Tikkurila’s Products to Protect the Swedbank Arena

Sweden’s new national stadium, the Swedbank Arena, currently under construction in Stockholm, is the latest project in Tikkurila’s and Rautaruukki’s twenty year cooperation. The steel structures and roofing elements, supplied by Ruukki, will be painted with Tikkurila products. The construction of the Swedbank Arena commenced towards the end of 2009, with the project due for completion in August 2012. Peab AB, one of Sweden’s largest construction companies, is responsible for the building contract. The stadium will be the largest in the Nordic countries, able to hold 50,000 spectators for football matches and 65,000 for concerts. Its sliding roof will facilitate its multipurpose use: football matches can be played under an open sky, but for other events, such as concerts and exhibitions, the stadium can be converted into an indoor hall. Ruukki has signed a contract with Peab for the manufacture and installation of supporting steel structures and roofing elements. Prior to their dispatch for installation, all steel products manufactured by Ruukki for the Swedbank Arena will be painted with Tikkurila’s products for the metal industry at Ruukki painting shops. Moreover, touch-up painting will be required on-site. Temazinc 77 was chosen as the primer for Swedbank Arena steel structures, and Temacoat SPA Primer, specially developed for steel structures, as the intermediate coat. This paint dries very quickly, enabling the immediate finishing of the structures with the Temathane 50 polyurethane topcoat. Painting was started in July 2010. By October, less than half of the total volume had been processed.