THICK X 10" WIDE A572 GR. 50.

In addition to the iconic roof, the tower at Hayward (187 feet tall) creates a community landmark honoring the first 100 years of track and field at Oregon. We rolled 400 lengths, varying from 20’-0” to 60’-0” long, of Tube Steel 8" X 4" X .500" WALL A500 GR B, 8-5/8" OD X .625" WALL A500C WHEELED, 8-5/8" OD X .375" WALL A500C WHEELED, 8-5/8" OD X .250" WALL A500C WHEELED, and Flat Bar 3/8" X 4½" A36. That is 330,000# lot weight (165 tons) of rolled steel, 10 inbound trucks and 16 outbound trucks! Photo Credit: Oregon Track & Field.

Our work was extremely precise, and we had zero rejected parts by the fabricator, Fought & Co., Inc. When measuring the work points during fabrication, they never once had to heat up or adjust the bending. To make the erection process go smoothly, we marked every 3-4 feet on the centerline back of the pipe to assist in the layout process for the diagrid “fish-mouth” stubs, and up-stands for the roofing system.

National Steel Bridge Alliance Names the Williams Creek (Shoup) Bridge a Merit Award Winner
National Steel Bridge Alliance Names the Williams Creek (Shoup) Bridge a Merit Award Winner

Photo Credit: Linda Ulery

The Awards just keep on coming! The National Steel Bridge Alliance has awarded the Williams Creek Shoup Bridge in Salem, Idaho a Merit Award in the Medium Span bridges category. Albina was happy to be a part of the project and provided 145,000# of bent structural steel and HSS including:

W18 X 234# A992
4 lengths x 100 ft- bent the easy way to a 179 ft radius
2 lengths x 75 ft- bent the easy way to a 179 ft radius

TS 8" X 8" X .375" WALL A500 GR B
8 lengths x 53 ft: bent to a 304 ft radius.

Photo Credit: Don Perkins (Photos 2 & 3)

The AISC website has detailed information about the project, the design, the construction, erection, and more.

Aerial View of the Williams Creek (Shoup) Curved Steel Bridge in Salem, Idaho

Williams Creek Curved Steel Bridge a Merit Award Winner
Barbara Walker Crossing Footbridge Wins Two International CODA Awards!
Barbara Walker Crossing Footbridge Wins Two International CODA Awards!

The Barbara Walker Crossing Footbridge, along the Wildwood Trail in Portland, Oregon, is the official winner of two prestigious CODA awards, organized by CODAworx, an online global design platform which celebrates the worlds best in public art. The footbridge won a People's Choice Award as voted on by the public, as well as an award in the transportation category. . Click to watch the YouTube Video featuring the bridge. The bridge, designed by local artist, Ed Carpenter, is 178’ long measured at the center of its curving deck. Its basic structure is a tri-chord truss of rusting and painted steel. Carpenter’s design evokes imagery of the sword ferns and vine maples lining the entire length of the Wildwood Trail. This project is a collaborative effort of the Portland Parks Foundation in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), and Metro. Albina Co., Inc. bent 3½" SCH80 A847 and 5" SCH40 A847 all rolled to various radii, as well as 1" SCH40 A53B, 1½" SCH40 A53B, 1½" SCH80 A53B all rolled to various radii. For more examples of curved steel pedestrian bridges that we have been a part of check out the Architectural & Structural Section of our website. (Photo Credit: Ed Carpenter).

Barbara Walker Cross Curved Steel Pedestrian Bridge in Portland, Oregon

Barbara Walker Crossing Curved Steel Pedestrian Bridge CODA Award Winner
Rolled Steel Front and Center at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor
Rolled Steel Front and Center at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor

The Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association operates USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park. It is the most visited submarine museum in the world. The museum aims to educate the public and honor veterans in a way that does justice to the brave men and women of the Silent Service. The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park is undergoing a major improvement project and renaming itself The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor. In the video you can see one of the submarines in the bay. The ring resembles the hull of a submarine and will be featured as visitors enter the park. For more information and project renderings, click here. Albina bent the following materials for the project:

22,000# of rolled steel:
3 x 40 ft: TS 12" X 6" X .625" WALL A500 GR B. Net 3 pcs rolled the Easy Way to a 21 ft radius.
2 x 35 ft: TS 10" X 4" X .375" WALL A500 GR B. Net 2 pcs rolled the Easy Way to a 42 ft radius.
TS 12" X 4" X .375" WALL A500 GR B. Net 18 pcs rolled. Some rolled the Hard way and others rolled the Easy way. Radii ranging from 13 ft to 231 ft.
TS 10" X 6" X .375" WALL A500 GR B. Net 3 pcs rolled the Easy Way to a 24 ft radius.
W14 X 34# A992. Net 2 pcs rolled the Easy Way to a 24 ft radius.
4" X 4" X 3/8" ANGLE A36. Net 4 pcs rolled the Leg Out to a 24 ft radius.

Check back soon for final installation pictures! They are going to be spectacular!

Curved Steel Roof at Renovated Hayward Field
Curved Steel Roof at Renovated Hayward Field

Photo Credit: University of Oregon Track & Field

As the "Front Runner in Steel Bending", we "Tower Above the Rest!" We were thrilled to be an integral part of reconstructing Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Hayward Field is the world-class home to @OregonTF. Albina created the curved steel diaphragm used to support the roof structure and provided various bent materials to help construct the landmark tower at the northeast corner of the facility. Designers wanted to create a structure that was open and airy, allowing spectators to enjoy great views and natural daylight, in an intimate environment. See https://linktr.ee/AlbinaCoInc for pictures, video and more!

For the roof, we rolled 600 lengths, varying from 28’-0” to 75’-6” long, of 14" OD X .375" / .500 WALL A500-18 GRADE B&C. That is 1,500,000# lot weight (750 tons) of rolled steel, 32 inbound trucks and 90 outbound trucks. The 14” OD material was laid over the top of the plate that we bent for this project. We bent 300 lengths, varying from 3’-0” to 37’-0” long, of PLATE 1½" THICK X 16¾" WIDE A572 GR. 50 and PLATE 1½" THICK X 10" WIDE A572 GR. 50.

In addition to the iconic roof, the tower at Hayward (187 feet tall) creates a community landmark honoring the first 100 years of track and field at Oregon. We rolled 400 lengths, varying from 20’-0” to 60’-0” long, of Tube Steel 8" X 4" X .500" WALL A500 GR B, 8-5/8" OD X .625" WALL A500C WHEELED, 8-5/8" OD X .375" WALL A500C WHEELED, 8-5/8" OD X .250" WALL A500C WHEELED, and Flat Bar 3/8" X 4½" A36. That is 330,000# lot weight (165 tons) of rolled steel, 10 inbound trucks and 16 outbound trucks!

Our work was extremely precise, and we had zero rejected parts by the fabricator, Fought & Co., Inc. When measuring the work points during fabrication, they never once had to heat up or adjust the bending. To make the erection process go smoothly, we marked every 3-4 feet on the centerline back of the pipe to assist in the layout process for the diagrid “fish-mouth” stubs, and up-stands for the roofing system.

Check out the video below when Ashton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton Tour the Renovated Hayward Field.

Curved Steel at Kelli McGregor Square Outside Coors Field
Curved Steel at Kelli McGregor Square Outside Coors Field

Albina recently supplied 40,000# of bent steel for Kelli McGregor Square Mixed Use Development located outside Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. We bent the following materials.

TS 12" X 8" X .500" WALL A500 GR C
11 pcs bent the easy way
Various radii: 73 ft – 90 ft

TS 12" X 6" X .500" WALL A500 GR C
12 pcs bent the easy way
Various radii: 62 ft – 73 ft

To read more about the project and see renderings of what the final area will look like please read the article in Denver's Mile High Magazine.

How Does the Rotary Draw Bending Method Work and What Types of Products Can You Make?
How Does the Rotary Draw Bending Method Work and What Types of Products Can You Make?

Rotary draw bending is a cold bending method where the member is clamped to a rotating bend die and drawn around the bend die. The tailing tangent is held against the bend die by a pressure die, and the bend die rotates until the desired geometry is formed. A mandrel is often placed inside the member to restrain cross-sectional distortion during the bending process. Bends can also be formed with special draw-bending equipment where deformations are controlled by tensioning along the member axis. Rotary draw bending is commonly used to form small radius bends in smaller-size round, square and rectangular HSS members. Specific tooling is required for each member size, shape and bend radius; therefore, this method is best suited for projects requiring many identical bends. This bending method is primarily used in the machine and parts industry (Weisenberger, 2016) and for piping (Riviezzi,1984). The maximum degree of bend is 180°, but the minimum bend radii of round HSS is approximately 50% smaller than that of other cold-bending methods (Riviezzi, 1984). Have a need for consistent, accurate, and repeatable bent steel parts, hit us up today! We are standing by ready to assist!