Laser Welded Stainless Steel 316L Hollow Sections for a Chocolate Fountain in Macau
Chef Janice Wong wanted to create what she envisioned as the world’s largest chocolate fountain and install it in the lobby of the MGM Cotai resort, a luxury hotel within an established casino complex in Macau. The structure had to be in stainless steel and enclosed by glass windows, so hotel guests could see the installation from outside without having to enter the confectionery shop. Via Montanstahl’s partners in Asia, Stainless Structurals Asia, the project was put out to tender and Montanstahl was selected to supply the structural profiles.
Demanding Geometry, Non-Standard Lengths, and Tight Tolerances
The requirements were technically demanding across every dimension. The special hollow sections had to be produced to the artist’s design, in bars 7.5 metres long, well beyond standard mill lengths. The profiles needed tight dimensional tolerances throughout, precision miter cuts at the ends, and pre-drilled holes to simplify on-site assembly in Macau. The surface finish had to be passivated and blasted, consistent and clean across the full length of each bar. Finding the right combination of design and production technology to achieve the required aesthetic and structural result was the first task to resolve before any steel was cut.
3D Laser Welded RHS Profiles of 350×60 mm with Shifted Webs and Large Fins
The sections were produced using 3D laser welding, which allowed the complex geometry to be built precisely and with consistent quality across all three bars. The tubular profiles measured 350 x 60 mm with a wall thickness of 20 mm; each finished bar weighed approximately 1,000 kg. One end of each bar featured shifted webs, while the other carried an extension of large fins measuring 200 x 800 mm. The profiles were delivered with passivated and blasted surfaces, precision miter cuts, and pre-drilled holes, ready for direct assembly on site. An MGM manager travelled from Macau to Switzerland specifically to inspect the profiles and confirmed the work met the tolerance requirements.
Application Context
This case sits at the intersection of Montanstahl’s architecture, building and construction segment and public art, where laser welded special profiles are produced for structures that are both structural and on permanent display in high-profile settings. An installation of this kind shows how 3D laser welding can handle non-standard geometries, overlong bars, and complex finishing requirements in a single production process. Custom stainless steel profiles like these are supplied worldwide for architectural, artistic, and interior applications where standard sections are not an option.