With aims to develop the innovation, SSI revealed that its invention “PostConnex” – a steel tube column for jointly use with post-tensioned concrete or reinforced concrete slab met requirements of patentability: novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. This invention can reduce construction time, solve construction labor shortage problems, and increase usable areas.
Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC or SSI revealed that its invention “PostConnex” – a steel tube column for jointly use with post-tensioned concrete or reinforced concrete slab is qualified for the Patent Cooperation Treaty International Phase (PCT International Phase). Consideration result stated that PostConnex is novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability [1] which are important conditions for registration for patent protection in destination country.
PostConnex, innovative steel for construction works, is a connection system between hollow steel section (HSS) and post-tensioned concrete slab or cast-in-place reinforced concrete slab. It may refer to as an “innovative connection for concrete slap and steel tube column. Outstanding property of this innovation is that PostConnex uses steel tube column already produced from the factory together with the assembling set which can provide good quality construction work because its quality has already been controlled from the factory. It can save construction time because no wiring is required to strengthen the column, as well as formwork and concrete column laying. Thus, it can solve a labor shortage problem effectively. Most importantly, PostConnex can increase usable areas which provide the building more lofty space. The architect and interior decorator will have more freedom on architectural design. In addition, the entrepreneurs, especially the real estate developers, can have increased revenue from the increased usable areas, either from rental areas or selling areas.
Connection point at column head (pole connection point) has been designed to support post-tensioned concrete slab and it also serves as the navigator for building the structural column in the next level, so it can speed up the construction works. There is also the connection point at the column base (female connection point) which is referred to as column base fixing equipment to support column during installation or assembling process. All connection points do not only facilitate adjustment of level (z-axis), coordinate (x and y-axis) and vertical of column, but they can also be hidden under the concrete slap, both post-tensioned concrete slab and reinforced concrete slab, so they do not obstruct vision and usable areas in the building and can strengthen the structure as well. Team of researchers of SSI conducted research bearing capacity test in the laboratory with more than 20 samples at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) under control of the lecturers from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and the Asian Institute of Technology. The test results were satisfactory. Connection points have better strength to withstand weight than estimation for safety of users in all circumstances.
For more details on academic aspects, please read from the academic paper published in Thailand Engineering Journal by the Engineering Institute of Thailand [1] http://www.ebookservicepro.com/showcase/EIT/bookshelf [1]. Information appeared in the international preliminary report on patentability dated 21 September 2022 accordance with the international application no. PCT/TH2021/000047.