Steel Construction Excellence Center (SCEC)
The Steel Construction Excellence Center (SCEC) is a hub of expertise in steel construction that brings together companies, as well as education, research, and development organizations. Our main objectives are to strengthen the conditions for sustainable business in the industry and promote its expansion, while also creating new opportunities for the future.
We conduct meaningful research, development, and innovation activities, providing high-quality RDI services to enhance the competitiveness of businesses in the field. We engage in high-level research projects, such as those funded by the Academy of Finland, Business Finland, and the European Union, collaborating with national and international partners.
We actively seek to identify new operating methods, find the most suitable operators, and enable cooperation between them. We encourage our partners to increase the use of carbon-neutral production methods and materials.
Our research and development services are tailored to the needs of individual companies. Our activities also provide a good basis for the creation of new innovations. By developing our infrastructure, we are preparing ourselves to respond better and more comprehensively to future RDI needs.
Our expertise
Through our activities, we ensure that there are top experts in the field both now and in the future. We continuously develop educational programs in the industry to align more with the needs of the workforce and the expectations of students. At the same time, we enhance the attractiveness of industry studies among those seeking educational opportunities. For professionals, we support the development of expertise through continuous learning.
To strengthen students’ connections to the working world, we provide genuine work-oriented learning tasks and thesis projects. We promote cross-educational level pathways and encourage companies to participate in the development of education.
Degree and continuing education programs
- Rakennus- ja yhdyskuntatekniikan insinööritutkinto, AMK
- Konetekniikan insinööritutkinto, AMK
- Kone-ja tuotantotekniikan perustutkinto
- Kestävät digitaaliset rakennustekniikat -koulutuskokonaisuus
Master’s degree programs
Research services
Our testing equipment can be used, for example, to study the durability of materials under various accelerated conditions and to perform destructive testing, thereby determining the properties of different materials. We research and develop steel structures, with a particular focus on the use of high-strength steels in structures. Our research aims to make steel construction products and structural components more durable, lighter, and easier to manufacture.
Research services that we offer:
News and events
2.12.2025 Teräsrakenne-lehti 2/2025 ilmestynyt
26.11.2025 SSAB TubeRail -kaiteen ensiasennus Hämeenlinnassa
6.11.2025 Materiaalien pitkäaikaiskestävyys ja sen merkitys ekologisessa tuotesuunnittelussa
8.10.2025 Väitös: Bioväriaineilla mahdollista saavuttaa synteettisten väriaineiden kestävyys
7.10.2025 MechJoint-hanke etenee
2.10.2025 Kuulumisia Alihankintamessuilta
15.9.2025 Uusi Ohutlevy-lehti ilmestynyt
3.9.2025 BioColour-tutkimushankkeessa kehitettiin uusia menetelmiä bioväriaineiden tuotantoon ja käyttöön
20.8.2025 Innovatiiviset rakennustuotteet luovat uuden standardin kestävälle digitaaliselle infrastruktuurille
15.7.2025 Rakennamme siltoja yritysten ja tutkimusmaailman välille
12.6.2025 Plootu Fennica -ohutlevytuotekilpailu on käynnissä
11.6.2025 Tutkimuksen avulla kohti resurssiviisaampaa tulevaisuutta
15.5.2025 HAMK edistämässä väriaineteollisuuden siirtymää fossiilisista uusiutuviin raaka-aineisiin
5.5.2025 Kestävämpää valmistusta – uusi lisäävän valmistuksen kokeiluympäristö Riihimäen kampukselle
10.4.2025 Teräsrakentamisen T&K-päivät Turussa 14.-15.8.2025
10.4.2025 Kiertotalouspilotit kiinteistö- ja rakennusalan pk-yritysten tukena vihreässä siirtymässä
Join the action
Our goal is to improve the operating conditions and competitiveness of the industry and businesses. We gather and share high-quality information about the latest trends in the industry with our network of actors and collaborate with key stakeholders. Additionally, we assist professionals and employers in the industry to connect, provide guidance, and support the emergence of new businesses in the field.
We aim to excel in all three areas of our operations: expertise, research, development, and innovation activities, as well as advocacy and stakeholder collaboration.
On-going projects
Deconstruction and Refabrication for the Reuse of Steel Buildings (DreamFAB) -project will develop and validate the technical rules and re-fabrication guidelines for the structural safety of reuse and re-fabrication of steel buildings and develop solutions for composite beams, roof trusses and robot-assisted deconstruction. In particular, the project aims to overcome the most critical technical barriers which prevent the reuse of steel constructions.
Adapting the built environment of Kanta-Häme to climate change (ILMARA) project seeks solutions to strengthen the climate resilience of the built environment in Kanta-Häme.
Towards a functioning circular economy and security of supply (KOHU) project aims to launch research and innovation activities related to additive manufacturing in Kanta-Häme.
HYBRITUT, or the “Low-carbon hybrid solutions for construction” project, is a research project promoting low-carbon solutions in the built environment by investigating hybrid building solutions and their environmental impact.
In MechJoint project we develop truss connection solutions for steel structures, and address the challenges in manufacturing, logistics and sustainability.
SCEC collaboration also enables the completion of doctoral theses.
Shear Resistance of Sandwich Elements
Shekhar Silwal, from HAMK Tech, is conducting research on the cutting resistance of sandwich elements. Various defect modes can be observed in sandwich panels depending on their structures, but there is limited existing research on the defect modes caused by the core material and shear resistance. The purpose of the research is to thoroughly examine the cutting strength of different sandwich panels with mineral wool and polyisocyanurate foam as core materials. The study incorporates both experimental and finite element analysis (FEA) methods. Based on the obtained results, an assessment of the core cutting strength of the sandwich panel will be performed, which can be utilized in the development of European standards. The research is funded by Ruukki Construction Oy, and it is supervised by Associate Professor Kristo Mela from the University of Tampere. The practical part of the work takes place at HAMK Tech facilities in Hämeenlinna.
Welding of High-Strength Steels
Jarmo Havula is working on his doctoral thesis titled “Mechanical Properties of HAZ in Welded Tubular High-Strength Steel Joints.” The aim of the experiments is to generate new information about the mechanical properties of the heat-affected zone (HAZ), which can be further utilized in the design of welded joints.
The main goal is to investigate the correlation between the welding heat input and heat cycle, and the mechanical properties of HAZ for selected steel grades. Additionally, the objective is to increase knowledge about methods for determining the mechanical properties of HAZ.
Contact info
Members
In cooperation with other Finnish steel experts