CBMM Brazil, a major producer of the micro alloying element niobium, together with Ferro Tech India, their principal and sole distributor of ferroniobium in India and Russia, held an International Symposium on Niobium Bearing Structural Steels in New Delhi from April 12th to April 14th011.
The symposium gathered world leading experts in the area of production, design and application of high strength structural steels covering the main sectors of high rise buildings, bridges, ship building, pressure vessels, wind towers, power generation and transmission etc. A total of 28 technical papers were presented and discussed by approximately 70 delegates comprising of leading Indian and overseas steelmakers, structural engineers, architects, regulatory authorities as well as education institutions.
Key areas of discussions centered on the value adding role of micro alloying with niobium for high strength constructional steels, providing significant cost saving opportunities as well as benefits to the steel application. Of specific interest was the positive role of high strength niobium structural steels in fire resistant and seismic resistant applications for building construction. In addition, delegates expressed considerable interest in the ability of Indian and overseas steelmakers to supply niobium high strength constructional steels along with its value adding capability.
Most of the participants agreed that the use of high strength steels in construction applications is rapidly increasing. Examples were provided from a number of projects from around the world using niobium high strength steels. Domestic delegates acknowledged the current opportunity for India to take advantage of such niobium bearing steels as other world countries have.
The Indian government is planning to invest over USD 1 trillion for development of infrastructure in India during the 12th Five Year Plan period between 2012 and 2017. Through the use of high strength niobium bearing structural steels, designers and engineers will have the opportunity to build more with less, saving scarce resources, building faster, allowing significant cost and time savings and permitting more architectural challenging and safer structures.
It may also be noted that CBMM and Aurohill, Ferro Tech’s sub agent in Russia, held a seminar on high strength line pipe steel and an industry round table discussion in Russia last week as well.
