Top Stories

AISI's Andrew Sharkey Testifies About "America's Climate and Security Act" Before Senate Committee

Emphasizing the American steel industry's global environmental leadership in recycling and carbon emissions reduction, AISI's President and CEO Andrew G. Sharkey, III, said that any climate change provisions developed must apply to foreign firms selling in the U.S. market or the consequences will be dire for the U.S. economy and the environment. He testified on November 13 before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works during a legislative hearing on "America's Climate Security Act of 2007" (S. 2191).

"The domestic industry is the most energy efficient in the world. Largely through recycling and investments in new technology, it has reduced energy use per ton of steel shipped by over 40 percent over the past 25 years," said Sharkey. "Reductions in carbon emissions per ton of steel shipped between 1990 and 2006 exceeded 29 percent."

"However," he said, "if climate change legislation fails to address the competitiveness issues vis-à-vis foreign products, it will have devastating consequences not only for the U.S. economy, but also for the environment. Not only will we export American jobs, greenhouse gas emissions will rise," added Sharkey.

AISI and its member companies believe that any competitiveness provision should: 1) apply simultaneously to domestic and foreign firms selling in the U.S. market; 2) use the same baseline periods; 3) not invited subsidies by foreign governments; and 4) not enable the Administration to waive the requirements on foreign manufacturers.

Even with such great environmental accomplishments highlighted, Sharkey said the industry is not standing still. In fact, the U.S. steel industry has embarked on aggressive research and development programs in order to develop the next generation of iron and steelmaking technologies that could drastically reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions.

With that being said, Sharkey noted the impact that climate change legislation will have on U.S. workers and manufacturers, if it is not approached in global terms.

For instance, since the year 2000, the United States has lost 3.5 million jobs. This is a statistic that will only grow if steel production and other manufacturing industries are encouraged to leave this market in favor of markets with lower environmental standards, such as China. As a result, jobs and production will not only move offshore, but overall worldwide greenhouse gas emissions will exponentially increase.

Sharkey concluded that AISI and the domestic steel industry want to work with the Committee to find reasonable and effective policies. It is through this collaboration that the U.S. will be able to find prudent means of addressing climate change that will allow the U.S. manufacturing base to remain viable and globally competitive. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is planning committee markup of S.2191 on December 5-6. To view a copy of his full testimony, click here. For more information, contact Matt Davison.

New York, Illinois Implement Steel Recycling Educational Programs

The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) is making inroads in several states with its educational programs for children in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 and their teachers, among them New York and Illinois.

In 2008, SRI is focusing on updating its educational programs and materials and making them more available to teachers and students nationwide. An overview of the SRI program was presented at the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors in July, and it resulted in the state of Illinois agreeing to feature the SteelCycles educational program on Lieutenant Governor Quinn's environmental Web site. The Web site will include sample activities from the SteelCycles programs, a rubric of state educational standards that can be met through SRI's educational material, and a link to purchase SRI's programs.

In addition, as a result of SRI's ongoing efforts to establish relationships with key state contacts, the South Bronx area schools in New York will be using Cycles for Science for more than 100 students enrolled in its after-school programs. The South Bronx initiative will serve as a pilot program for similar programs throughout New York. Cycles for Science is for grades 9-12 and offers curricula in Chemistry, Biology, Physics and General/Earth Science.

"Our renewed emphasis on education meets our objective to teach the next generation of recyclers about the environmental benefits of steel products," said Bill Heenan, president of SRI. "It also complements AISI's objective to meet the challenges now being presented to the steel industry on the sustainability of steel products in the automotive, construction and container markets. Sustainability has become a prominent issue over the past year that is being met aggressively by our competitors. To stay in the game, we must address this issue as well. SRI's educational programs will help us to meet that challenge."

For more information on SRI's educational programs, visit www.recycle-steel.org or contact Jim Woods.

Del Boring to Retire as Head of AISI Construction Market Program

Delbert F. Boring, P.E., vice president of AISI's construction market development program, will retire from the Institute after 31 years of service at the end of this year.

During his tenure with AISI, Boring was instrumental in establishing AISI as the authority in the development of steel provisions in the U.S. and Canadian building codes arena. He served as the leading steel industry authority on structural fire protection, and forged strong partnerships between AISI and its customers and other steel associations to grow the construction markets for steel.

"It goes without saying that Del exemplifies the goal of all of our companies to recruit well and retain forever high-quality, highly motivated professionals who are dedicated to the health and success of our industry," said Ward J. "Tim" Timken, chairman of The Timken Company and chairman of the Board for AISI. "Del joined our construction codes and standards program in 1976, bringing his experience to help us promote competitive construction practices through the building codes. Today, he oversees all of our Construction Market programs and has been a key leader in bringing together a diverse group of customers in support of our goal to grow this market segment."

"Under Del's leadership, the Construction Market program grew to include 11 sub- markets in commercial building/residential construction and in transportation/infrastructure," said David C. Jeanes, P.E., AISI's senior vice president of market development. "He was a catalyst in developing strategic partnerships to make our industry stronger and more competitive in the global marketplace."

Robert J. Wills, P.E., currently AISI's director of construction codes and standards, will assume responsibility for AISI's construction market program effective January 1, 2008.

"Like Del, Robert Wills brings significant construction market experience and a strong reputation among the building codes and standards community to his new position," said Jeanes. "We're pleased to have someone with Robert's experience and his commitment to developing sustainable, steel-intensive solutions in the marketplace to lead our Construction Market program."

All of us at AISI wish Del and his wife, Connie, all the best in retirement!

New Partnership Spells Opportunity: AISI and Roundy's Supermarkets Inc. Educate Shoppers About Canned Food Benefits

AISI and Roundy's Supermarkets Inc. conducted a "Together We Can" campaign to demonstrate the nutritional and safety benefits of canned food to shoppers at selected Roundy's Pick 'n Save, Copps and Rainbow stores from October 7-31, 2007.

Building on the success of the January 2007 "Together We Can" campaign with Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. (see March 2007 issue of AISI E-News), the AISI/Roundy's joint venture promoted the safety, environmental and nutritional benefits of canned foods to 155 stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Shoppers sampled smoothie recipes made with canned fruit and received recipe books that highlighted ways to prepare canned foods. The campaign ended with the presentation of a $10,000 donation to local food banks.

"The 'Together We Can' campaign presented an opportunity to communicate the benefits of canned food and steel packaging at the point of purchase—the grocery store—and to draw attention to the nutritious canned products typically located in the lower-traffic middle section of the grocery store," said Rich Tavoletti, director of AISI's container market program and executive director of the Canned Food Alliance. Roundy's stores provided circular and merchandising support, which included canned food displays on the sales floor during the promotion.

"At the end of the four-week promotion, canned food sales were up significantly versus the same four-week period the previous year," Tavoletti said. "Initial results show that sales of canned chicken during the promotion rose by 30 percent, canned pasta by 21 percent, canned beans by seven percent, and canned tomatoes by five percent. This tracks well against the January 2007 Wegmans event, which increased the total sales of canned fruit, vegetables and tomatoes by 7.4 percent during a two-week promotion versus the same timeframe in 2006. In addition, canned items featured in food sampling events at Wegmans rose by 30 percent as consumers tried the in-store samples and then bought the ingredients to prepare the recipes at home." For more information, contact Rich Tavoletti .

AISI'S 2006 Annual Report Receives Recognition

AISI has been honored with the Silver Inkwell Communications Award of Merit by the International Association of Business Communicator's (IABC) Washington, D.C. chapter. AISI's 2006 Annual Report, "Steel: In Front of the Curve— Doing It Right," won the award in the competition's 'Print: Annual Report' category.

The Silver Inkwell award program is an annual competition recognizing excellence and leadership in the field of business communication. The judges are distinguished experts in their fields, including senior and accredited communicators throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

"It's gratifying to have an independent panel of business communicators acknowledge the superior merits of AISI's 2006 Annual Report," Nancy Gravatt, vice president of communications at AISI, said. "The report highlights the innovation, advanced technologies and environmental achievements that characterize today's globally-competitive American steel industry, as well as the goals and vision that AISI and its member companies have for the future."

To view AISI's award-winning 2006 Annual Report, visit www.steel.org, or click here. For more information, contact Liz Vago.

The Capitol Line

AISI's "China" Efforts Continue …

The Institute continued its efforts to keep lawmakers focused on trade and competitiveness issues (when dealing with the People's Republic of China) during the months of October and November.

Barry Solarz, the Institute's senior vice president for trade and economic policy, testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) at a hearing on Chinese government policies affecting U.S. trade in selected sectors, including steel. Solarz's testimony and official comments outlined how Chinese government industrial policies are impacting domestic steel producers and many of their customers.

In addition, AISI helped garner support for a bipartisan Dear Colleague Letter to the House Committee on Ways & Means and its leadership, which encouraged legislators to include a countervailing duty (CVD) remedy for currency misalignment in any trade legislation moved forward by the committee. This letter was signed by 114 Members of Congress (MOCs), including 60 Democrats and 54 Republicans.

For more information on AISI's "China Focus," please visit the Public Policy Website.

…While the Institute Helps Steel Caucus Weigh-In with Administration Regarding Doha Round Negotiations

AISI conducted significant outreach in October and November to Senate Steel Caucus members, encouraging them to support a letter by Chairman Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), which notified the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) of the Caucus' opposition to any trade law weakening by the WTO Doha Round Rules Negotiating Group.

This letter, signed by a total of 14 Senators, specifically called into question the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) decisions against the U.S. practice of "zeroing."

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.

More Stories

Study Shows Forged Steel Crankshaft is Stronger and More Durable than Cast Iron

In a study just released by the University of Toledo, conducted for AISI and the Forging Industry Education and Research Foundation (FIERF), forged steel crankshafts were shown to have 36 percent higher fatigue strength than cast iron crankshafts, resulting in a usage life six times longer for the forged steel component. The study compared the strength, ductility and impact toughness of the two materials.

The study analyzed crankshafts taken from a one-cylinder four-stroke engine, typical of those used in riding lawnmowers and relevant to automotive application design. Compared with its ductile cast iron competitor, the forged steel crankshaft demonstrated:

• Superior durability, with slower crack growth.
• A reduction in area of 58 percent, compared with six percent for the ductile cast iron component.
• Superior impact toughness, with forged steel faring better by as much as nine times.
• Superior fatigue resistance, with forged steel demonstrating 36 percent higher fatigue resistance, resulting in a 30 times longer life.
• Higher strength and ductility, with the yield strength 52 percent higher and ultimate strength 26 percent higher.
• Superior design optimization, with an 18 percent weight reduction resulting in fuel efficiency improvements and no degradation in performance.

The impact of this study is significant for both the steel industry and future automotive design.

"This study continues to prove to powertrain design engineers that forged steel outperforms other materials in critical safety component applications," said Dave Anderson, director of AISI's long product market development group.

For details on test procedures and study results, visit www.autosteel.org or contact Dave Anderson.

AISI Members Take the Lead in CO₂ Research

The CO₂ Breakthrough Program projects at both Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Utah is moving into Phase 2 of the research. In addition, the support base for the program has broadened, as 3-4 more producer and associate members are expected to join as a result of the most recent AISI Board Meeting on November 7.

Phase 2 is a three-year effort focusing on the economics and scale up factors of these two processes aimed at making liquid iron with alternate fuels, so as not to produce CO₂ in that phase of the steelmaking process. The participating companies obtain preferred intellectual property rights in the developed technology, as well as immediate access to all research results. Collaboration among expert materials scientists and steelmakers is a powerful combination, appropriate to the task of developing CO₂ abatement technologies.

The CO2 Breakthrough Program is a joint partnership between AISI and the Department of Energy (DOE). The research underway at MIT is focused around producing iron by molten oxide electrolysis (MOE), which would generate no CO₂ gases. The project currently being worked on at the University of Utah is titled "Ironmaking by Hydrogen Flash Smelting." Project briefs will appear periodically in the newsletter. For more information, contact Larry Kavanagh.

New Awards Program Launched for "Innovative Design" Using Cold-Formed Steel

An annual awards program intended to recognize technical innovation in the design of cold-formed steel structures is being launched by the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI), the technical arm of the Steel Framing Alliance (SFA), in an effort to recognize engineers for the most innovative design projects using cold-formed steel. Cold-formed steel has been used for decades to design and build strong, aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective structures around the globe, but until now the contributions of the engineers responsible for these structural achievements has been largely overlooked.

"The exponential growth in the use of steel framing has given rise to many innovative design techniques and approaches," said Larry Williams, president of SFA. "This program allows the steel framing industry to showcase these advances and help other design professionals keep pace with this rapidly developing industry."

The top engineering team will be presented with a distinctive trophy and other prizes at an awards ceremony to be held at METALCON International 2008 in Baltimore, Md. Honorable mention winners will also be announced at the awards ceremony and will be recognized throughout the year as outstanding contributions of cold-formed steel design and application. These professionals and their projects will be widely showcased and recognized for their achievements.

Criteria for the "Award for Innovative Design" will include innovative use of one or more aspects of accepted standards or specifications to solve design or construction challenges; designs incorporating cold-formed steel in an attractive and code-compliant manner; or innovative use of a process, tool, technique or methodology. Individual products or tools cannot be submitted as a stand-alone entry, but the use of an applicable product or tool on a specific project qualifies that project for entry. For more information, visit www.steelframingalliance.com, or contact Larry Williams.

AISI Collaborates on Publication of New Water Pipe Manual

Consulting engineers and private/municipal water utility employees now have a new tool for tackling tough design challenges for water transmission and distribution systems. An updated version of Steel Plate Engineering Data-Volume Three has just been published by AISI and the Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association (STI/SPFA).

The updated manual, titled Welded Steel Pipe Revised Edition-2007, focuses on the design of steel pipe up to 240 inches (6000 mm) in diameter under either internal or external pressure. It covers a broad range of analysis on issues such as handling, installation, ring deflection, performance limits, soil mechanics, external loads, coatings and couplings. It also includes insight and expertise from several leaders within the steel water pipe industry.

"The revised Welded Steel Pipe Manual meets a critical need in addressing the complex infrastructure issues in the United States," said Delbert F. Boring, P.E., AISI vice president of construction market development. "As design engineers and pipe specifiers look for viable solutions to the nation's water transmission and distribution challenges, this design manual provides a wealth of information on large-diameter steel pipe solutions. We're pleased to be releasing this manual in cooperation with STI/SPFA, an important partner in our construction market program."

The Welded Steel Pipe Revised Edition-2007 is available for downloading free of charge at www.steel.org and www.steeltank.com. For more information, contact Dan Snyder.

AISI and AIST Announce Call for Applications for FeMET and StEEL Scholarships

AISI and the Association for Iron & Steel Technology Foundation (AIST Foundation) have announced their call for proposals for the FeMET and StEEL scholarships for the 2008 academic year. These scholarships are aimed at attracting top talent to the North American steel industry. Each scholarship includes $5,000 for the scholar's junior year, a paid summer internship with a North American steel company between his/her junior and senior year, and an additional $5,000 toward his/her senior year tuition.

"During the past three years, nearly 50 students have chosen to accept the scholarship, a testimony to the success of the program," said Andrew G. Sharkey III, AISI president and CEO. "This clearly indicates the growing interest in steel industry careers among the students."

In addition, a new scholarship has been established beginning in 2008-2009 known as the "AISI/AIST Foundation Premier Scholarship." This scholarship will be awarded to the top-scoring applicant from both the FeMET and StEEL applications received. This scholarship includes $10,000 for the scholar's junior year, a paid summer internship with a North American steel company between his/her junior and senior year, and an additional $10,000 toward his/her senior year tuition.

The programs' goals are: to encourage more students to choose metallurgy or materials science as their field of study; to recruit more of such graduates into the steel industry; and to increase the number of professors knowledgeable in steel in North American universities

Instructions for applying can be found on the AISI and AIST Foundation Web sites, www.steel.org and www.aistfoundation.org. Applications will be accepted between December 3, 2007 and March 2, 2008. For more information, contact BV Lakshminarayana.

Gulf Coast Steel Initiative Develops Informational Brochures

As part of its ongoing effort to educate consumers and builders about the benefits of using steel construction in hurricane-prone regions, the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative (GCSI) has developed a series of collateral materials specifically aimed at residential construction.

Titled "At the Heart of this Home is the Strength of Steel" and "Protect Your Home with the Strength of Steel," two companion brochures provide easy to read information on steel framing and roofing. These brochures provide consumers with facts about steel construction, answers to frequently asked questions about the benefits of steel and information on where to find contractors in their region to build a steel-framed home or to install a steel roof.

"Providing these informational materials is yet another step to help encourage residents to make an informed decision while choosing construction materials in the Gulf Coast region," said David Jeanes, AISI's senior vice president of market development. "We believe these materials will help consumers better understand the benefits of building with steel in such areas, which are prone to hurricanes."

These brochures will be made available to residents in the Gulf Coast region through the local chapters of the National Homebuilders Associations in the coming months. In addition, the materials will be available at local trade shows and events in the region. For more information, contact Liz Vago.

AISI Manufacturing Committees Team Up with Outside Groups

Strand Casting Committee Meets with AIST Counterparts

The Manufacturing Committee on Strand Casting held a joint meeting with their AIST counterparts in Merrillville, Ind. In addition to presentations on primary and secondary cooling, the committee deliberated on regular features like roundtable discussions and Q&A sessions. Plant tours of USS Gary and ArcelorMittal were also organized.

Sheet Mill Committee Makes Trip to Germany

As a follow up to the meeting with the VDEh members in 2006, the Sheet Mill group had a meeting with them in Dusseldorf, Germany in September. The agenda consisted of presentations on the topic of Surface Roughness measurement and tours of ThyssenKrupp plants in Duisburg and Dortmund. The group also toured the ArcelorMittal plant in Ghent, Belgium. The members had an excellent opportunity to exchange information and it was observed that the housekeeping and maintenance of the facilities were of very high standard.

Tin Mill Committee Tours European Plants

The Tin Mill group held meetings and discussions with their European counterparts and toured five plants throughout Europe. The five plants toured were: USS Serbia; USS Kosice, Rasselstein in Germany; and ArcelorMittal plants at Florange, France and Etxebarri in Spain. In addition to Tin Mills, the group also toured the research facilities in Kosice and CSP caster in Etxebarri. A list of questions was sent in advance to the hosts indicating the probable areas of interest, which resulted in excellent interactions and the group gaining new knowledge about the European operations. The European members have indicated an interest in further exchange of information and mutual visits.

New York City Joins Ranks of Cities Benefiting from the Value of Steel Scrap

With a recycling rate of nearly 70 percent, steel is the world's most recycled material. Currently, the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) is working with communities across North America to increase the volume of steel being recycled, and is encouraged by the visibility that steel scrap is getting in New York City.

Recent articles in New York papers have highlighted the fact that steel is worth five times as much as it was just five short years ago, and in order to capture that value, New York City is making sure that peddlers don't siphon off this value before it reaches the New York City coffers.

"These stories have highlighted steel as the leading material, once again helping our industry in its effort to educate consumers on why steel is the most recycled material," said Bill Heenan, president of SRI.

New York was essentially the birthplace of peddlers (people picking through the garbage to capture recyclables) over 200 years ago. The city has come to the same conclusion as the peddlers--there is gold in the garbage--and is trying to make sure that it is not simply thrown in the trash.

To capitalize on the value of steel scrap and maximize the volume of steel scrap that is diverted from landfills, New York, like many other cities, have started to accept small steel appliances, coat hangars, and other small miscellaneous steel items through their curbside program.

"Recycling programs can only benefit from increasing the volume of steel scrap that is being captured through their recycling programs," said Heenan. "The combination of conserving natural resources, saving landfill space and any residual financial benefit equates to a win-win for the increasing number of programs that now accept these items through curbside recycling." For more information contact Bill Heenan.

Great Designs in Steel 2008—Call for Abstracts

AISI's Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) has issued a call for abstracts in anticipation of the seventh annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar, to be held on April 9, 2008 in Livonia, Mich. Automotive designers, automotive engineers, automotive suppliers and academia are invited to submit abstracts for technical presentations focusing on advanced high-strength steels, automotive safety and manufacturing technologies.

AISI's GDIS is the premier forum for the latest trends and applications in automotive steel technologies. This annual event is aimed to assist automotive engineers in utilizing advanced high-strength steel technologies to design and build safe, affordable, fuel efficient and environmentally responsible passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and light trucks.

Abstracts should be 300-500 words in length, present facts that are new and significant and should include results achieved, if applicable. Abstracts should be submitted no later than December 15, 2007. For more information or to submit a subject or speaker recommendation, contact Deanna Lorincz.

"Steel Snapshots": A Quick Picture of Steel's Benefits

There are lots of exciting results coming out of AISI's Market Development programs through the investment of the Market Development member companies, such as the fact that high-strength steel are redefining the next generation of vehicle design and that bridges across America use new, cost-effective steels. These facts, and others, will now be encapsulated in an ongoing "Steel Snapshots" series on AISI's Web site.

The snapshots will cover the automotive, construction and container markets and steel recycling. To reach them, visit www.steel.org and click on "Steel Markets", or on the Steel Snapshots icon on the home page. If you want to see how steel is meeting and exceeding the challenges from competing materials, check out the Market Development Progress Report 2006-2007 on the same page. For more information, contact Debbie Bennett.

Steel Framing Alliance's "A Builder's Guide to Steel Frame Construction" Now Available

The Steel Framing Alliance (SFA) recently published "A Builder's Guide to Steel Frame Construction" for single-family home builders and consumers who are interested in building with cold-formed steel and want to know how to get started. With funding support provided by the Steel Stud Manufacturers Association (SSMA), this 12-page, easy-to-read guide is full of photos and charts, and covers the kinds of questions asked by most builders interested in getting into steel framing.

"A Builders Guide to Steel Frame Construction" includes sections on:

• What is cold-formed steel framing?
• Why should I consider building with cold-formed steel framing?
• How much will cold-formed steel framing cost compared to wood framing?
• How does the design process work?
• How does the plan check and building inspection process work?
• How do I order steel framing?
• What are the differences in construction details between cold-formed and wood?
• How will my trades be affected?
• What fasteners will I need?
• Where can I get training?

The guide is now available on SFA's Web site as a FREE download at www.steelframing.org (look for it under "Quick Links"). The SFA's comprehensive menu of educational programs and resource materials makes it easy to learn current best practices for design and construction. In addition to training curriculums and seminars, these resources include technical notes, design guides and specifications, "how to" guides and so much more. For more information, visit www.steelframing.org or contact Larry Williams.

AISI Remembers Garvin J. Williams

Garvin J. Williams, systems administrator for AISI, passed away on Saturday, November 17 at the age of 44. Williams succumbed to complications from cancer, which he had been battling for the past 18 months.

"He had a wonderful sense of humor, beautiful smile and boundless optimism," said Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI. "Thank you, Garvin, for inspiring us all to truly appreciate the wonder of each day and for being a part of our lives here at AISI. We'll miss you."

Williams began with AISI back in 2000. He is survived by his mother, Katherine Williams, and his friends, both at AISI and beyond.