Great Designs in Steel Seminar Draws Over 1000 Attendees
New Great Designs in Steel Automotive Excellence Award Presented

AISI's Great Designs in Steel Seminar once again drew standing-room-only attendance with 1,051 automotive engineers and designers, Tier One and Tier Two suppliers and academia at the March 7, 2007 event. OEMs represented included GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Mercedes and Porsche. The seminar featured 38 technical presentations and 20 exhibits.

During the seminar, AISI launched the Great Designs in Steel Automotive Excellence Award, which recognizes individuals or teams from automaker, supplier and academic ranks who have embraced innovation and made significant contributions in advancing the use of steel in the automotive marketplace. The product engineering and manufacturing team of the Pontiac Solstice was named as the first recipient. The Solstice was recognized for its innovative use of advanced high-strength steels at an affordable price.

Brian Aranha, vice president - commercial for Dofasco Inc. and chairman of AISI's Automotive Applications Committee, said: "The fact that General Motors Corporation utilized advanced high-strength steels for a stylish, affordable, low-volume vehicle clearly demonstrates how recent advances in material and processing technology enable steel to offer significant advantages in structural efficiency, quality and cost for new vehicle designs."

The Solstice uses several new steels and processing technologies, including sheet-hydroforming of outer body panels, to achieve Class A surface quality and eye-catching design at a lower cost than other materials. The Solstice roadster is the first vehicle to incorporate dual-phase steel - a predominant advanced high-strength steel grade - into its hydroformed structure, consisting of dual-phase 600 grade tubes. The vehicle's hydroformed tubular rails form the underbody structure extending from the front to the rear bumper and provide an efficient way of improving structural performance and stiffness. The hydroformed rails also significantly reduce the weight of the vehicle without incurring cost penalties.

The Saturn Sky and Opel GT also incorporate extensive use of advanced steels in their designs. For more information, visit www.autosteel.org or contact Deanna Lorincz.