Top Stories

Revised AISI Prescriptive Method Approved as American National Standard

The revised AISI Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing—Prescriptive Method for One and Two Family Dwellings has just been approved as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In response to the need for increased performance by building materials in hostile weather conditions, AISI's revised Prescriptive Method has increased the wind load requirement for residential framing up to 150 mph. This change has made steel more competitive in high-wind regions such as south Florida and the U.S. Gulf Coast.

When the AISI Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing—Prescriptive Method for One and Two Family Dwellings was first developed, it was decided to limit the provisions to 130 mph exposure C wind. This excluded use of the Prescriptive Method from portions of south Florida and the Gulf Coast region, and was a judgment call based on perceived market needs. It was not felt that there would be a high demand for prescriptive provisions in higher-challenge areas. Since that decision, an International Code Council (ICC) Committee on Hurricane Resistant Construction was formed and work began on a Standard for Residential Construction in High Wind Regions. This committee desired that prescriptive provisions be established for areas up to 150 mph exposure C wind. A portion of the coastal region affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is classified as 140 or 150 mph exposure C wind, as is a portion of south Florida.

With funding support from the Steel Framing Alliance and the supervision of Jay Larson, AISI director of Construction Standards Development, a project was initiated in February 2006 with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center to perform the necessary analysis and develop the substantiation for changes, which were then balloted through the AISI Committee on Framing Standards. A public review of the final document was accomplished in accordance with ANSI procedures and the revised Prescriptive Method was approved as an American National Standard on September 8, 2006. The standard will now be more useful in the regions affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It will be published on September 27, 2007 and available for purchase at the Steel Framing Alliance online store at www.steelframing.org.

Through the efforts of Robert Wills, AISI director of Construction Codes and Standards, it is also expected that the standard will be adopted by reference in the new ICC Standard for Residential Construction in High Wind Regions, which should provide a means for its adoption in south Florida and the Gulf Coast region. For more information please contact Jay Larson.

AISI Joins Others for National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program

In August, AISI joined forces with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Steel Manufacturers Association, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, the Automotive Recyclers Association, Environmental Defense, the Ecology Center (Ann Arbor), and representatives of the Environmental Council of the States in an agreement known as the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program. The program is the result of a two-year collaborative effort among these environmental and industry organizations to find a solution to the mercury switch issue.

The program is aimed at removing mercury switches found in vehicles manufactured prior to 2003 before they become part of the auto-scrap recycling infrastructure. Since mercury is a toxic element to the environment, having these switches removed is an important step in making the auto-scrap recycling infrastructure more environmentally sound.

"The automobile is America's most recycled consumer good containing America's most recycled material—steel," said Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI. "It is imperative that we protect the scrap infrastructure from contaminants."

The steel industry believes that the best way to reduce the amount of mercury contaminants in the scrap stream is to remove the mercury containing components before the scrapped automobile reaches the scrap stream. This program is a considerable step towards achieving that objective.

"This process will significantly reduce mercury in steel scrap, which is a feedstock for steelmaking. At the same time, it will render significant benefits to the environment," said David Sutherland, president and CEO of IPSCO, Inc. and a member of AISI's Board of Directors. "We are committed to working with our partners and with EPA to reach the mercury reduction goals that are laid out in this agreement."

The steel industry has committed $2.0 million in funding for the program. All AISI member companies with melting capacity will be asked to sign on to the program and help finance the fund. In addition, thousands of mercury switch removal buckets have been sent out to auto dismantlers around the country. These buckets include pertinent information about the program and how the removal process works. This program will truly be a collaborative effort on the parts of AISI member companies, scrap processors, auto dismantlers and the other environmental and industry organizations that have agreed to be a part of this program. For more information, contact Jim Schultz.

AISI Wins 2006 WebAward for Newly Redesigned Steelworks

AISI has received a Standard of Excellence WebAward in the annual Web Marketing Association competition in the 'Associations' category for its newly redesigned Web site. The WebAwards is an international Web site award program now in its 10th year. It is the premier annual Web site award competition that names the best Web sites in 96 industries while setting the standard of excellence for all Web site development. The judges are from around the world and are distinguished experts in their fields, including members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, content providers, and webmasters.

"It's gratifying to have an independent panel of worldwide experts, who are providing benchmarks for the industry, acknowledge the superior merits of the SteelWorks Web site," said Nancy Gravatt, vice president of communications at AISI. "AISI recently upgraded www.steel.org to a dynamic content management system and updated the design and architecture of the site, which has generated positive feedback from visitors to SteelWorks."

One judge commented about the SteelWorks Web site: "Good use of rollovers and logical design for wealth of content. Allows for fresh and customized content from many sources." To view the award page at www.steel.org, click here. Visitors are encouraged to provide feedback. For more information, contact Brenda Robinson.

MOE: Environmentally Friendly Alternative for Iron Making

AISI announced this August that under the leadership of Professor Donald R. Sadoway, in the Department of Materials Science Engineering, a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has successfully demonstrated the technical viability of producing iron by molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) in a laboratory scale-cell. As part of the AISI/Department of Energy (DOE) Technology Roadmap Program (TRP), producing iron in the lab by MOE represents a significant stride and is a positive signal about the future of this technology, according to Lawrence W. Kavanagh, AISI vice president of manufacturing and technology.

"What sets molten oxide electrolysis apart from other metal producing technologies is that it is totally carbon-free and, hence, generates no CO₂ gases-only oxygen," said Kavanagh. "Over the last two decades, steelmakers have reduced energy utilization per ton by some 28 percent, and today's processes are productive and green, but steelmakers need to and want to do more—and the development of transformational iron making technologies such as MOE will make similar achievements possible over the next two decades as well."

TRP started in July 1997 as a partnership between AISI and DOE in order to identify trends, drivers and technological challenges facing the steel industry. The TRP goal is to increase the competitiveness of the U.S. steel industry while saving energy and enhancing the environment. This work by MIT marks one of TRP's breakthrough projects towards meeting that goal.

Unlike other iron making processes, MOE works by passing an electric current through a liquid solution of iron oxide. The iron oxide then breaks down into liquid iron and oxygen gas allowing oxygen to be the main by-product of the process.

MIT will continue further experiments to determine how to increase the rate of iron production and to discover new materials capable of extending the life of the electrodes to industrially practical limits. This work will set the stage for construction of a pilot scale cell to further validate the viability of the MOE process and identify scale up parameters.For more information, contact Joe Vehec.

AISI Joins in Unveiling of "My Other Car Is..." Concept Vehicles

This summer, design and engineering disciplines merged as students from College for Creative Studies (CCS) and University of Michigan (U-M) unveiled their remarkable automotive designs for the 18th annual American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) summer automotive design internship. This year's internship program broke new ground by introducing a real-world twist.

Three engineering students joined three transportation design students to produce exhilarating concept vehicles that targeted Generation X, Baby Boomers and the Millennial generation. These concept vehicles embody leading-edge steel technology utilizing a flexible platform.

"Developing future generations of cars and training the designers behind the concepts means incorporating advanced materials and safety technology into each design," Ron Krupitzer, vice president for AISI's Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) said. "AISI, together with CCS and U-M, are bringing tomorrow's designers and engineers together in this study to pioneer new steel ideas focused on today's various lifestyles and generations of buyers."

This summer the design students learned about the concerns of the engineers, and the engineers learned how to support new design ideas. As a result, the group's understanding and respect for each other's work was enhanced. The concepts evolved through two distinct perspectives to create a harmony of product concept and mechanics. Each student had the opportunity to collaborate in the production of a car and learn about the "rapid to market" concept.

Throughout the internship, AISI scheduled field trips for the students to demonstrate behind-the-scenes steelmaking and vehicle manufacturing. Field trips to steel mills, stamping plants, engineering facilities and design studios provided rare opportunities to witness the various production stages involved in creating a vehicle. With guidance from AISI steel-applications specialists and professional automotive designers, students learned the design and engineering potential of steel to increase their understanding of how to work with the material.

Perfection of design is reflected in a car's finish. Matrix System Automotive Finishes partnered with the CCS students to provide each student with a supply of paint. While touring the Matrix facility, the students gained insight into paint processing and quality control. Each model now boasts a custom-created paint finish.

"The AISI internship allows the students to experience working with flexible manufacturing processes and materials to meet the design requirements shaped by the automotive industry," Bryon Fitzpatrick, chairman of transportation design for CCS said. "Students gain a breadth of knowledge in new steel applications and incorporate design elements that can be used to meet future needs such as safety, affordability, and fuel efficiency."

Since 1989, the AISI/CCS interns have faced design challenges that range from visual appeal to versatility of application. But whether creating cars from movie themes or focusing on fuel containers, the students work toward one basic goal: using advanced steel technologies to design vehicles that are safe, affordable, fuel efficient and environmentally responsible. For more information, contact Deanna Lorincz.

The Capitol Line

AISI Resumes Trade Advocacy Following August Recess

As Congress returned from August recess for an election-shortened September session, AISI once again demonstrated its support for legislation that would "level the playing field" for member company steel producers and U.S. manufacturers. This legislation included: The "Schumer-Graham" bill (S.295) to address foreign exchange-rate manipulation, the "Trade Law Reform Act" (H.R. 5529) to improve anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws and promote fair trade, as well as the "The Restoring America's Competitiveness Act" (H.R. 5043) which looks to more effectively deal with import crises and global market inequities.

AISI also continued to lobby against legislation offered by Rep. Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI) entitled the "American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act" (H.R. 4217). This bill would weaken U.S. trade law remedies and endanger domestic producers by making it easier for perennial trade law violators, such as China and Japan, to sell dumped and subsidized products in the U.S.

To view AISI's letter of support for the "Trade Law Reform Act" (H.R. 5529), please visit our Policy Council micro-site.

To listen to the "Trade Law Reform Act" (H.R. 5529) audio advertisement please visit the Steelworks homepage.

To view the co-sponsor list for the "Restoring America's Competitiveness Act" (H.R. 4217), please visit AISI's Legislative Action Center.

AISI Calls on Congressional Appropriators to Allocate Additional Funding for Industrial Technologies-Steel Program

Member Companies Encouraged to Get Involved in Efforts

AISI has undertaken efforts again to restore funding levels for the Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies (ITP) Steel Program, which has been steadily reduced over the last few years to levels that threaten to undermine its effectiveness. Congressional appropriators are being asked to allocate an additional $2 million for the ITP-Steel Program in its final FY07 funding bill, so that many of the highly-successful steel research projects—conducted by colleges and universities are around the nation—can continue at full capacity.

As part of these efforts, AISI issued a "Legislative Alert" asking member companies to "get active" and contact their Congressional delegations through AISI's Legislative Action Center (LAC). The LAC provides talking points and previously drafted correspondence, arming members with up-to-date information and giving them the ability to quickly contact Congress with just the push of a button.

To view the member company "Legislative Alert" please visit AISI's Legislative Action Center.

New Features Added to National Journal's "Policy Council" Micro-Site Improving AISI's Ranking to #16 Overall

This past month, several new features were added to AISI's "Policy Council" micro-site including, an interactive company facility map that allows Congressional staffers and member company representatives to easily find the steel facilities located in their respective districts. In addition, this map demonstrates the impact of the domestic steel industry on the U.S. economy.

Also in August, the "Policy Council" released its second quarter (2Q06) membership performance results, with AISI's rank improving to #16 overall (out of 91 total members). More specifically, for the months of June and July AISI's site ranked #8 and #9 overall. These rankings can be directly attributed to the Institute's strong involvement in promoting legislation to develop new energy resources through drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), one of the "hot" issues before Congress this past summer. Since its inception in January, AISI's micro-site has received roughly 1,500 individual web-visits.

The National Journal's "Policy Council" is an innovative web-based research tool that provides Congressional staff and Capitol Hill reporters with timely information, updates and position papers on current policy issues.

To view the entire "Top #25" list please visit the Key Articles section of AISI's Public Policy website.


Check Out AISI's Public Policy Efforts on the Web

AISI's Public Policy Homepage

AISI's Legislative Action Center

National Journal's Policy Council - AISI Micro-Site Homepage

For more information on these websites, contact Matt Davison.

AREA	AISI	STAFF PHONE	E-MAIL
Trade & Economic Policy	Barry Solarz	202.452.7139	bsolarz@steel.org
Energy & Environment	Jim Schultz	202.452.7180	jschultz@steel.org
Recycling & Market Development	Chip Foley	202.452.7177	wjfoley@worldnet.att.net
Government Relations	Jennifer Diggins Matthew Davison	202.452.7214 202.452.7133	jdiggins@steel.org mdavison@steel.org

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Louisiana "Miracle Mansion" to be Built with Steel
Proceeds from House Raffle Will Benefit Regional Children's Hospital

In 2007, steel will play a key role in the lives of sick and injured children in Louisiana and for one lucky family there. Cold-formed steel has just been selected as the framing material for the "Miracle Mansion," a home that will be built with donated materials and raffled off to raise funds for Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The hospital is one of 170 associated with the Children's Miracle Network.

The Capital Region Builders Association (CRBA) coordinates the house raffle as part of its annual Parade of Homes event. The Parade of Homes brings together nearly 1,000 professional contractors, tradesmen and vendors to showcase a variety of homes built to the highest standards. The event draws thousands of interested buyers to tour the homes and meet with the construction professionals.

The raffled house is the centerpiece of the Parade of Homes event. Organizers anticipate that 12,000-13,000 potential homebuyers will actually walk through the house, providing a tremendous opportunity to educate these consumers on the benefits that steel provides, such as resistance to high winds, termites, mold, mildew, hail and fire. Since wood is the predominant homebuilding material in the region, many consumers may be hearing about steel for the first time. The Parade of Homes will be held April 21-22 and 28-29, 2007.

Larry Williams, president of the Steel Framing Alliance (SFA), initiated contact with the Capital Region Builders Association to discuss his steel-framing idea. "Steel makes perfect sense for this project," he said. "Through our participation in the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative, we are committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast region better with steel. This means building back businesses by training the local workforce on best practices for home building and roofing, and introducing consumers to the benefits of rebuilding their homes with steel. This is a great way for us to demonstrate to both homebuilders and homebuyers how steel can provide sustainable, cost-effective housing solutions.

"The Miracle Mansion project will help to launch the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative/Steel Framing Alliance Builder Partnership Program," Williams said. "Through this program, local builders who commit to building steel-framed homes receive intensive training and guidance from the SFA, along with promotional assistance to help sell the finished homes. David Richardson, the builder for the Miracle Mansion, is committed to having his crews trained in steel framing. The Miracle Mansion will be the premier showcase of the steel framing system, and we anticipate having more builders and consumers interested in framing with steel once they see the completed Miracle Mansion."

Williams said that the Steel Framing Alliance will assist with project planning and will provide steel framing materials and expertise for constructing the Miracle Mansion. Ernie Casados, technical field representative for the SFA, is already evaluating the plans. Groundbreaking is scheduled for early November, with construction scheduled to begin mid month. The house will be completed by the end of March 2007.

The Gulf Coast Steel Initiative is a $1.1 million effort of 12 North American steel companies. The supporting companies of the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative are: AK Steel Corporation; California Steel Industries, Inc.; Dofasco Inc.; IMSA ACERO, S.A. de C.V.; IPSCO Inc.; Mittal Steel USA; Nucor Corporation; Shenango Incorporated; Steel Dynamics, Inc.; United States Steel Corporation; USS-POSCO Industries; and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation.

For more information about GCSI, contact Debbie Bennett or Liz Vago.

New Steel Campaign Keeps Its Momentum

AISI's New Steel campaign had a busy month of September. Following the August congressional recess, the campaign has once again kicked into high gear, taking the North American steel industry's story to the airwaves, in the metro, online and in print publications around Washington, D.C.

The newest image being used in the campaign is the Job Engine ad, which depicts the role that steel plays in the economy, including the job multiplier effect. The ad emphasizes the fact that American steel producers generate more than 1.2 million jobs and that steel productivity has more than tripled since the early 1980s, adding $350 billion annually to the American economy.

The Job Engine ad, along with the Clean Little Secret ad, has been the focus of this cycle of the campaign. In September the New Steel campaign ads had 12 placements in metro stations and continued to have ads spread throughout the metro cars in the form of car cards. In addition, the Job Engine ad ran in seven different print publications in the D.C. metro area during the month of September.

Another exciting aspect of this cycle of the campaign was the launch of the new Clean Little Secret radio spot. The spot debuted in September and continued to run throughout the month on WTOP AM/FM, WAMU FM, WMAL AM and WGMS FM. A clip of this radio spot, copies of the print ads and updates about the New Steel campaign can be found on AISI's Web site, www.steel.org. For more information, contact Nancy Gravatt.

AISI Releases New Code of Standard Practice for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing

On September 12, the AISI Committee on Framing Standards (COFS) published a revised Code of Standard Practice, which was reviewed by several peer committees within the industry and endorsed by the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industries (AWCI), Steel Framing Alliance (SFA) and Steel Stud Manufacturers Association (SSMA). This document helps define the lines of responsibility in cold-formed steel framing design and construction. It is another step forward for the industry and is available as a free download from the Steel Framing Alliance website.

The COFS began development of this Code of Standard Practice in 2002 and released the first edition in 2005. This Code of Standard Practice defines accepted norms of good practice for fabrication and installation of cold-formed steel structural framing. It helps define the roles of the owner's representative, architect of record, engineer of record, specialty engineer, manufacturer, framing contractor and truss/wall panel supplier in the design and construction of cold-formed steel framed structural systems. Among the many topics covered are general requirements, classification of materials, plans and specifications, installation drawings, materials, manufacture and delivery, installation requirements, quality control, and contractual relations.

This 2006 edition includes new provisions related to clarifications, revisions and the RFI process, contract price adjustment and scheduling. The new Commentary helps explain, clarify and illustrate the provisions. This new document will also be the subject of a seminar at METALCON in October, presented by Jay Larson of AISI and Jeff Klaiman of ADTEK Engineers. For more information, contact Jay Larson.

North American Steel Industry Commits to Further Energy Reduction at Clinton Global Initiative

The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), representing the North American steel industry, participated in President Clinton's global environmental initiative (known as the Clinton Global Initiative) that was held September 20-22 in New York City. The Initiative is unique among world conferences in that it is: "determined to change things now, by discussing some of the world's most pressing problems; detailing successful responses to them; seeking the best new solutions; and most important, obtaining a specific commitment from each participant to take action in one of the focus areas discussed."

SRI's participation included a discussion during the session on Energy and Climate Change on the steel industry's success in reducing its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by 28 percent since 1990.

Bill Heenan, president of the Steel Recycling Institute, said: "The Clinton Global Initiative presented our industry with a globally respected platform to showcase our commitment to sustainability through the reduction of energy intensity and recycling. Our commitment to an additional 2 percent increase in the reduction of energy intensity per ton of steel shipped keeps us in a leadership position as compared to other materials." Heenan said that the industry's goal is to accomplish the additional 2 percent reduction by 2006, in time for our 2007 reporting.

The conference also provided SRI with an opportunity to discuss the recycling benefits of steel with key environmental groups such as The Climate Group, Rocky Mountain Institute, Earth Institute, and The Chicago Climate Exchange.

The Clinton Global Initiative included the world's top leaders representing business, government and non-governmental organizations, along with former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush, Rupert Murdock of News Corporation, and Lakshmi Mittal of Mittal Steel. For more information, contact Bill Heenan.

M&T Roundup

The fall series of meetings of Manufacturing Committees started with the Committee on Metallic Coated Sheet Practice. The first meeting of the season, held September 13-15 and hosted by Nucor Steel, Indiana in Indianapolis, drew 54 participants from various plants—an encouraging showing that the committee has become accustomed to in the last few years. Benchmarking surveys were a highlight of the meeting, covering coated steel passivation, furnace atmosphere control and adherence testing. The committee also deliberated upon safety and improvements in operating performance. BASF made a presentation on organic based hexavalent chrome alternatives for passivation. The meeting ended with a tour of the Crawfordsville Plant.

Another meeting that took place, Committee on Rod and Bar Mills, was held in Puebla, Mexico, September 20-22, 2006 and was hosted by Ternium Hylsa. The roundtable discussion on safety and operating issues was quite extensive and the participants benefited to a great extent. The Committee also discussed operating reports, benchmarking and involvement of members in the Q&A database system. The committee finalized issues concerning two training modules. Participants toured the facilities of Ternium Hylsa and reportedly "appreciated the excellent housekeeping."

M&T's Manufacturing Committees have a "full slate" for the month of October.

The Coke Oven and Coke Oven By-Products group will meet October 4-6 at Burns Harbor. The agenda includes a variety of issues including a new work plan on "Energy Conservation Issues." They will tour the Burns Harbor battery. Oxygen Steelmaking and Refractories will meet jointly October 11-12. The subject will be slag splashing and Kent Peaslee of the University of Rolla will speak on the subject. They will tour Mittal Steel's #4 Steel Producing Shop which has gone over 60,000 heats without a reline. Ironmaking and the Subcommittee on Sintering meet October 26-27 to discuss their upcoming exchanges with their European counterparts at VDEh. They will tour Mittal #5 and #6 Blast Furnaces and the #3 Sinter Plant. AISI will describe its construction market program for all of the committees.

Packaging, Shipping and Transportation Methods group will meet October 4-6 in Washington, DC. The agenda includes guest presentations by the Association of American Railroads and RailInc Corp on several rail issues. Also, a presentation will be given by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on "Phytosanitary Wood Packaging Materials." Hot Strip Mills group will meet October 12-13 in Toronto. The agenda includes discussions on health, safety, environmental and reliability issues. They will tour Dofasco's hot strip mill.

Other activities include:
Sheet Mill meeting with VDEh in Merrillville on October 10-12, 2006 is being hosted by Mittal Steel and US Steel.

Strand Casting joint with AIST committees on Casting and Refractories on October 10-11, 2006 and is being hosted by WCI Steel.

Metallurgy of Steelmaking and Casting on October 18-19, 2006 and is being hosted by US Steel, Alabama.

Tin Mill Practices on October 24-25, 2006 and being hosted by US Steel Midwest.

OSHA-Steel Group Alliance Renewed

On August 21, 2006, the Steel Group, comprised of AISI, the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) and the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), renewed its Alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Alliance was created on July 7, 2004, and initially renewed for one year on August 26, 2005.

The Steel Group and OSHA continue to recognize the need for and value of collaborative efforts to improve workplace safety. As a part of the Alliance, both groups will continue to provide the steel manufacturing industry and others with information that will help improve the industry's employee health and safety programs.

In addition, a team of representatives from both organizations is working together to implement an action plan for communicating this important information to steel companies and their downstream customers via the internet. Participants in the Alliance will continue to meet at least four times a year to share information on activities and track their results in achieving the goals set forth by this Alliance. The Alliance renewal will remain in effect until August 2007. For more information, contact Nancy Gravatt.

AISI and Students Launch Steel Wheel Design Project

This is a year of innovation for the successful AISI/College for Creative Studies (CCS) partnership. The just-completed AISI/CCS Summer Internship Program integrated design and engineering students in a partnership that resulted in stunning concept vehicles. And now AISI's Wheels Task Force has teamed up with senior transportation design students from CCS to launch a project that challenges students to develop a new generation of 18-20 inch highly styled steel wheels.

The new design project has been integrated into the CCS curriculum. It offers the students an opportunity to partner with top wheel suppliers, OEMs and steel companies for a five-week intensive course project. The objective is for the students to design highly styled 18-20 inch covers for the steel wheels on popular SUVs.

Here's how it works: Members from AISI's Wheels Task Force provide a high-vent steel wheel design and design/background information typically shared only with OEM wheel stylists. The students use this material for their projects, which includes successful technical developments in the Hayes-Lemmerz Flex Wheel and the ArvinMeritor SuperSpoke wheel and information on permanent and removable trim products. The project will showcase the significant gains that steel wheels can deliver to automakers through styling, higher-profit margins, lower warranty costs, competitive weight and ruggedness. At the end of the project, the students will provide AISI with ideation sketches, cross-section drawings and digital renderings.

Ron Krupitzer, vice president of automotive applications for AISI, said: "The steel wheels project is a natural extension of our industry's longstanding partnership with the College for Creative Studies. The Wheels Project students will gain real-world experience with access to experts and technology in the field. But most importantly, their work will impact the growing styled wheel market, which is opening up significantly for steel."

The unveiling of the new styled steel wheel design will be held October 11, 2006. For more information, contact Deanna Lorincz.

The New Kid on Campus: Steel Cans

AISI's Steel Packaging Council (SPC) has completed "An Overview of Canned Foods in the Contemporary Foodservice Setting," a culinary arts and foodservice management curriculum for colleges with academic programs aimed at educating future culinary professionals.

"A key objective of SPC is to increase the use of canned foods by the foodservice industry," said Rich Tavoletti, director of AISI's container market program. "The SPC decided to provide information on the canning process and the positive attributes of steel packaging to future foodservice professionals. Since a curriculum focusing on steel packaging was not available, we created it ourselves. The curriculum allows us to introduce the benefits of steel packaging to university professors by offering a ready-made curriculum that they can adapt for their own use."

The curriculum covers the history of canning and provides an overview of the canning process and advantages of canned foods, as well as information on purchasing, receiving and storage and recipes. It contains updated and contemporary information for a variety of courses in basic foods, purchasing and receiving, nutrition, menu planning, sanitation and safety. In addition, the curriculum provides classroom activity suggestions, plus additional resources and recipes to put theory into practice in the classroom.

Another outreach to students and professionals is the "Inspiration in a Can" recipe contest, which encourages culinary students and professional chefs to submit original recipes featuring canned foods as key ingredients in one of two categories: "American Regional" and "Classic with a Twist." To enter, contestants must fill out an application available on www.steel.org and submit their recipes between September 1, 2006 and November 30, 2006. One professional and one student chef will win in each category, for a total of four prizewinners. The chefs will receive a $1,000 cash award for their winning entries and the student chefs will receive a $1,000 scholarship. A panel of chefs and industry professionals will make a decision on the winners on December 15, 2006. Entries will be judged on category excellence, taste, creativity and originality, presentation, and menu fit. For more information, visit www.steel.org/foodservice or contact Rich Tavoletti.

Steel-Framed "Cajun Cottage" and "Steel Central" to be Featured at New Orleans' Housing Solutions Summit

Steel-framed homes will be in the spotlight at the New Orleans' Housing Solutions Summit today and tomorrow with the display of the 400-square-foot "Cajun Cottage" in the center of the exhibit floor at The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Constructed by the Steel Framing Alliance (SFA), a national industry association of steel framing builders, manufacturers, designers and suppliers, the cottage also anchors an area dubbed "Steel Central" where 14 steel framing companies will be concentrated, ranging from builders to suppliers of framing materials.

The Housing Solutions Summit, hosted by the City of New Orleans, the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, The State of Louisiana, and Entergy, is being held on September 29 and 30 and is intended to provide homeowners, renters, leasing agents, contractors, businesses and investors with first-hand information about building technologies and resources that are available to them. Co-sponsors include the U.S. Department of Energy and American Institute of Architects, New Orleans. Admission to the summit is free and open to the public.

"We are excited to be able to officially introduce steel framing to New Orleans because we believe that it is an important solution to some of the challenges of rebuilding strong, durable homes in the Gulf Coast region," says Larry Williams, President of the Steel Framing Alliance. He notes that although steel framing has not been commonly used in Louisiana over the past 10 years, nearly 500,000 homes have been built with steel framing in the U.S., including 70 percent of the homes in Hawaii where issues like termites and mold have had a major impact on the homebuilding industry.

"In addition to the fact that steel framing cannot be eaten by termites and will not provide food for mold, steel won't burn, warp, crack, or split, giving homeowners straight, square walls without unsightly nail pops," Williams adds. "Better yet, steel framing can be designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and is protected from corrosion by a galvanized coating that can last hundreds of years.

"We're excited by this opportunity to show the many benefits of steel framing, and I believe that the exhibitors in 'Steel Central' will demonstrate that steel framing is an affordable and accessible option homeowners should consider," says Williams.

In addition to exhibiting, SFA will be presenting a 30-minute educational session on Saturday,
September 30, at 1 p.m. to provide homeowners with the basics they'll need when thinking about steel framing and to give builders some basic tips on steel framing as a business.

The Steel Framing Alliance and its 1,400 member companies are leading the development of steel framing as an efficient and cost-competitive alternative to traditional framing materials by providing builders and designers with information and resources they need.

SFA, along with 12 steel companies and the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), and Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), is supporting the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative (GCSI). GCSI's collective efforts to help reshape future construction in the region include training code officials on steel framing and roofing best practices, working with the insurance industry to implement Builders Risk and homeowner insurance discounts, and promoting building codes that define state-of-the-art practices for hurricane-prone areas with state and federal legislators. The steel industry is also updating its national recycling database in the Gulf Coast region to list sites where consumers and businesses can bring their steel products for recycling.

For more information on the Housing Solutions Summit, go to www.hssno.com. To find out more about steel framing and the Steel Framing Alliance, go to www.steelframing.org; and for the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative, visit www.steel.org.

Survey Reveals Nearly Half of Americans are Sufficiently Prepared for Emergencies

According to findings from an omnibus survey conducted by the Canned Food Alliance (CFA) and AISI nearly half of Americans say they've purchased supplies for an emergency. AISI's Steel Packaging Council invests in the CFA to change consumers' perceptions and purchasing behaviors in regard to canned food. With September being National Preparedness Month, the CFA worked with the Department of Homeland Security to develop the survey questions and commissioned the survey of Americans to explore how prepared they are for emergencies. It is important to note that Americans in the West and the South, those most recently affected by earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes, are more likely than others to say they have bought emergency supplies. The CFA will work with the Department of Homeland Security to inform American families how to stock their pantries with convenient, safe and nutritious canned food.

The survey also found that steel is at or near the top of lists of materials Americans would want to have their homes' doors and frames to protect them from natural disasters. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they would want steel doors for their home.

Of those who have not purchased supplies, procrastination is the top reason for not doing so. More than a third believe they won't be affected by an emergency. Motivating these unprepared Americans will likely happen close to home. The survey found that six-in-10 of those Americans who are unprepared would be compelled to purchase supplies if they received a warning from the local government or if they had a previous experience with disaster. For more information, contact Rich Tavoletti.

AISI'S Bridge Task Force Names 2006 Recipient of Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture

AISI's Bridge Task Force has named Reagan Herman, Ph.D., as the 2006 recipient of the Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture. The program was instituted in 2005 to honor Robert J. Dexter, associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Minnesota. Dexter was an internationally recognized expert on steel fracture and fatigue problems.

The Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture provides an opportunity for an individual early in his/her career in structural engineering to present a lecture on his/her steel bridge activities to the AISI Bridge Task Force and to participate in its semiannual three-day meeting. The Bridge Task Force is made up of the United States' leading steel bridge experts.

Herman is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Houston. Her presentation to the AISI Bridge Task Force was on "The Implementation of Permanent Metal Deck Forms as Lateral Bracing for Steel Girder Bridges." She is involved in several studies sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation, including the implementation of innovative bracing options for steel plate girder bridges, as well as research studies of steel trapezoidal box girder systems, thermal effects on steel bridges, and the impact of geometric imperfections on steel bridge behavior. Herman earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in structural engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University.

"The Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture was instituted to honor the memory of an esteemed colleague who was dedicated to finding real-life solutions to complicated steel bridge design problems," said Alex Wilson, manager of customer technical services for Mittal Steel USA and chairman of AISI's Bridge Task Force. "The program gives us an opportunity to recognize young bridge design talent and provide a platform for them to develop long-term steel bridge design solutions. We are pleased to name Dr. Herman as our second program recipient, and look forward to the contributions that she will continue to make to steel bridge design."

The first Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture recipient was Robert J. Connor, assistant professor of civil engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, who has now joined the AISI Bridge Task Force and is working on the AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) specifications for bridge fatigue and fractures. Honorees of the Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture are selected on an annual basis and chosen based on recommendations from the members of AISI's Bridge Task Force. For more information, contact Dan Snyder.

AISI Publishes Direct Strength Method Design Guide

On September 18, AISI announced that it has published the Direct Strength Method Design Guide, which offers an innovative new approach to the design of cold-formed steel members. Benjamin Schafer, Ph.D., who developed the Direct Strength Method, wrote the guide.

"The Direct Strength Method will redefine the way that engineers design with cold-formed steel," said Delbert F. Boring, AISI's vice president of construction market development. "Previously, there were no provisions for designing cold-formed members with complex cross-sections without performing tests. The Direct Strength Method considers elastic buckling behaviors and enables engineers to predict strength for virtually any configuration of prismatic cold-formed steel members. This method will significantly improve the design of cold-formed steel members."

The guide provides practical and detailed instruction on the use of the Direct Strength Method. It includes a tutorial to help engineers interpret elastic buckling analysis results, and provides prescriptive guidelines and examples for developing beam and column charts. It also includes extensive design examples covering 14 different cold-formed steel cross-sections, under a variety of different loading and boundary conditions, which allow engineers to directly compare results between the Direct Strength Method and conventional design. The guide also provides instruction on how to handle unique situations in the elastic buckling analysis of cold-formed steel members.

The Direct Strength Method Design Guide is available in both print and electronic formats and can be purchased on AISI's e-store at www.steel.org. Four recommended companion resources are also available via the AISI e-store:

• Supplement 2004 to the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, 2001 Edition,
• North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, 2001 Edition,
• AISI Cold-Formed Steel Design Manual, 2002 Edition, and
• Finite Strip Method Software.

For more information, contact Helen Chen.

Canned Food Alliance Issues Emergency Pantry Checklist

AISI's Canned Food Alliance (CFA) has issued a pantry checklist to help individuals prepare for emergency situations. Since September is National Preparedness Month, CFA believes it is important to know what to stock your pantry with in case an emergency should occur.

This checklist contains nutrient-rich recommendations in order to meet daily-recommended amounts. The checklist refers to the quantity of food and water that should be on hand per person, per day. For more information please contact Rich Tavoletti.