General Motors, Magna and Shape Corp. Receive Award at Annual Great Designs in Steel™ Symposium

Companies Recognized for Innovative Use of Advanced High-Strength Steel

NOVI, Mich. – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) awarded its Automotive Excellence Award today to General Motors, Magna and Shape Corp. for their innovative application of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) in the GMC Hummer Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). The award was presented at the 22^nd annual Great Designs in Steel™ (GDIS) symposium at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI.

General Motors Design Release Engineer Stephen Dissler, Jr., General Motors Staff Design Release Engineer James Veal, Jr., Magna Department Manager William Perry and Shape Corp. Product Development Leader David Seiter received the award for their 2023 GDIS presentation titled “GMC Hummer EV SUV Body Structure.”

The GMC Hummer SUV has an innovative steel-intensive body structure architecture with a well-integrated Rechargeable Energy Storage System. It leverages a wide range of steel grades from mild to ultra-high strength steels to guarantee occupant safety, ensure battery system integrity and achieve excellent off-road capability while providing an open-air roof design. The Body-in-White is comprised of 37 percent high-strength steel and 26 percent ultra high-strength steel, seven percent AHSS, along with press hardened steel and mild steel.

The GMC vehicle design team used a variety of joining technologies such as traditional spot welding, metal inert gas welding, remote and tactile laser welding, and extensive adhesive applications to meet structural performance targets guaranteed to enable a safe and excellent vehicle driving experience. The team demonstrated the power of collaboration which included early planning, development and process design among the automaker and its supplier partners.

The AISI Automotive Excellence Award is presented each year at GDIS™. It recognizes individuals or teams from automakers, suppliers or the academic community who have revolutionized the industry and made significant contributions to the advancement of steel in the automotive market. Award winners are chosen from presenters at the previous year’s GDIS symposium. Candidates are rated in several categories, including challenges and benefits associated with cost, mass reduction and performance, overall contribution to the advancement of steel and implementation in production.

GDIS™ debuted in 2002 with 545 registrants and has grown in attendance and scope. In 2023, more than 1,000 attendees from the steel industry, North American vehicle manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, equipment suppliers, academia and media registered for the event. AISI automotive program members include ArcelorMittal and Cleveland–Cliffs, Inc.  This year’s event featured a keynote address from Brad Davey, executive vice president, corporate business optimisation / global auto at ArcelorMittal and an OEM vehicle presentation from Dr. Hoda Eiliat, structure lead integration engineer at General Motors about the Chevrolet Blazer EV – Body Structure. The event also featured more than 30 technical presentations covering vehicle architectures, materials and manufacturing, and joining, welding and fastening.

Helping to support this year’s event are gold sponsors Benteler, Gestamp, Profil and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd; silver sponsors Auto/Steel Partnership and CBMM – Niobium; bronze sponsors ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks, AutoForm, Dreistern, FUCHS, GEDIA North America, Lincoln Electric, Mubea, Multimatic, RB&W Corporation, Shape Corp. and TWB; media partners Fabricating and Metalworking, Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International and Precision Metalforming Association; and the social hour sponsor SkillReal.

Award recipients pictured below. 

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Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers reflecting the production of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans — including national security, roads and bridges, the electrical grid, clean energy technologies and the automotive market. AISI also represents nearly 80 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram.