Steel Industry to Offer New Grades and Lightweight Steel Solutions for Advanced Powertrain Vehicles

DETROIT, March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- North American steel industry experts will launch FutureSteelVehicle (FSV) at the 10th Annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar Wednesday, May 18 in Livonia, Mich.  FSV is a global, multi-million dollar program that delivers auto body concepts addressing radically different steel structures for advanced powertrains, including advanced hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. The program introduces new advanced steel grades and manufacturing technologies to the industry's advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) portfolio than ever seen before in steel industry projects.

Over the past decade, automakers' use of AHSS has outpaced the growth rate of competing materials, making it the fastest growing automotive lightweighting material, according to Ducker Worldwide. The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) is continuing this track record by researching new steel solutions to help automotive manufacturers in their quest to meet stringent fuel economy and emissions requirements.

"Despite the rapid growth, we are just scratching the surface on steel lightweighting," Ronald Krupitzer, vice president, automotive market for SMDI, said. "And while automakers increase their use of today's suite of AHSS materials, we are working on the next generation."

"Weight reduction will be important to these newly designed powertrains.  Car manufacturers will use structural mass reduction to reduce battery and motor sizes," Krupitzer said. "Therefore, the choice of material will become critical.  The steel industry has met the challenge of affordable weight reduction, safety and environmental responsibility for the last 10 years.  Implementing FSV project results will continue this commitment over the next 10 to 15 years."

To learn more about the benefits of steel, FSV or to register for Great Designs in Steel 2011, visit www.autosteel.org.

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction and container markets, as well as for new growth opportunities in emerging steel markets.  For more news or information, visit www.smdisteel.org.

Steel Market Development Institute investors include:

• AK Steel Corporation
• ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• ArcelorMittal USA LLC
• Nucor Corporation
• SSAB Americas
• ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, LLC
• United States Steel Corporation
• USS-POSCO Industries

SOURCE Steel Market Development Institute

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