Technology isn’t just securing the safety. Also boosts athlete’s motivation

Pride of the Korean-Made

The passion of the athletes seen at The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games is unforgettable. It is to this end that POSCO has devoted itself to supporting athletes with disabilities.

When it comes to sports, even small improvements in technology or changes to the gear may bring about huge differences. Having supported the national para ice hockey team since 2016, POSCO developed lightweight sledges with improved tolerance shock absorption for the Korean para ice hockey team so that the athletes could focus more on the game. This made POSCO the first company in Korea to manufacture athletic gear for national Paralympic teams. Equipped with motivation and new gear, the Korean para ice hockey team achieved an amazing Bronze medal in The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

SEE ALSO: Parallel: Shining a Spotlight on the Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team

With memories of The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games still fresh, South Korea recently observed the National Day of Persons with Disabilities on April 20. In recognition of this day, POSCO interviewed Jin-Owan Jung, head officer at the Korea Paralympic Committee Icheon Training Center and manager of the Korean Paralympic team the man who led the Korean team at The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and one who both understands and represents the interests of people with disabilities in Korea.

“It’s Not Just About Overcoming Your Disability But Accepting It.- Jin Owan, Jung”

He emphasized the recognition and acceptance rather than struggling

Accept who you really are

Jin-Owan Jung was 22 years old when a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down in 1987. Undeterred by the accident, Jung set his eyes on becoming an athlete for the Paralympics when he saw the Seoul Paralympic Games in 1998. He won 2 medals – a gold and a bronze – in Shooting in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics Games. After retiring as an athlete, his passion for sports drove him to take on a new role in administration. The experiences gained as a Para sport athlete and also by interacting with others with disabilities, gave him a perception that acceptance of one’s disability is more important than struggling to overcome it.

He agrees that the situation is getting better but still needs more support such as financial aspects

You are not alone

The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was a huge success in that the athletes’ passion inspired positive change in the society’s views toward people with disabilities. Jung noted that the infrastructure for people with disabilities in The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was much improved in comparison to past games. However, he believes there is still room for improvement. Additional and sustainable social support is necessary to ensure those with disabilities can enjoy living conditions equal to those of other citizens and have an equal share in the development of their societies.

POSCO supports not only their technology but also financial aid

How to support?

Jung explains, “Financial support is not everything but it is important in certain circumstances.” POSCO has been a proud sponsor of athletes with disabilities and has provided roughly $2.6 million in support of Para sport since 2011. This year, POSCO donated $370,000 to the Korean Paralympic team in honor of their effort and passion.

‘Harmony’ is the element that POSCO will promise for better society

Jung believes that sports might be the key to resolving discrimination against people with disabilities. However, this can only be accomplished with active contribution from supporters. POSCO will continue to support Jin-Owan Jung’s dream of achieving social harmony and creating a society where having a disability does not impede one’s quality of life.

Watch hundreds of steel cans being produced at a Soudronic canning factory.

Advantages of Steel Packaging

Steel is one of the most commonly used packaging materials by manufacturers, because it is widely available, cost-effective and easy to work with. Steel packages can be customized to just about any shape and size depending on the needs of the business, and the continuously improving quality of steel lets manufacturers use less material without losing rigidity.

Steel as a packaging material is tamper-resistant, durable and has an extremely long shelf life, hence the reason why canned food seems to last forever. At the end of its life cycle, steel is 100 percent recyclable and does not lose any of its properties or qualities in the process. Plus, at least 25 percent of every steel can must be made of recycled steel, and its magnetic properties make it even easier to recover for recycling.

Steel is 100 percent recyclable and the most-recycled material in the world. (Source: Causeway Coast and Glens)

According to the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL), steel packages are the most recycled packages out of all packaging materials, and its recycling rates keep climbing. In Europe, over 77 percent of steel packages are recycled and in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, rates exceed 90 percent.

New Innovations

Today, there are numerous new technologies taking steel packaging to a whole new level. Higher-quality alloys of steel and innovative new methods for processing steel are making everyday products safer, more convenient and efficient. Here’s some examples to show the advances being made in steel packaging.

Bacteria-free stainless steel surfaces

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology recently invented a new way to fight harmful bacteria such as E. coli on steel surfaces. Instead of the traditional antibiotics that are temporary and can aid bacteria in developing resistance, this new process uses an electrochemical etching chemical process to create thousands of tiny nano spikes on stainless steel surfaces. By switching up the levels of voltage and current flow in the electrochemical process, the researchers ended up with a rougher, “spiked” surface.

The spikes are about 25 nanometers long, and will kill both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria on contact, without damaging human cells. The human eye cannot tell the difference between nanotextured steel and regular steel, and the technology increases corrosion resistance as well.

Nanotextured steel can kill bacterial upon contact without harming human cells. (Source: The Engineer)

Though the technology is new and is awaiting additional tests, it could be a permanent solution to treating bacteria and potentially change the medical and food industries completely. Nanotextured stainless steel can be used not only for packaging, but the manufacturing equipment that come in to contact with food. Researchers are also working to apply the technology to spine implants and other implants that come in direct contact with the body.

The world’s lightest 3-piece aerosol can

German company Henkel and packaging manufacturer Ardagh Group developed a new, sustainable aerosol spray can for Henkel’s beauty products using high-quality steel. The can is a mere 0.13mm thick, using up 15 percent less materials than its counterparts, but is also more rigid. The world’s lightest aerosol can also reduce C02 output by 3500 metric tons and water consumption by 900,000 cubic meters per year.

High-quality steel makes this aerosol eco-friendly. (Source: Pack World)

The development is in line with Henkel’s efforts to contribute to a circular economy. Thus the company aimed to design a packaging material that is not only effective and sustainable to produce, but is also 100 percent recyclable.

As the most recycled packaging material in the world, steel will continue to package food, beauty products, paints, chemicals and more manufactured goods. Especially with advances in the quality of steel alloys and innovative ways to process steel, manufacturers can be assured their products will be safe and sound in effective, cost-efficient, sustainable and safe packages.

Carbon-based fossil fuels are finite resources that are gradually becoming too costly to extract, both in terms of environmental impact and financially. These resources will run out, or fall out of use as the cost of retrieval outweigh the reward.

Renewable, sustainable energy comes from resources that are replenished regularly — typically, the wind and the sun. Whether hydroelectric power, bioenergy, geothermal energy, or solar photovoltaic power, sustainable energy sources protect the environment and offer a future-proof way to power people’s lives.

Hydroelectricity is another form of renewable energy. (Source: USGBC)

Historically, renewable energy has been overlooked in favor of carbon-based energy, owing to the cost of installing new technology versus using what is already in existence. With costs decreasing, however, alongside a global urge to be more environmentally friendly and to implement more renewable and sustainable practices, things are set to change.

The global energy industry is shifting away from a reliance on carbon-intensive energy to sustainable, renewable energy. The steel industry is part of this shift. POSCO is one of the companies leading the way in achieving environmental well-being. It does so with environmentally responsible corporate practices, as well as by creating products that are eco-friendly and capable of changing energy production on a global scale.

Trends in the Global Energy Industry

The growing importance of sustainable energy is clear. According to the Renewable Energy Policy Network, in 2016, renewable energy capacity was enough to supply over 23 percent of global electricity, and worldwide new investment in renewable power and fuels climbed to a high of USD 285.9 billion in 2015.

With the focus on sustainability, the mix of energy sources being used is shifting, too. In the United States, while renewable energy and natural gas continue to grow, the consumption of coal is dropping.

As in many other industries and areas, technology is changing the face of the global energy industry. Artificial intelligence, big data, and other technological strides make energy production more efficient, optimizing practices and opening the door to more sustainability.

POSCO’s Energy and Environmental Strategy

As a major player in the steel industry, POSCO takes its role in promoting sustainability very seriously. Its energy and environmental strategy set out the company’s expectations and plans for ensuring eco-friendly practices on all fronts, guiding all activities to ensure it is acting in an environmentally-conscious manner.

POSCO’s environmental management policy makes sure that the company complies with all environmental regulations, and works to improve the environment in its processes. Clean production processes and optimized pollution prevention technology minimizes emissions. Efficient use of resources and byproducts also enhance efficiency.

POSCO uses clean energy and green technology wherever possible, leading the low-carbon green growth initiative. Its environmental management processes and performance are fully disclosed for transparency and sustainability.

As part of its strategy, POSCO is dedicated to creating eco-friendly products, with 20 eco-friendly steel products developed in 2016. Eco-friendly products accounted for almost half of all products developed that year.

Exploring POSCO’s Efforts

One of POSCO’s biggest environmental successes is PosMAC, or POSCO Magnesium Alloy Coating Product. PosMAC is an ultra-corrosion resistant alloyed steel plate, adding safety and efficiency to buildings and products constructed with this material.

How does PosMAC help the environment? This material is ideal for constructing solar panels, owing to its high resistance and affordability.

Solar panels made of PosMAC produce renewable energy

Solar photovoltaic units generally last about 30 years. The materials used within construction need to stand up to the elements for that long. The cost of the units, including materials, is about half of the total price of installing a solar energy system, making material pricing a key factor in the accessibility of solar.

Because PosMAC can resist weather and corrosion effects, and because it is affordable, it is well suited for use in solar units. PosMAC lowers the cost of installing solar energy, bringing it within reach of industry players and smaller consumers alike. 

This year, POSCO signed MOUs with four major manufacturers of photovoltaic structures in India including Ganges and Purshotam to supply a total of 49,000 tons of PosMAC. Company executives hope to increase that number to 60,000 tons by 2018.

This is just one example of an environmentally friendly application of PosMAC. There is plenty of potential for this material to be used in the wind, biomass/fuel, small hydro, geothermal and energy efficiency sectors too. Wherever environmentally sustainable, cost-effective and high-performance is in need, POSCO and its steel products such as PosMAC have a role.

Cover photo courtesy of the Huffington Post.

Don’t miss any of the exciting stories from The Steel Wire – subscribe via email today.

The tiny house movement is demonstrating the trend of living and maintaining a minimalist lifestyle for those who want simpler ways of living. This trend is picking up pace across generations and countries for financial and environmental reasons. With thoughtful and innovative designs, tiny home owners can enjoy a greener lifestyle and the satisfaction of building their own refuge while freeing themselves from mortgages and expensive energy bills.

Read on to find out about these beautiful, portable and tiny houses that maximize both function and style as well as why steel is gaining popularity as the choice over wood for such homes.

Less is More

A tiny house is a shelter that is less than 400 square feet, sometimes built on wheels, that encourages a simpler lifestyle and more efficient energy consumption. Tiny homes are environmentally-friendly in multiple ways from their small ecological footprint to minimal utility consumption.

The materials selected to build tiny homes can further contribute to the sustainability factor. According to Tiny House Build’s infographic, the average house (2,598 square feet on average) emits 28,000 pounds of CO2 per year while a tiny house (186 square feet on average) emits only 2,000 pounds of CO2 per year.

Tiny homes made with steel can be lighter, stronger and more durable. Here are a few reasons why you should choose steel for sustainable living :

1. Steel is the most recycled material in the world – anything made of steel in your home can be recycled and made into new products.
2. Steel’s longevity means your house will remain for a lifetime without having to use up tremendous amounts of time, money and resources for fixing or rebuilding.
3. Light-weight steel allows thinner and larger window frames which let in more natural light to brighten up your home.
(H/T to World Steel Association)

Thanks to steel’s many benefits, 21st century housing needs can be met in both sustainable and aesthetically pleasant ways.

ÖÖD Hotel Rooms in Estonia

Meet ÖÖD, gorgeous steel-framed rooms that are delivered to anywhere in Estonia as a complete set. ÖÖD offers all the living essentials built into a compact 200-square-meter footprint. Designed for use as pop-up hotel rooms for the fast growing Airbnb and Booking.com markets in Estonia, it can be installed anywhere in only 8 hours without a building permit.

An exterior view of OOD (Source: ÖÖD)

Each unit, made from steel, insulated glass and thermally treated wood, costs around USD 36,000. This sleek tiny home offers heated floors, LED lighting and a Bose sound system, and it is even under development for off-grid solutions.

An interior view of OOD hotel rooms (Source: ÖÖD)

Smartdome in Slovenia

Another growing trend in the tiny house movement is dome-shaped houses. Dome homes are durable, efficient and most importantly, very fun to live in. The balanced shape of dome homes allows homeowners to minimize their vulnerability to natural disasters.

The Slovenian-designed abodes from Smartdome can be assembled, disassembled and moved anywhere across the nation and is only around 270 square feet. The base features adjustable steel legs which can accommodate uneven terrain and the frames are made of galvanized steel and timber.

An exterior view of Smartdome (Source: Smartdome)

An interior view of Smartdome (Source: Smartdome)

Thanks to these beautiful and innovative designs, living small just got a whole lot sweeter. With strong, durable and eco-friendly steel-framed homes, homeowners can enjoy a simplistic lifestyle with financial and emotional freedom.

*Cover photo source: David Hillegas

The press and event participants watching a demonstration at POSCO’s Global R&D Center

The 2017 All New Chevrolet Cruze

GM Korea released its 2017 All New Chevy Cruze earlier this year, which is composed of 74.6 percent High Strength Steel (HSS) and Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), including POSCO GIGA STEEL. The All New Cruze is 77 kilograms lighter than last year’s model. So far, this year’s model has been a success with 2,147 units sold in the first month of its release.

The 2017 All New Chevy Cruze

Last year’s All New Malibu used POSCO’s HSS and AHSS for the entire body of the car and received the highest safety rating in the New Car Assessment Program conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. There is a more advanced version of HSS and AHSS from POSCO in the 2017 All New Chevy Cruze than in the Malibu, ensuring an even safer vehicle.

More than 20 percent of the HSS and AHSS used in the All New Chevy Cruze is POSCO GIGA STEEL. It has a tensile strength of 1 GPa or more, plus 3 to 5 times more strength than mild steel. A 10×15 cm piece of POSCO GIGA STEEL can withstand the weight of 1,500 cars weighing one ton each. In addition, it is 3.5 times and 2.1 times cheaper than aluminum in terms of material cost and processing costs, respectively. With POSCO GIGA STEEL, vehicles can also achieve a 10 percent decrease in CO2 emissions.

More Than Just a Steel Supplier

GM Korea and POSCO executives at the POSCO Global R&D Center

POSCO GIGA STEEL is a major breakthrough solution for vehicles as it is high in strength, easy to process, lightweight, eco-friendly and cost effective. POSCO hopes to provide such solutions in other areas as well, namely electric cars. Currently, researchers are working on an electrical steel sheet that can minimize the power loss of motors as well as new technology to protect car batteries. In doing so, POSCO will continue to collaborate closely with manufacturers early on in their product development and deliver the most innovative solutions to meet their needs.

*Images courtesy of GM Korea

The FINEX® Process

The FINEX® Process was jointly developed by POSCO in Korea and Primetals Technologies in Austria. FINEX® (along with COREX® – another smelting process developed by Primetals) is the only commercial proven alternative steelmaking process to the blast furnace (BF) route.

FINEX® is based on the direct use of iron ore fines and non-coking coal while eliminating the coke-making and sintering processes, which are most critical to the conventional blast furnace process. Combining these two decisive advantages leads to lower production costs and the reduction of environmental emissions in comparison with the conventional blast furnace route.

The FINEX® Process combines cooking plant, sinter plant, and blast furnace into a single iron making unit.

Advantages of the FINEX® Process

There are several key advantages to and differences in using the FINEX Process:

• Non-coking coal can be used directly as a reducing agent and energy source
• 100% fine ore can be directly charged to the process; no sintering or pelletising is required
• Pure oxygen can be used instead of nitrogen-rich hot blast

In addition, the FINEX® Process offers several key advantages over alternative BF methods.

• Economic benefits – low investment and operational costs due to the elimination of coking and sinter plants
• Ecological benefits – lowest process-related emission rates
• Product quality – hot metal quality suitable for ecological steel applications
• CO2 mitigation potential – pure oxygen is used
• Resource preserving – directly uses a wide range of iron ores and non-coking coals
• Beneficial by-products – generation of highly valuable export gas for various purposes (electric power generation, DRI production, or natural gas substitution)
• The FINEX® Process combines coking plant, sinter plant and blast furnace into a single iron making unit.

Creating The FINEX® Process

Starting in December 1992, POSCO and Primetals Technologies signed a cooperation agreement for the joint development of the FINEX® Process. Following initial laboratory, bench scale and pilot plant tests, the FINEX® F-0.6M Demonstration Plant, with a nominal capacity of 2,000 tons per day, was built in Pohang, Korea, and started up in May 2003. On the basis of successful results and optimization of equipment and process parameters over the past few years, POSCO developed their own independently designed program in February 2017. Designed to carry out overseas FINEX projects without relying on Primetals Technologies or other external resources, the program can be used to calculate core equipment specifications and raw material conditions. In particular, the development of the FINEX Process Design Program, one of the subprograms, has made it possible for the “heat & mass balance” to be automatically calculated when raw & fuel material conditions change.

[clickToTweet tweet=”The FINEX® Process is a cost-effective, more eco-friendly, and efficient way to make steel. ” quote=”The FINEX® Process is a cost-effective, more eco-friendly, and efficient way to make steel. ” theme=”style6″]

Efficiencies of the FINEX® Process

The FINEX® smelting reduction process is one of the most exciting iron making technologies on the market. It is distinguished by the production of high-quality liquid hot metal, on the basis of directly charged iron ore fines, and coal as the reductant and energy source. A key feature of the FINEX® Process is that iron production is carried out in two separate process steps. In a series of fluidized-bed reactors, the fine iron ore is reduced to direct reduced iron, compacted (HCI), and then transported to a melter-gasifier. Coal and coal briquettes charged to the melter-gasifier are gasified, providing the necessary energy for melting in addition to the reduction gas.

The FINEX® Process is Environmentally Friendly

The FINEX® Process and the blast furnace route are coal-based processes reducing iron ore to iron, which is subsequently melted into hot metal. In both processes, the same product is generated out of almost the same raw material. A question that arises – and not only from an economic point of view – is “how do these production routes deal with unwanted impurities?”

A certain amount of environmentally harmful substances is inevitable based on the raw material mix. Hence, the objective of a sustainable steelmaking process is to discharge these substances in an environmentally compatible condition or destroy them during the process itself. Since the FINEX® Process captures most of the pollutants in an inert state in the slag, and the released hydrocarbons are destroyed in the dome of the melter gasifier, no additional investment or operational costs are incurred for a complex gas or disproportional waste water conditioning plant.

Comparing the traditional blast furnace with the FINEX Process shows the improvements that POSCO was able to achieve to be more
environmentally friendly.

Future-Proof Emissions Figures

To bring blast furnaces in line with current and expected environmental standards, plants require significant investment. This can already be seen in the case of blast furnace dust emissions that are efficient, but costly filter systems must be installed in the sinter and coking plant. The FINEX® Process values are already far better than expected future standards. Moreover, the full development potential of the FINEX® Process has not yet been realized with respect to a further reduction of emissions.

Moving Forward with Greater Potential

Because the FINEX® Process is still being optimized, additional economic and technological benefits are anticipated. Major developments are continuously being carried out to increase efficiency. The latest achievements include breakthroughs in the field of heat recovery, dry dedusting, and outstanding performance improvements. Based on the well-proven plant concept, new process features, the highly competitive production costs, and environmental features, Primetals Technologies and POSCO are confident that the FINEX® Process will account for an increasing share of future investments in iron making facilities.

*Cover image courtesy of the World Steel Association

Don’t miss any of the exciting stories from The Steel Wire – subscribe via email today.

It combines several unique features:

• Strength & Safety: POSCO GIGA STEEL is more than three times stronger than automotive aluminum. Because of its high strength, POSCO GIGA STEEL also adheres to some of the most stringent international safety standards.

• Formability: Because the mixing ratio of manganese has been precisely controlled, POSCO GIGA STEEL has highly formable properties that allow it to be made into complex auto parts without any special processing.

• Lightweighting: Because POSCO GIGA STEEL boasts high strength, it is possible to use less of it. This ultimately makes it lighter than car frames made of general steel or aluminum.

• Affordability: POSCO GIGA STEEL is a cost-effective solution for automakers, especially when compared to alternative materials, which in turn helps lower prices for consumers.

• Sustainability: When looking at the entire lifecycle of a vehicle made with steel, POSCO GIGA STEEL emits 10% lower CO² emissions compared to aluminum.

Take a look at the infographic below and discover the benefits that POSCO GIGA STEEL can bring to both automakers and consumers today.

Don’t miss any of the exciting stories from The Steel Wire – subscribe via email today.

Advancements in products, production methods, and new technologies have helped POSCO expand the expectations of what a sustainable steel company should be.  

In honor of Earth Day, The Steel Wire takes a look back at seven recent initiatives & breakthroughs from the last year that have helped POSCO become an industry leader in sustainable development.

POSCO GIGA STEEL: Lighter for EVs, Less Production Emissions

As the auto industry heads toward producing lighter, more fuel efficient vehicles, they need materials that are both strong and light. Car bodies manufactured with POSCO GIGA STEEL and other advanced high strength steels could see a 26% reduction in total weight. Also, based on its life cycle assessment measuring carbon dioxide emissions from production to recycling, POSCO GIGA STEEL performs remarkably well as an eco-friendly material. According to the World Steel Association, steel emits 2.0 to 2.5 kg of carbon emissions when producing 1 kg of material while aluminum emits 11 to 12.6 kg when producing the same amount.

See how POSCO GIGA STEEL offers an ideal material solution for automakers looking to make more lightweight and fuel efficient cars.

POSCO’s Smart Factory Introduces Artificial Intelligence

When POSCO introduced artificial intelligence into its smart factory operations in February, they were able to create higher quality products using a more sustainable production method. Coating weight control is a highly sophisticated process that keeps the coating layer consistent. Quality can deviate depending on the worker, but with POSCO’s new AI technology they can ensure quality control while reducing wasted zinc during production.

Read more about how POSCO is using AI and smart factory technology to make its operations more efficient and sustainable.

POSCO’s Advancements in Lithium Extraction Recharge the Battery Industry

Lithium extraction traditionally takes anywhere from 12-18 months using a slow evaporation technique. However, POSCO’s new extraction method, which came online in February of this year, takes from 8 hours up to one month while also offering a purity rate of 99.9% and increasing the lithium recovery rate to over 80%, which reduces the resources needed for extraction making the process more sustainable and eco-friendly. Also, in a first for the industry, POSCO developed a way to extract lithium from recycled batteries. Both of these innovations have helped create more eco-friendly processes for an industry that is expected to grow exponentially in coming years.

Find out more about POSCO’s developments in lithium extraction and its efforts to reshape the industry.

POSCO Expands Production of its Non-Oriented Silicon Steel for Electric Vehicle Drive Motors

Top-grade non-oriented silicon steel is a core ingredient in high-efficiency premium consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It is an environmentally-friendly material that saves energy and reduces CO2 emissions. With the completion of its non-oriented silicon steel (Hyper NO) facility on February 20, production has increased from 80,000 to 160,000 tons, which is enough to supply parts for approximately 2.6 million electric vehicle drive motors.

Read more about POSCO’s efforts secure its position as a leading supplier to the growing electric vehicle market.

POSCO Humans Selected as Innovation Leader for Sustainable Solar Power Development

POSCO Humans received excellent evaluations last January for its steel structures that were built for solar facility installations. In particular, POSCO Humans received high marks for its structure that are used exclusively for floating solar power generation facilities and exclusive bolts that utilize PosMAC. It is a bolt-assembled structure that eliminates the need for hole machining and special tools.

Discover how POSCO developed floating solar panels using PosMAC.

POSCO’s World Premium Stainless Steel Shows No Corrosion After 18 Years at Incheon Airport

The first passenger terminal at Incheon International Airport was built in 2001 using POSCO’s 446M steel, and after 18 years, few signs of corrosion have been seen. Building exteriors and roofs are the most visible parts of buildings, while also being the most vulnerable to corrosion. Materials used in their construction should be both corrosion-resistant and aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, when planning for the second terminal, they decided to use the same type of steel along with the application of the bead blast process that will create a rough texture on the roof to lower the reflectivity rate for aircraft pilots during take-offs and landings.

Find out how POSCO’s stainless steel products offer decorative and durable interior and exterior options in buildings.

PosMAC Shines at Renewable Energy India

PosMAC was recognized at the Renewable Energy India expo for its unique properties that make it uniquely suited for solar energy development. PosMAC is not just lightweight, it is also non-corrosive and durable enough to last 20-30 years.

Find out more about PosMAC at the Renewable Energy India expo, or find out more about PosMAC.

Throughout April & May, The Steel Wire will explore the uses and benefits of POSCO GIGA STEEL and what POSCO is doing to lead the industry with new automotive steel solutions.   Subscribe to our newsletter today.

Several factors are contributing to the growing interest in electric vehicles. Stricter CO2 emission standards are changing the way cars are being made, and consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious at the same time. To produce more fuel efficient vehicles, car makers are looking to advanced materials in lightweighting that can help make vehicles more eco-friendly while being safe and affordable.

The Push to Reduce Carbon Emissions

In the US, the transportation sector produces nearly 30 percent of all global warming emissions, and more than half of those emissions come from passenger vehicles. Between 1990 and 2004, the average fuel economy of new vehicles actually decreased, but since 2005 those numbers have begun to improve, resulting in less greenhouse emissions (see chart below).

Greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector remain high but have gone down in recent years. Increased efforts by the auto industry to produce more fuel-efficient cars is helping this trend. (Source: EPA Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2014)

As air pollution gets worse and global temperatures continue to rise, governments, consumers, and car manufacturers have all seen the urgency in creating more fuel-efficient vehicles. However, in order to build electric vehicles, hybrid cars, and even more fuel efficient combustion engine autos, new materials and production methods must be used. Specifically, cars need to be lighter.

Reducing Weight, Reducing CO2 Emissions

The heavier a car is, the more fuel is required to move it. A study from MIT found that for each 100-kg reduction in a car’s body weight, fuel consumption could decrease by about 0.3 L/100 km for cars and about 0.4 L/100 km for light trucks. This not only translates into fewer CO2 emissions but also into cost savings for consumers. The following table provides estimated fuel cost savings for a range of weight reductions. Today’s cars and light trucks weigh between 1,000 to 3,800 kg.

Manufacturers have been testing new materials to use in their cars in order to make the weight reductions necessary for a viable EV. Utilization of alternative materials like aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber components are increasing due to their lightweight properties. However, additional financial and environmental costs remain high.

In the past, in order to make steel lighter, sacrifices had to be made in strength and ductility. However, recent innovations in advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) have been able to bridge that gap. To demonstrate the recent advancements made with AHSS, engineers designed the PBC-EV, or POSCO Body Concept-Electric Vehicle, using POSCO GIGA STEEL. The PBC-EV car body was able to achieve a 26.4% reduction in total weight when compared to cars of the same size without any sacrifices in safety or structural integrity. 

The Eco-friendly Life Cycle of AHSS

When measuring greenhouse emissions of cars, one must also look beyond the immediate impact of gasoline consumption and view the material more holistically through a life cycle assessment. The emissions costs related to the extraction and production of automobile materials can be high. However, technological advancements in steel production have been able to reduce CO2 emissions – helping to make it one of the most eco-friendly materials for car makers.

Based on its life cycle assessment, measuring carbon dioxide emissions from production to recycling, POSCO GIGA STEEL performs remarkably well as an eco-friendly material. Steel emits 2.0 to 2.5 kg of carbon emissions when producing 1 kg of material while aluminum emits 11 to 12.6 kg when producing the same amount. Even after production, cumulative greenhouse gas emissions of vehicles made with steel is 10% lower when looking at the full life cycle.

Lastly, steel remains the most recycled materials on the planet, and automobiles maintain a recycling rate of nearly 100 percent. Almost all steel products contain recycled steel as steel scrap is a necessary ingredient when producing new steel.

Advancements in AHSS have allowed the auto industry to move beyond the barriers that have held it back in the past. As consumers demand more fuel efficient driving options and as governments around the world impose more strict emissions standards, material advancements in steel will become more critical. It is the breakthroughs in steel technology like these that are helping to bring lightweight, fuel-efficient cars to market.

Throughout April and May, The Steel Wire is exploring trends in the auto industry and how POSCO’s innovations in automotive steel is leading the way toward lighter, stronger, and more affordable cars.

In order to adapt, the automotive industry is learning to make cars differently. Underpinning all of these advancements is a need for stronger, lighter, and more durable materials.

Below we take a closer look at three trends that are fundamentally changing the way consumers think about cars, and what the car industry is doing to stay ahead.

Shared Mobility

Companies like Uber and Lyft have left an indelible mark on the way people use cars. While it used to be understood that a vehicle was one’s personal property and space, those ideas are changing. Over the last five years, car sharing services have seen 30 percent annual growth, and McKinsey predicts that one out of 10 cars will be a shared vehicle by 2030.

With this much sharing, vehicles will need to be replaced more frequently as they will be used more often and experience more everyday wear and tear. As consumers move away from owning one car and begin to use services that offer on-demand vehicles for specific uses, the materials used to make these cars need to improve.

Recently, many steelmakers have been working toward advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) solutions. AHSS steel solutions are also more durable than conventional steels, making them ideal for new cars that are going to be on the road with more frequency. This advancement is necessary as consumers begin to change their driving behaviors while maintaining high standards for safety and quality in the cars they use.  

Self-Driving Cars

Self driving cars are a fairly new idea, but in a short amount of time, they have consumed the imagination of the public and R&D labs around the world. Seemingly every company in the automotive industry is working on some form of a self-driving vehicle, and even those not in the industry are getting involved (see Google’s Waymo video below).

While autonomous cars are not yet market-ready, they will be soon. However, because it causes such a dramatic shift to the way people use cars, manufacturers will need to jump many hurdles before they are fully accepted by the public at large.

As with any new technology, access will be limited and expensive. In the beginning at least, it is unlikely that self-driving cars will be affordable enough for mass distribution. In addition, they must become more accessible for consumers. Most people have never seen, much less taken a ride in, a self-driving car. It is hard for people to imagine the experience, and even more difficult for them to place their trust in a piece of software located in a multi-ton vehicle. In order to ensure the trust of consumers, the auto industry must work to manufacture cars that are safer and more secure.

Advancements made in AHSS have allowed auto manufacturers to design cars with even stronger steel. Now, with auto steel being produced that goes beyond the 1,000 MPa range, consumers can feel more at ease with the software that enables them to get the grocery store.   

Electric Vehicles

Electric cars represent the forefront of the trend toward more fuel-efficient cars. Hybrid cars that use a combination of a gasoline powered engine and a rechargeable battery captured the attention of the industry after Toyota successfully launched its Prius in 1997. As car makers race to produce an electric vehicle that is viable for mass production, seemingly every major player is working toward a true electric car solution with zero emissions.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV offers a range of 200+ miles, a key milestone for consumers. (Photo by Jeffrey Sauger for Chevrolet)

Having relied on gas powered engines for over 100 years, the change to battery powered cars is changing the fundamental nature of how a car is made. Consumers have proven unwilling to change their driving habits and expectations, so manufacturers have struggled to build electric cars that can match the performance of their gas-powered cousins.

Advancements in lightweighting are required for electric cars as they will not be equipped with gas-powered engines. Also, improvements in battery technology are also needed so that EVs can increase their driving range and allow consumers to drive distances similar to what they can today.

Innovations in steel technology have given car manufacturers ideal options for lightweighting as new advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) offer lightweight, strong automotive steel. Compared to other alternatives, these new ultra high strength steels are also more eco-friendly to produce. Advancements in lithium extraction technology have also made the process faster and more environment-friendly.

The automotive industry is going through a renaissance. New expectations from consumers coupled with stricter regulations are forcing quick changes to an industry that has moved at its own pace for 100 years. As car manufacturers work to build cars that are safer, more durable, and much lighter, POSCO’s innovations in steel technology provide material solutions that are stronger, lighter, and more durable. Together with POSCO’s work in lithium extraction technology, they have also created more eco-friendly ways to make the rechargeable batteries for electric cars.     

This month, The Steel Wire will continue to look at how POSCO is driving the future of the automotive industry with its new advanced automotive steel solutions.