“Silverbalken” is the Swedish Institute of Steel Construction’s award for outstanding efforts in the development of steel construction. This year the prize was awarded for the 41st time at a ceremony in Gothenburg in connection with Steel Construction Day.

The award statement contains the following:
“Throughout her career Eva Petursson has worked to promote steel construction. Eva has put to use the knowledge acquired as an academic and researcher within the steel construction industry at SSAB, specializing in the development of high-strength steel. Eva’s ambition is to develop the opportunities offered by high-strength steel within the construction industry. Eva is a respected colleague and manager. She is inspiring and knows how to make a difference. ”

Eva Petursson is a civil engineer from Luleå University of Technology (LTU). Her doctor’s thesis in 2001 was on Steel Construction. Following her doctorate, she worked in the Steel Construction department at LTU before beginning at SSAB in Borlänge in 2005. She worked for several years with structural steel issues at SSAB’s Knowledge Service Center. In 2011 Eva became Senior Specialist at SSAB’s newly established specialist program, and in March 2015, became group head of research tasked with bringing together the different divisions within strategic research.

At SSAB Eva has worked with the development of new applications for high-strength steel. Through an increased knowledge of, for example, heavy lifting and vehicles new opportunities are also created for steel construction. The work has led to the development of new technical solutions for bearing structures in high-strength steel which will ultimately enable more sustainable construction.

“I am, of course, thrilled with this award and hope that it will contribute to the increased use of high- strength steel within the construction industry,” said Petursson.

The Swedish Institute of Steel Construction is an independent organization financed through the Swedish Steel Construction Research Foundation, the steel industry and national and international research financiers. The foundation’s partners are companies with an interest in the steel construction industry.

TOMMY LÖFGREN