A student tour group at Atlas Tube Third Atlas Tube Student Day This year’s annual Atlas Tube Student Day was held on April 10, 2014 at the company’s Chicago mill. It was co-sponsored by DFI and PDCA, and approximately 70 undergraduate and graduate students from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Purdue Calumet attended. The students enjoyed presen- tations, a guided tour and lunch. The speakers at the event were professionals from different fields of engineering. Brett Gitskin, president of ECS Midwest, LLC spoke for his second consecutive Student Day about foundation design and geotechnical engineering. Van Komurka, P.E., co- founder of Wagner Komurka Geotechnical Group, presented on select aspects of driven pile design. Marv Phillips, metallurgist at Atlas Tube, discussed details of Electric Resistance Welding (ERW) pipe piles and explained their unique manufacturing process. Kirstin Nielsen, corporate recruiter for JMC Steel Group, talked to students about internship opportunities, and Marilyn Poindexter, account manager of Atlas’ pipe piles division, welcomed the students and led them through the day’s itinerary. After lunch, students were given white Atlas Tube hard hats, plastic safety glasses, orange vests, and ear plugs to prepare for a guided tour of the plant. The 60-minute tour was the highlight of the day, as students got a close look at how hollow structural sections (HSS) and pipe piles are made. Attendees learned that 2,400 tons of steel is manufactured at the mill per day, and were briefed on the metallurgy quality lab used for product testing. Following the tour, a short Q&A session was led by the speakers. Students left with information on DFI, hard hats, and a greater appreciation for the steel industry and the piling manufacturing process. Thanks to Chris Ragan, DFI Member and product manager, Pipe & Piling at Atlas Tube, for details and photos of this successful event. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2014 • 39
