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All new technology has its own story that goes hand in hand with research and development, yet taking more than two decades for R&D like BlueScope’s Activate ® technology is barely seen in the industry. Surprisingly, the ‘abnormality’ in the Activate® R&D enables this unique technology to set a ‘new norm’ in Viet Nam’s alloy-coated steel industry. The story of researching and developing Activate® told by Mr. Daniel Parker, Process Development Manager, BlueScope Innovation unveils underlying know-how of this very technology.

Mr. Daniel Parker, Process Development Manager, BlueScope Innovation

It is common sense that the market is constantly changing and so is technology. What inspired BlueScope to develop Activate® – a technology that can still claim “best-of-the-best” regardless of more than 20 years of testing?

At BlueScope, we understand that our success depends on our customers choosing us. That’s why we work closely with them to create value and trust, share ideas and bring the benefits of innovative, sustainable products and services to their own businesses and projects.

We have manufacturing operations in 18 countries, and sales offices in other locations around the world. Through this supply network, around 14,000 BlueScope people serve thousands of customers worldwide. That’s to say we have in-depth understanding of customers’ needs and our customers, as end users, have always been looking for ways to expand the lifespan of their plant/workshops/buildings, maximising their investment. This is where our Activate technology fits in.

So why did it take BlueScope more than 20 years to invent the Activate® technology?

In order to ensure the new generation of COLORBOND® steel and ZINCALUME® steel with Activate® coating technology lives up to the highest expectations in durability, we conducted a comprehensive testing programme that included accelerated laboratory corrosion tests, as well as real-world outdoor exposure tests. Over a 20-year period, more than 8,000 profile panels have undergone Q-Fog cyclic testing and salt spray testing in laboratories. A further 10,000 panels have been tested in 22 different exposure sites in Australia and around the world. The Activate technology is covered by over 20 patent applications that have been filed worldwide, related to the unique and effective microstructure in our new technology that differentiates it from any other product on the market.

Additionally, during the product development stage, 50 building sites comprising a wide range of applications, as well as five purpose-built test structures, have been tested in real-world conditions and in severe marine environment. The new technology has also been validated by 3rd party testing and benchmarked against the latest coated products around the world through the French Corrosion Institute, proving that COLORBOND® steel with Activate® technology is highly durable, especially at the cut edge, and more resilient to scratches and scuffs during construction.

What makes Activate ® technology corrosion resistant? Is this technology is a good fit for challenging environments in the industrial or coastal context?

The key factor behind BlueScope’s patented ACTIVATE® technology lies in the unique composition and microstructure of 4 phases including Aluminium – Zinc and two strategically positioned magnesium compounds.

With the unique composition and microstructure of the 4 phases, our new generation COLORBOND® steel and ZINCALUME® steel create a self-sealing effect that greatly improves corrosion resistance at cut edges, screw holes, and scratches. This mechanism improves the protection of projects in difficult environments such as marine and polluted industrial sites, enabling them to withstand the test of time. And of course it’s a good “candidate” for any projects in Viet Nam from benign environments to more challenging environments close to marine or industrial areas.

Vingroup chooses COLORBOND® steel for their Vinfast Factory and its complex areas

Since its launch in 2019, has Activate been widely applied by investors?

Our Activate® technology was launched in Australia in 2013. After six years of presence in a variety of global projects, NS BlueScope Vietnam made a business decision to introduce this very technology to Viet Nam’s market as a breakthrough to improve our product quality, thereby accelerate the growth of the country’s construction industry.

Kizuna IZ has experience in using Colorbond® steel for their ready serviced factories for more 10 years. When Activate technology was launched in 2019, they confidently chose new generation COLORBOND® steel for their new project Kizuna 3

C.P. Group chooses Colorbond® steel for many factories

As our Activate® technology sets a new standard in Viet Nam’s alloy-coated steel industry, it is welcome by prestigious investors across several sectors. We are now having big world-class factories such as Vinfast, Kizuna, FM Logistic, C.P., Masan applying our new coating technology in Colorbond® steel or Zincalume® steel. We believe they will be the trend setters in the industry with our solutions.

AES Vietnam, a division of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), on Tuesday launched its new brand identity that reflects the company’s commitment and the world’s transition to a cleaner energy future.

Among the forerunners in clean growth and innovation, AES has been spearheading the energy industry with cutting-edge technologies in LNG to power, renewables, digital innovation, and battery energy storage while creating the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs.

With 15 years of operation in Vietnam, AES continues to play a key role in meeting the country’s ever-increasing energy needs.

The company’s 2.2 GW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant and Son My LNG terminal project, both of which are under development, will bring a total investment of US$3.2 billion to Binh Thuan Province and significantly enhance the local economy.

The plant and terminal will together play a major role in shaping Vietnam’s energy future by diversifying the energy mix with imported LNG as well as meeting the country’s increasing demand for sustainable and affordable electricity.

Along with the launch of its new brand, AES Vietnam introduces new product offerings in solar energy and battery storage, with the aim of helping local customers reach a higher standard of clean energy, secure their sustainable energy future, and achieve benefits through shared platforms and applications.

“With the new branding and product offerings, AES Vietnam continues positioning itself as a global company with strong local expertise, providing innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies to help Vietnam meet its renewable energy goals, which were outlined in the Politburo’s Resolution No.55-NQ/TW,” said David Stone, president of AES Vietnam.

The new offerings in solar power include 5B’s revolutionary MAVERICK design, which enables customers to deploy up to two times more solar energy at three times the speed using 50 percent less land.

AES is also the world leader in lithium-ion-based energy storage, both through the firm’s projects and via Fluence – a Siemens and AES company.

Worldwide, energy storage is considered a ‘force multiplier’ for renewable energy, as it allows for the integration of more solar, wind and distributed energy resources, and increases grid stability.

The offerings will enable AES to make it easier for organizations in Vietnam to speed up their clean energy transformation, make meaningful contributions toward a sustainable climate, and build competitive advantages within their industries, while at the same time accelerating the clean energy future the world deserves and needs.

AES Vietnam’s vision is to be a leading sustainable power company in Vietnam that provides safe, reliable, and affordable energy.

On September 30, 2019, AES was officially granted approval by the government of Vietnam to develop a 2.2 GW Son My 2 combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant, which will be located in Binh Thuan Province.

The Son My 2 plant will have a 20-year contract with the Vietnamese government and is expected to achieve financial completion in 2021 and begin commercial operations in 2024.

In October 2020, AES Vietnam and PV GAS inked a Term Sheet of the Joint Venture Agreement for the Son My LNG terminal.

The terminal has an installed capacity of 450 TBtu, representing a total investment of about $1.4 billion.

The terminal is expected to achieve financial completion in 2022 and begin commercial operations in 2025.

It will play an important role in supporting Vietnam’s energy transition and economic growth.

AES, through its subsidiary, AES Mong Duong Power Company Limited, has successfully developed and arranged financing for the Mong Duong 2 Power Project of 1,242 MW with total investment of approximately $2.1 billion.

The AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy.

Together with its many stakeholders, the company is delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs.

Its diverse workforce is committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence, while partnering with customers on their strategic energy transitions and continuing to meet their energy needs.

A woman wearing a FFP2 face mask shops at a fruit and vegetable market in Berlin on April 9, 2021 amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.(DAVID GANNON / AFP)

The total number of infections now stands at 3,011,513, with 78,452 deaths, the institute said.

However the incidence rate over the past week, closely followed by authorities, was 136.4 per 100,000 inhabitants — below the level for tightening Covid-19 restrictions.

Germany remains gripped by rising infection rates, despite cultural venues, restaurants and leisure facilities having been closed for months. Health authorities warned Friday that hospitals could become overwhelmed without tougher national measures.

AFP