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Eighth Annual Great Designs in Steel Seminar Showcases Steel’s Solution to Increasing Fuel Economy and Reducing Emissions

To demonstrate how new advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) technologies provide cost-effective solutions to help automakers increase fuel economy, curb emissions and improve safety, the Automotive Applications Council of AISI’s Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) held its 8th Annual Great Designs in Steel seminar on May 14 at the Laurel Manor Conference Center in Livonia, Mich. More than 1,000 automotive engineers, automotive designers, Tier One and Tier Two suppliers and academia attended.

The steel seminar – which is the premier forum for the latest trends and applications in automotive steel technologies – featured more than 25 technical presentations given by various North American automotive and steel industry experts. Vehicle structures and components featuring the innovative use of steel, new materials and processes were displayed on the exhibit floor.

“Since its inception, the Great Designs in Steel seminar has helped educate automotive engineers in using advanced high-strength steel technologies to design safe, fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles,” said Ron Krupitzer, vice president of automotive applications for AISI’s SMDI. “This year’s program featured some of the latest developments in next-generation steels that address key issues in the automotive industry today.”

The presentations included:

• A live extrication demonstration of a crashed car manufactured with ultra high-strength steel to highlight how new rescue equipment can help first responders free entrapped passengers from vehicles successfully;
• Future of Steel in the 21st Century;
• Optimized Steel Solutions for Roof Strength Using AHSS;
• Automotive Lightweighting and Upcoming Energy Climate Policy Opportunities; and
• Future Steel Vehicle – Advanced Powertrains and the Influence on Material Selection.

On display was the 2009 Ford F-150 Super Cab, which used a combination of AHSS and tube hydroforming to achieve the new roof-strength standards recently implemented by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. According to Ford Motor Co., the roof strength of the F-150 increased by nearly 75 percent compared to the 2008 model.

Additionally, AISI presented the BMW X6 Research and Development team with the third annual Great Designs in Steel Automotive Excellence Award. The team was selected for its cost-effective use of ultra high-strength steel that meets new market demands in safety, fuel efficiency and emission standards. Seminar presentations and images are available for download at www.autosteel.org. For more information, contact Deanna Lorincz.