Whether the bridge (cable tray, metal bridge, etc.) holds its value depends on factors such as its material, market demand, usage scenarios, and recycling value. With gold, copper and other traditional value assets, bridge belongs to the industrial accessories, its ability to retain value is relatively limited, but in some cases still has a certain value stability. The following are specific analyses:

1. The value preservation potential of the bridge 

✅ Possible value preservation 

Material is stainless steel or galvanised steel 

If the bridge is made of corrosion-resistant materials such as 304 stainless steel and galvanised steel, the metal itself has a recycling value (especially when the price of copper and steel rises).

For example, the recycling price of scrap stainless steel is about RMB 8~15/kg (2024 market) and galvanised steel is about RMB 2~5/kg, which can partially offset the depreciation cost.

Stable market demand 

Bridge is a rigid product for construction, power, data centre and other industries, long-term demand exists (especially driven by urbanisation and 5G base station construction).

Brand and quality 

High-end brands (e.g. OBO, Legrand, domestic first-tier brands) of high-quality bridge frames may have a certain degree of liquidity in the second-hand market (e.g. auction of engineering surplus materials).

❌ Non-value-preserving conditions 

Ordinary cold-rolled steel or poor-quality materials

Rust and corrosion-prone bridges have low recycling value after scrapping (even need to pay waste disposal fee).

Non-standard customised bridges 

Special sizes or non-standard designs of bridges are difficult to reuse and have a high second-hand discount rate.

Technological upgrading in the industry 

If new types of bridges (e.g. stronger fire resistance, lightweight design) replace the old ones, the old ones may depreciate in value quickly.

2. Bridges vs. traditional value preservation assets 

Comparison Dimensions Bridges Copper/gold Real estate 

Liquidity Low (need to match engineering needs) High (global trading market) Low (long trading cycle) 

Value preservation basis Dependent on material and scrap recycling price Scarcity + financial attributes Scarcity of land + rental income 

Volatility Highly affected by fluctuation of steel prices Highly affected by macro-economics Influenced by policy, location 

Long-term trend Slowly grows with industrial demand Inflation-resistant + long term rise Varies greatly from location to location 

3. How to enhance the residual value of bridge frames?

Choose high recycling value material: give priority to purchasing stainless steel and galvanised aluminium alloy bridge.

Standardised design: Avoid non-standard customisation and increase second-hand reuse rate.

Maintenance: Regular anti-rust treatment (e.g. spraying anti-corrosion paint) to prolong the service life.

Focus on recycling channels: co-operate with metal recyclers to dispose of waste bridge frames in time.

5. Conclusion: Does the bridge keep its value?

Short-term: the bridge is a project consumables, after the installation of the residual value is usually calculated according to the depreciation of 5 ~ 10 years, not a typical investment goods.

Long-term: If the material is of high quality (such as stainless steel) and the price of metal rises, it may be partially preserved through recycling, but it is far less stable than copper and gold.

Better alternative: If value preservation is pursued, it is more efficient to invest directly in copper and steel futures or related ETFs (e.g. COPX) than to hoard bridges.

Suggestion: The core value of bridges lies in engineering utility rather than investment in preservation of value. If anti-inflation is required, commodities or financial assets are recommended.