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Customer case

SSAB’s Weathering steel is perfect material for nature

October 27, 2022 6 min read

SSAB Weathering tube in transmission line

Case details

Product Hollow sections – build a stronger future with less steel
Country Finland
Company TLS Verkko Oy
Industry Energy transport

First transmission line made from SSAB Weathering steel was installed from Ylitornio to Liakka over ten years ago. Line is 57 kilometers long and has 222 poles and it is owned by TLS Verkko OY. SSAB delivered SSAB Weathering steel tubes to the project and VK-Electric built the line for TLS Verkko Oy.

Case details

Product Hollow sections – build a stronger future with less steel
Country Finland
Company TLS Verkko Oy
Industry Energy transport
Weathering tube in forest

SSAB’s Weathering steel is perfect material for the nature. Its natural patina disperses into the nature beautifully. With superb corrosion resistance will minimize total life cycle costs, thanks to its low maintenance needs. One pole design and SSAB Weathering steel together enables narrower the right of way and that means more forest saved when building new lines. It is also an environmentally friendly option. Painted or unpainted, SSAB Weathering tubes ensure longer service life at minimum or no maintenance work at all. The surface of SSAB Weathering is durable and its surface does not get damaged easily. So delivering it to the challenging places is not an issue; minor dents do not cause any problems.

“Using SSAB’s tubular materials improves our security of maintenance. It will reassure that we can get spare parts if needed.

Mika Huttu, Operations Manager, TLS Verkko Oy

“It’s a huge benefit for us and the landowners that the one pole design requires less logging when building the line and it also are also needs less clearance and yearly maintenance. The transmission line’s material SSAB Weathering does not require any maintenance so it has already proven to be worth of the investment. With lighter SSAB Weathering material, which was delivered in exact pieces, we saved time and money with the delivery costs and production time. No waste and every pole fit to its place.”, says Mika Huttu from TSL Verkko Oy

TLS Verkko Oy wanted to be a vanguard and use not only new material but also try a new one pole design at the transmission line. They faced some doubts; for example will the rust damage the dielectrics?

Transmission line in forest
SSAB Weathering tube in Ylitornio

“We haven’t had any claims regarding this line, quite contrary, we are pleased with the SSAB Weathering steel and its long life cycle costs. The design and the material together brought up many new benefits. Installation process was minimum 30% faster and safer than building the traditional one. We have the possibility to change the wires to thicker ones if needed.”, continues Mika Huttu from TLS Verkko Oy.

TLS Verkko Oy values and takes pride of using Finnish labor and materials.  They use Finnish contractors and designers when they are building new lines. 

Ten years after the installation TLS Verkko Oy is pleased with SSAB Weathering steel and the new design.