In a world where global dynamics are shifting at an unprecedented pace, what key economic and industrial trends should we focus on today? Experts at the POSCO Research Institute provide in-depth insights into global industries and economic trends, specifically those affecting POSCO Group’s core businesses. Standing at the threshold of a sweeping transformation in the mobility sector, Senior Researcher Gi-Yong Jeon of the POSCO Research Institute takes a closer look at the emerging industries driven by the hyperloop technology and examines how these shifts could reshape the demand for steel.

Senior Researcher Gi-Yong Jeon, POSCO Research Institute

Around the world today, advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are converging with sustainability initiatives and redefining the very nature of how we move. In the mobility industry, instead of a supplier-centered perspective based on uniform routes and fixed schedules, a demand-driven model focused on personalized transportation that maximizes mobility is increasingly emphasized. In addition, there are sweeping transformations in the mobility industry in the search for solutions regarding societal challenges such as urban centralization, an aging society, and environmental pollution in connection with the transportation sector. In response, we examine the emerging industrial trends represented by the hyperloop, and analyze how these changes are expected to affect the demand for steel.

I Spotlight on the Future of High-Speed Vacuum Trains: Hyperloop

▲A conceptual diagram of the internal structure of a commercialized Hyperloop. The train runs inside the tube at 1,000 km/h. (Image source: Eurotube Foundation Site(https://eurotube.org))

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently brought the hyperloop back into the spotlight by mentioning a transatlantic tunnel project on X (formerly Twitter). He suggested that with a $20 billion investment, it would be possible to build an underwater link connecting New York and London. If an underwater hyperloop transportation system is built, passengers could travel from New York to London in under 60 minutes.

The idea of a transatlantic tunnel connecting the United States and Europe has been floated before, but has never materialized due to severe technical limitations and astronomical costs*. With Musk’s renewed proposal, attention has once again turned toward hyperloop technology, which promises speeds exceeding 1,000 kilometers per hour.
*It is estimated that constructing the tunnel using the same method as the Channel Tunnel, which connects the United Kingdom and France, would require an investment equivalent to the size of the U.S. GDP.

“Hyperloop” is a compound of “hyper” from “hypersonic,” meaning faster than the speed of sound, and “loop,” meaning a circulation ring. It refers to a next-generation high-speed transportation system where capsule-shaped vehicles travel inside a vacuum tube. The hyperloop consists of fully sealed vacuum tubes, passenger capsules, and tracks responsible for propulsion and levitation, and the capsule can travel at speeds over 1,000 km/h in the tube.

To minimize air resistance* at these high speeds, the internal pressure of the tube must be reduced to about 1/1,000th of atmospheric pressure (a near-vacuum). In addition, linear motor propulsion devices must be used for the capsules to levitate by magnetic levitation systems. There are two types of linear motor propulsion: linear induction motor (LIM) or linear synchronous motor (LSM). The LIM system is relatively easy to install and cost-effective for infrastructure, and is mainly used in medium-to-low speed maglev trains such as Linimo in Japan. By contrast, the infrastructure of the LSM system is more expensive but it has a stable power supply even at high speeds, making it suitable for ultra-high-speed trains such as EU HARDT and Japan’s Chuo Shinkansen.

*Air resistance at 200 km/h is four times greater than at 100 km/h, so the tube’s internal pressure must be about 1/1,000th of atmospheric pressure.

For the hyperloop to become a practical mode of transportation, it must first secure both safety and economic feasibility. Because the system must maintain a near-vacuum environment while traveling at high speeds, the stability of the train is critical. The tubes that form the hyperloop tracks must withstand not only their own weight, but also the weight of the capsules, the shocks from high-speed travel, thermal expansion, and atmospheric pressure.

Moreover, as the gap between the capsule and the tube narrows and the capsule approaches the speed of sound, a phenomenon known as the Kantrowitz limit, where airflow inside the tube becomes blocked, may occur. To overcome this issue, it requires securing sufficient clearance by enlarging the diameter of the tube. This demands the development and supply of materials that not only prevent deformation and damage at connection points but also offer excellent airtightness, workability, and economic efficiency. Examples of such materials include PosLoop355 developed by POSCO, and ASTM A1018 Grade 36 steel by AK Steel.

▲A 2.5m diameter hyperloop tube being manufactured by SeAH Steel using POSCO Special Steel PosLoop355.

In underground tunnel sections, ultra-high-density concrete tubes are being considered as an alternative to steel pipes, and ultra-high-performance concrete tubes, such as Hypercrete, are already under development.

I How Close Is Hyperloop to Commercialization?

Considering the demonstration testing plans of hyperloop manufacturers and the conditions needed to secure economic feasibility, the commercialization of Hyperloop is expected to occur after 2030. Countries around the world are building and testing pilot tracks to develop hyperloop technology. The achievements of leading companies are as follows:

[Hardt Hyperloop]
Hardt Hyperloop, a Netherlands-based hyperloop development company, has established the European Hyperloop Center (in Veendam, Groningen Province, Netherlands) and is actively conducting technology development and testing. It plans to build commercial hyperloop lines in the Netherlands and Canada after 2030.

▲A view of the European Hyperloop Center test line using POSCO steel. The 420m-long hyperloop test line, which is scheduled to be completed in March 2024, includes the world’s first Y-shaped switch that allows for changing tracks while in motion. (Image source: Hardt)

POSCO has collaborated with its Steel Research Laboratories, Steel Solutions Research Laboratories, and Marketing Division to participate in the entire process from design to production of the European Hyperloop Center (EHC). It supplied 352 tons of PosLoop355 steel, a material that is 27% lighter than Hardt’s original design. This material is the world’s first specialized steel for hyperloop tubes and features vibration-damping performance 1.7 times higher than that of conventional steel and superior seismic resistance. Additionally, for high-speed route-switching tests on the pilot track, POSCO also supplied 123 tons of high-grade heavy plates.

▲Inside the hyperloop where the European Hyperloop Center is developing technology. (Image Source : Hardt Hyperloop Linkedin)

Moreover, POSCO International invested in Hardt Hyperloop in 2022 as part of its global new business development strategy, acquiring a 6.1% equity stake and securing supply rights for steel materials. In 2023, it further strengthened its relationship by signing a strategic cooperation agreement to collaborate on projects in Europe and the Middle East. POSCO and POSCO International plan to continue promoting POSCO’s steel materials for use in other global hyperloop pilot track projects.

[The Boring Company]

The Boring Company, a U.S.-based transportation infrastructure firm founded by Elon Musk, specializes in the design, construction, and operation of underground tunnels. It is conducting technology verification by building test tracks, designing vacuum tubes, and developing capsule prototypes for hyperloop systems.

[CASIC, China Aerospace Science and industry Corporation]

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), a state-owned enterprise, is currently developing a hyperloop system called “T-Flight.” In November 2023, the company completed a 2-kilometer hyperloop test track in Datong, Shanxi Province. However, since trial runs have been conducted only over a relatively short section, additional testing under a variety of conditions remains necessary. During recent trials, the T-Flight system achieved a top speed of 623 kilometers per hour, and CASIC plans to further increase this to 1,000 kilometers per hour in future tests.

In South Korea, there were plans to build a hypertube* demonstration complex in the Saemangeum region and to secure core technologies for its development. However, the project failed to pass the preliminary feasibility assessment conducted in 2023. Momentum for the initiative was reignited in June 2024, when the South Korean government abolished preliminary feasibility evaluations for national research and development projects. Following this decision, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport officially announced on June 9 the launch of research and development efforts for key hypertube technologies, in particular, magnetic levitation and propulsion systems. The government plans to invest a total of KRW 12.7 billion (approximately USD 9.5 million) over the next three years until 2027 to develop four critical technologies: dedicated hypertube tracks, superconducting magnet systems, driving control technologies, and the design and manufacturing of capsule bodies.

*In South Korea, the domestic version of the hyperloop system is referred to as “hypertube.”

The global hyperloop technology market is experiencing rapid growth. If major countries such as those in Europe replace intercity rail networks with hyperloop systems, the market is projected to reach approximately USD 77 billion by 2034. However, several challenges remain, including the need to develop technologies capable of accommodating the numerous curves found in existing railway routes, as well as the issue of high construction costs. As a result, it is expected that countries such as those in Europe will adopt hyperloop technologies more as a complementary solution rather than as a complete replacement for existing rail infrastructure.

I Steel Industry Sees New Opportunities in Hyperloop, the Next-Generation High-Speed Transport

If large-scale infrastructure projects connecting cities with hyperloop systems move forward, it is expected to have a positive impact on the demand for steel. This is because a wide range of infrastructure elements, such as vacuum tubes, intersections, foundational facilities, magnetic levitation systems, and vacuum maintenance systems, will require materials such as steel pipes, structural steel, and stainless steel (STS). The total distance between major cities in Europe is estimated to be around 10,000 kilometers. If these routes were replaced with hyperloop systems, the demand for steel could exceed 20 million tons.

The hyperloop, a next-generation high-speed mode of transportation, presents a significant breakthrough opportunity for the steel industry. To capture future demand in the evolving mobility market, it will be crucial for steelmakers to build stable cooperative networks and continuously develop high-value-added, region-specific steel products tailored to the needs of hyperloop infrastructure.

POSCO involved in the entire process from design to production; POSCO steel used throughout the test track and diverging sections

POSCO attended the inauguration ceremony of the European Hyperloop Center (EHC) Phase A test track, which Hardt Hyperloop hosted on September 9 in Veendam, Netherlands.

▲European Hyperloop Center test track (Source: Hardt).

The event was attended by approximately 300 people, including Jens Gieseke, Member of the European Parliament; Prince Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau of the Netherlands; Inigo Cruz Martinez, Policy Officer for the European Union Transport Authority; Bertrand Van Ee, CEO of Hardt; Seok-jong Seo, Head of Steel Product R&D Center at POSCO Technical Research Laboratories; Yong-hyeok Kim, Head of Eco-friendly Industrial Steel Business Division at POSCO International; and representatives from EHC partner companies.

The EHC is a test center carrying out sub-projects of the Hyperloop Development Program (HDP), a national hyperloop development initiative led by Hardt and the Dutch government. It is equipped with test tracks and research facilities to promote standardization and technology validation of hyperloop within the EU.

Commercial hyperloop tubes require approximately 2,000 tons of steel per kilometer. With an estimated 25,000 km of hyperloop construction expected in Europe alone by 2050, this industry shows significant growth potential.

The inaugurated hyperloop test track (Phase A) is 2.5m in diameter and 450m long. Hardt plans to focus on testing operational runs, acceleration and deceleration (instantaneous maximum speed of 100 km/hr), precise control in diverging sections, and passenger safety.

POSCO’s Steel Product R&D Center, Steel Solution R&D Center, and Marketing Division collaborated throughout the EHC design and production process. They supplied 352 tons of PosLoop355 steel for the Phase A test track, which is 27% lighter than Hardt’s original design. This marks the world’s first specialized steel for hyperloop tubes, offering 1.7 times the vibration-damping capacity* of regular steel during high-speed travel and excellent seismic performance.

*Vibration damping capacity: The characteristic of a material to internally reduce vibration.

Additionally, the test track is designed to allow for route divergence testing during high-speed travel. POSCO’s advanced thick plate products, totaling 123 tons, were also used in this section, ensuring POSCO steel is utilized throughout the entire hyperloop system.

In addition to the inaugurated Phase A test track, Phase B (2.7km) is scheduled for construction by 2027. The Phase B section will enable testing of instantaneous maximum speeds up to 700km/hr and safety performance checks, raising expectations for commercialization.

POSCO plans to continue collaborating with Hardt on the Phase B test track, applying specialized steel and differentiated tube structures to the main line and diverging sections to ensure competitive infrastructure.

POSCO International also participated in this project. In 2022, as part of its global new business development, POSCO International invested in Hardt, securing a 6.1% stake and steel supply rights. In 2023, they signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Hardt and are jointly developing Phase B and projects in Europe and the Middle East.

In collaboration with POSCO International, POSCO plans to actively market its steel for use in future global hyperloop test track projects.

Kyu-hwan Lim, Head Hot Rolled & Wire Rod Marketing Office at POSCO, stated, “In a carbon-neutral future, while intercontinental passenger and cargo transport will be handled by aircraft and ships, we believe hyperloop, with its superior energy efficiency and transport speed, will manage travel between mega-cities. We will thoroughly prepare to ensure the POSCO Group secures competitiveness as a major player in the steel market for future transportation.”

The maximum speed of hyperloop is about 1,200km/h, comparable to the speed of sound and faster than the Boeing 787. The travel time from Seoul to Busan may take merely 20 minutes. It means that commuting from Busan to Seoul can become possible. When the Korean Train Express (KTX) was first introduced in 2004, it became possible to travel Seoul-Busan back and forth within a day. With the hyperloop, this would be shortened to within an hour.

The concept of hyperloop became widely known to the public when Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, mentioned it. When he first unveiled the concept of Hyperloop in 2013, demonstrating a high-speed train in the form of a capsule moving inside a vacuum tube, some critics were skeptical, dismissing Musk’s idea as being science fiction. However, research on this idea began as it received spotlight from the media, and last month, a U.S. company, Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO), succeeded in the first manned test run in an experimental tunnel in the Nevada desert near Las Vegas. Since it was still in the test phase, the tunnel was just 500m long and the speed was only 172km/h, which is 1/7 of the speed of sound. However, it was enough to prove that the concept of traveling within a vacuum tube wasn’t science fiction anymore.

※ Image Source: Virgin Hyperloop (VHO) official website

Then what is the principle that enables the hyperloop to travel within the vacuum tube? To understand this, let’s first look at how a hyperloop can reach the speed of sound.

l Trains Are Fast. Airplanes Are Faster.

Why are planes faster than trains? Of course, the fact that airplanes are equipped with jet engines would be one answer. However, there is another factor that can’t be overlooked: the traffic environment. Trains travel on the ground while planes fly high up in the sky, which results in significant differences at speeds.

Usually, planes fly at an altitude of 10 km, and the air pressure here is only 30-40% compared to that of the surface. As the air pressure and the air density decreases, the air resistance to the plane body decreases as well, so it becomes possible to move faster and more efficiently with less energy. If the Boeing 787 can achieve a speed of more than 900 km/h at 30-40% air pressure compared to the ground, theoretically, a hyperloop can reach close to the speed of sound since the air pressure on the hyperloop body is 1/1,000 — a vacuum state of 0.1%.

In the field of aviation and rockets, the unit “Mach” is more frequently used rather than “km/h”. This is because, in the air, the actual travel speed is greatly affected by traveling conditions, such as air pressure and temperature, so a reference point is required to allow comparison. The reference point here is the speed of sound, which is 1,224 km/h, and it is named “Mach 1”.

l Hyperloop: A Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train Traveling Within a Vacuum Tube

Now let’s look at the structural principle of the hyperloop body and the vacuum tube. Picturing a “maglev train” would help to understand the structure of a hyperloop. The driving principle of hyperloop is maglev, where the magnets placed on the train and the track interact. As the end of the magnets meet, they interact in two different ways: 1) the train pushes itself away from the track or 2) the train pulls itself to the track. Both systems enable the train to travel swiftly through the vacuum tube like a missile. The maglev trains in Shanghai and Incheon Airport adopt the first system, while the Japanese SCMaglev adopts the second. The biggest advantage of maglev is the absence of friction with the track which minimizes routine maintenance, and this is the same in the case of the hyperloop as well. Besides the fact of being super-fast, another difference the passengers might observe between the hyperloop and conventional train is that hyperloop trains do not have any windows since they are made in capsule forms to minimize air resistance and weight. The names of the hyperloop’s parts might be somewhat unfamiliar, but they are actually quite straightforward. The rails are called “track”, tunnels are called “tubes,” and trains are called “pods”.

▲ An image of the sky and the aurora projected on the ceiling of a hyperloop pod (train) (※ Image Source: Hardt Hyperloop)

VHO, which possesses a maglev train, created a hyperloop train in life-size, and in 2017, the train recorded a maximum speed of 386 km/h in an unmanned trial. In June 2019, a hyperloop company Hardt Hyperloop demonstrated the world’s first maglev switch in a 30m full-scale test facility in the Netherlands. Formerly, the maglev switching was done by moving the track but Hardt Hyperloop succeeded in developing a system where the train can go on and off the track, like a highway, thus improving the operational efficiency of the hyperloop.

In Korea, since the Korea Railroad Research Institute succeeded in accelerating a model vehicle under 1kg to 700km/h for the first time in the world eight years ago, development for a Korean-type hypertube (HTX) and an ultra-high-speed capsule train has begun. On November 11, the model vehicle recorded a top speed of 1,019km/h in a test scaled down to 1/17, showing world-class technology.

l Hyperloop Commercialization: The Stability of the ‘Tube’ and Material Technology Are Key

The advantage of Hyperloop isn’t just its speed. Since it moves in a vacuum tube, it doesn’t create any noise. It has no restrictions regarding the weather, such as fog or typhoons, and there isn’t any CO₂ generated as well. The energy consumed for transporting one person per 1km is 8% compared to airplanes and 35% compared to high-speed trains, while the cost being economical as well.

However, in order for Hyperloop to be commercialized, there are still some issues to be resolved. Imagine a train running at a speed of 1,200km/h within a tube of tens or hundreds of kilometers in a vacuum state.

※ Image Source: Hardt Hyperloop

The first issue is securing airtightness and safety. Since the long tube has to be kept in a vacuum state, ensuring airtightness is a must, as well as the safety of the train which is running at super high speed. A test run of a manned train traveling 500m at 167km/h was successful, but there is still a long way to go to travel tens or hundreds of kilometers at 1,200km/h. The tubes that make up the track of the hyperloop must not only be able to withstand the load of the tube itself but also the load of the pod, the shock, and thermal expansion caused by high-speed driving. Another factor the tube must withstand is air pressure, which is difficult for objects within a vacuum state. If the tube deforms or cracks due to these factors, it could lead to big accidents. This is why the material and structural technology used to fabricate the tube is crucial.

The second issue is overcoming the “Kantrowitz limit”. The inside of the tube is supposed to be in a vacuum state, but little amounts of air remain inside the tube. When the space between the train and the tube narrows and the speed of the train approaches the speed of sound, the air flow in the tube is blocked at some point. This is called ‘air suffocation’, or ‘Kantrovitz limit’ in technical terms. How could this be overcome? Sufficient space must be secured between the train and the tube so that the air flow within the tube is not blocked, and this entails increasing the size of the tube to find the optimum diameter.

The third issue is ensuring economic feasibility. Concrete, carbon fiber, and steel have been reviewed as tube materials. Concrete is economical but lacks airtightness, while carbon fiber is costly and lacks machinability. Accordingly, steel, which is of reasonable cost and features excellent airtightness and workability traits, has been evaluated as the most appropriate material for the tube.

l POSCO & Tata Steel Europe Get Together for Hyperloop

▲ A schematic diagram of a hyperloop tube jointly developed by POSCO and Tata Steel Europe

How much steel would be consumed to make a hyperloop tube out of steel? Experts say that it will take about 2,500 tons of steel per kilometer to manufacture a tube with a diameter of 4m, so the steel for hyperloop tubes is likely to become a new large-scale market in the future for the steel industry. As the key to shortening the period of Hyperloop commercialization depends on the tube manufacturing technology. So, it is important to preoccupy the market and set the standards by developing specialized steel materials optimal for producing tubes.

That is why POSCO held an agreement ceremony with Tata Steel Europe (TSE) on November 6 and decided to jointly step forward to develop steel materials for hyperloop. The cooperation will cover the overall hyperloop business field, including developing steel materials, structural solutions, and participating in global projects. Since POSCO possesses several optimized steel materials and technical solutions for hyperloop and Tata Steel Europe has expertise in tube structures, the cooperation of both companies is expected to create great synergy and is evaluated as an exemplary open collaboration case between global steelmakers.

▲ POSCO and Tata Steel Europe signed a business agreement regarding hyperloop via conference call.

Many hyperloop companies, such as VHO, HTT, and Hardt Hyperloop are now competing for hyperloop construction around the world. VHO, which succeeded in the world’s first manned test run in Nevada, U.S., is working on two projects linking Mumbai to Pune in India and Dubai to Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The American company HTT is carrying out the world’s first commercial project connecting the Expo2020 exhibition center and Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. In 2019, Hardt Hyperloop announced its plan to build a 3km hyperloop test center in the Netherlands, where hyperloop trains will be tested up to 700 km/h. Considering this speed of advancement, the day when Seoul and Busan will be connected by hyperloop may come sooner or later. And if POSCO joins in, the day might be expedited than expected.

– Finding the Hidden POSCO!-

Let the POSCO technology treasure hunt begin. Now.

① Higher and Safer with POSCO: HSA, Pos-H, PosMAC

Safe construction of skyscrapers – buildings of 50 floors (200 meters) and up – requires specialized construction technologies. Exponential population growth hence the lack of available lands necessitated more living and working spaces. The demand for skyscrapers is skyrocketing. The building materials must withstand the heavyweight. Not only do we need new technologies that endure added weights, but they should also be prepared for natural disasters like earthquakes and typhoons. POSCO is working on material development and structural systems for higher and safer buildings. POSCO’s signature steel, ‘High-Performance Steel for Architecture’ (HSA), is 1.7 times stronger and 30% lighter than conventional structural materials making them ideal for high-rise buildings. It’s also a seismic reinforcement material that effectively mitigates vibrations transferred to the building in the event of an earthquake. Seoul’s tallest skyscraper Lotte World Tower, Busan LCT, and the Incheon International Airport Terminal 2, and Dongdaegu Station were built with POSCO’s HSA.

POSCO’s other premium construction steel is Pos-H. It’s an exclusive Word Top Premium (WTP) H beam fabricated of POSCO steel plates under POSCO’s strict quality system. Composed of more than 440 available members, Pos-H can be standardized and optimized — compared to conventional rolled H-Beam, it’s cost-efficient needing 15 to 20% less steel for a given component. Pos-H ensures optimum price, delivery, and quality as per customer demands.

The PosMAC-Steel Curtain Wall blocks the external atmosphere without bearing load applied to the building. Consisting of glass and panels attached to steel frames, steel curtain wall provides a highly premium atheistic look. Its high structural performance and good weldability allow the steel to achieve a wide range of designs. A steel curtain wall can be installed for 12 meters and up without reinforcement and can achieve the slimmer design than aluminum. Furthermore, welding PosMAC-Steel Curtain Wall utilizing 3D-Modeling information enables unique design. Compared to aluminum, it provides better performance in terms of structure, heat insulation, flame resistance, anti-seismic capability, and soundproofing.

② Eco-Friendly and Vibrant ‘Solar Pine’ — With POSCO

Solar Pine is an eco-friendly solar structure that combines POSCO WTP steel with smart IoT technology. This structure is a sunlight generation sculpture developed by POSCO with its name driving from the geometric pattern and form of a pine cone. POSCO’s technical expertise in Solar Pine isn’t confined to the company’s steel materials — it expands to manufacturing processes such as exterior design and processing. Equipped with 48 solar modules, the circular structure of 5.5 meters in diameter can generate 1kW of power. The upper solar roof creates a geometric shadow pattern during the day. Simultaneously, it also accumulates power through solar power generation, which can be used to charge mobile devices day and night. During winter, it even serves as a warm bench for pedestrians. Solar Pine offers various convenience features such as public Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers. Solar Pine can be found at the Seoul Energy Dream Center in Seoul, and POSCO Energy Green Park in Incheon.

③ Think Environment, Think Health with Stainless Travel Mugs and Straws

Outside and thirsty during hot summer? Stainless is the way to go. Environment concerns surrounding disposable plastic cups and straws are drawing attention to alternative materials like stainless steel travel mugs and straws. Not only are they environmentally sustainable, but they also have other features. Notably hygienic, stainless steel is odor-resistant and prevents bacterial growth. Also, with stainless steel, discoloration is rare. Since travel mugs are in constant contact with liquids, they should be rust-free and hygienic. Stainless steel is one of the best materials that meet those requirements.

On average, a plastic straw is used for about 20 minutes but takes 500 years to decompose. Every day, each person uses 1.6 straws. Plastic straws need an urgent replacement. Across the globe, stainless steel is rapidly becoming the go-to material to replace plastics. Unlike plastic straws, stainless steel straws are clean, harm-free, and can be reused over and over.

④ POSCO Steel Plate Sustains Long Distance — 18.38km

Ultra-long bridges have over a one-kilometer distance between pylons.

In Incheon Bridge, more than 50,000 tons of POSCO steel were used — including 24,000 tons of high value-added thick plates by POSCO and 3,000 tons of bridge railing steel, also developed by POSCO. The required amount of TMCP (Thermo-Mechanically Controlled Processed), structural steel for bridges, is 3,000 tons. TMCP steel is a high-quality thick plate with excellent weldability. Including TMCP steel, POSCO’s high value-added thick plates were mainly used for cable-stayed Incheon Bridge. The connectivity bridges of the Bridge are being constructed as concrete bridges for which POSCO’s general steels, including PC stranded wire, were used.

Meanwhile, the cable, one of the most important components in the ultra-long bridges, supports the bridge by transferring the weight to the top plate to the pylon. POSCO currently produces POSCO wire for Cable, PosCable. POSCO’s steel cable is also applied to ‘hanger,’ a part that connects the cable to the top plate. This particular steel wire is produced by twisting multiple strands of the POSCO wire rod. Extremely sturdy and yet, one steel strand can withstand the weight of a 4.5-ton truck of. Being rust-free, PosCable is perfect for the bridge, which is being built over the ocean, keeping the bridge safe and strong for a long time.

⑤ POSCO Steel in the Incheon Airport

Opened last year, the Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport features ‘Art Port,’ a variety of complex cultural spaces. Known for its excellent architectural aesthetics and comfortable facilities, Terminal 2 also features POSCO’s steel products. The roof panel of the passenger terminal contains POSCO’s WTP stainless steel grade 446M. POSCO’s 446 M stainless steel features maximum corrosion resistance against the airport’s coastal climate utilizing the material’s low thermal expansion — characteristics of the 400 series. POSCO specialty steels were applied to the roof and building exterior materials in offshore or factory areas. For the roof area, the weight of the roof was reduced by applying the POSCO Space System, a joint node technology — one of POSCO’s solution technologies applied to the large-space shell structure. In the main ticketing area, there are large tree-shaped pillars which used HSA800 steel, a for ultra-high-strength structure material. HSA800 helped minimize the column sizes, creating a vast openness in the space. HSA800 can greatly reduce the amount of steel used in large spaces or high-rise constructions.

⑥ Hyperloop, Future Mega Trend for Mega City

Hyperloop is drawing attention as a new means of transportation and future megatrend. Hyperloop refers to a train-type transportation system that can run as fast as 1,280 km per hour with close to zero resistance to the vehicle. For the train tube, hyperloop uses POSCO’s high-performance steel, a spiral steel pipe with a diameter of four meters with a thickness of 20-30mm. The material applies specialized high-performance hot rolling, which maintains vacuum in the tubes and propels the vehicle for high-speed operation.

For the hyperloop to work, it must first be connected to an almost vacuum-like low-pressure (0.001 atm) tube — from departure to destination. The vehicle must be supported by an electromagnetic motor while maintaining the vacuum in the tube. Propulsion is achieved by sending air back to the pressurizer. Pressurized air uses air bearings to minimize friction, and solar energy increases efficiency. With Hyperloop, the 400-km travel between Seoul and Busan is expected to take about 20 minutes.

Through the episodes of #1 through #3 of [Find the Hidden POSCO], we discovered the presence of POSCO’s steel and technologies which can be spotted everywhere around us. What new technologies will be added to the current list, and how will they transform our lives? POSCO Newsroom will continue following this journey every step of the way.

Hyperloop floating through the Megacity has become the hallmark of future transportation. (Source: Big Think Edge)

The premise scene of the current Sci-Fi hit series, “Westworld” reveals guests being whisked to the entrance of Westworld, the show’s elaborate theme park. This is carried out in a super-fast magnetic levitation pod, whooshed forward in a blur at the speed of sound. This is in fact, the synthetic cameo of Elon Musk’s actual innovation, the Hyperloop.

Although this backdrop is 2052, evidently far-fetched to the eye, the advent of Hyperloop as we know it is even more materialized in reality than viewers may imagine. This mode of transport is a peek at the bird’s eye view of what’s to come.

The electric vehicle is a major mode of futuristic transportation we are already familiar with. The commercialization of flying cars and drone taxis as well are in the cards. And what is the role of steel in their manifestations?

The Era of Electric SUV with Lightweight Steel

The I.D. Crozz by Volkswagen is an electric-powered cross-over between a coupé and SUV (Source: Volkswagen Newsroom)

The transport of tomorrow we are most accustomed to is the electric car. Some of the major auto industry players such as BMW Group, Volkswagen Group, and Ford Group have formed a Pan-European EV charging network, Ionity to ensure enough charging stations to meet the growing EV units.

Frontrunner Tesla’s most recent electric SUV invention, the Tesla Model X has motivated global competitors to spring up a range of electric SUVs. With the release of Jaguar I-Pace in March and the Hyundai Kona Electric in May along with the anticipated launch of Audi’s E-tron Quattro and Sportback, worldwide carmakers and consumers alike are aware that a new generation of electric SUV and its crossover versions are already in full swing.

Previously, the electric motor was commonly applicable only in compact or subcompact cars due to its limited battery capacity. They weren’t capable of reaching over a certain distance even once fully charged. As follows, lightweighting is inevitable to secure more miles on the road.

The development of battery performance and vehicle lightweighting technologies have enabled the creation of the electric SUV. Primary components of EV are the electric motors and batteries, especially the lithium-ion batteries that power the vehicle using POSCO’s cathode and anode.

An anode is a positively charged electrode in which the current flows into the system. Since last year, POSCO ES MATERIALS has been manufacturing highly-stable anode material, the PG-NCM which is world’s finest in quality. The cathode generates electricity by storing and releasing the lithium contained in the anode. At present, POSCO CHEMTECH is the sole manufacturer of anode materials in the domestic market.

The second solution to car lightweighting for more mileage would be POSCO’s Giga Steel. Giga Steel is a high-intensity steel capable of enduring the weight of 1,500 subcompact cars with a size that is merely 4 inches in width and 6 inches in length. Its intensity is thrice that of an automotive aluminum enabling even thin steel sheets to perform as robust car structure. Accordingly, it is unmatched in resolving both lightweight and stability issues for its lightness and high endurance. Experts predict the increase in demand for ultra-high tensile steel with gigapascal capacity of endurance suitable for advanced safety measures.

Whizzing from New York to Washington DC in 30 Minutes

Hyperloop travels at a supersonic speed of 760 miles per hour faster than that of a commercial airplane. (Source: Inverse)

A quick weekday evening spent with a family member in a US home state after work may just happen. A San Francisco resident can enjoy dinner after work with a friend from college in downtown LA in just 30 minutes. The same amount of time would take for a Dutch in Amsterdam to travel to Paris for a quick photo of the Eiffel Tower. The mode of transportation? None other than the Hyperloop.

It is one of the most innovative technologies in the next generation of transport initially mentioned in 2012 and explicitly open-sourced the following year by the CEO of Tesla Motors and Space X, Elon Musk. A pressurized pod would float through the vacuum tunnel while magnetic levitation enables it to hover above the rail to reduce friction.

Theory suggests the speed of Hyperloop is around 760 mph, considerably faster than that of a regular passenger flight which is 547 to 575 mph. It can transport passengers to neighboring states in the US or to neighboring countries in about half an hour. There is almost zero emission while solving congestion problems in a sustainable and cost-efficient way.

Since its conception, high-tech companies have been chasing after the hyperloop reality around the world. This includes Elon Musk’s Boring Company, business magnate, Richard Branson’s Virgin Hyperloop One, and LA-based Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), an American research company.

HTT has been constructing one of two test tracks in France, ready to convey the first passenger capsule later this year. It had already signed a 150 km Hyperloop system between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, partly expected to be operational in 2020. This agreement is the foundation to eventually run Hyperloop in between the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Richard Branson announced earlier this year that he had signed an agreement with India’s Maharashtra State government to build Virgin Hyperloop One connecting the distance reaching up to 150 kilometers between two cities, Mumbai and Pune. We may eventually reap the benefits of the Hyperloop bringing the world closer together.

Most Hyperloop companies are developing tubes or tunnels out of steel from which most of the air has been removed. POSCO is also researching the application of steel designed for the Hyperloop while at its refurbished “Steel Gallery” exhibit at POSCO Center, visitors can experience Hyperloop through an interactive wall to learn about the anticipated performances of steel in the near future.

Beating Ground Traffic on a Drone Taxi

CityAirbus’s Drone Taxi underway (Source: Helicopter Newswire)

The opening scene of “Blade Runner 2049” released in October last year features a flying car whirring across the sky. The Passenger, Blade Runner “K” played by Ryan Gosling wakes up from what is a self-driving vehicle, flying him across his journeys. This premise of flying cars is always that one thing common in Sci-Fi movies, even the older version of Blade Runner which hit theaters back in 1982.

Considering its advantages versus overpopulation and hours idling in traffic, this may come away from the silver screen and into our real lives. No less than 19 companies have pursued the competition in commercializing flying cars.

Last May, Uber has teamed up with NASA, announcing its plans to service aerial taxi services by 2023 in LA, Dallas, and Dubai. Uber has signed an agreement with NASA to plan a new air traffic control software for what could be the beginning of establishing a new aerial smart system enabling advanced and efficient infrastructure from up above. Its’ servicing demonstration video reveals the passenger booking her flight through Uber app. Uber has already invested €20 million in flying taxi service in Paris, France. Its high-profile competitor, the Kitty Hawk project backed by Google founder, Larry Page has released its own version of the flying vehicle commercially available for sale.

Other countries such as Dubai and Japan have adopted their own versions of drone taxi services and is expediting its completion and starting launch by 2020. The Japanese government has partnered up with companies such as Boeing, Airbus, and Japanese Airlines and hopes to launch its prototype to be used to light the Olympic flame during the Games hosted by Tokyo in 2020.

Cars with wings especially require utmost safety and lightweighting even more so than most ground-based cars. POSCO’s ultra-high intensity steel sheet produced with advanced Giga Steel will be unequaled in offering such breakthrough technology.

These examined future transportations require steel as its fundamental material. Steel in itself faces constant evolution, not unlike the advancement of transportation as it is unique for both its strength and lightweight. Keeping its endless possibilities in mind, steel’s significance will be proven further in the newer forms of transportation to come.

Take a look at three of the ways transportation is restructuring itself for faster, more sustainable travel. Some are closer to realization than others, but all of them are changing the way we think about movement. When realized, all of these ideas will have an impact far beyond what we can see now.

The Hyperloop – Fast & Frictionless

An Idea by Elon Musk

In 2013, Elon Musk came up with the idea for the Hyperloop as he grew frustrated with the high-speed rail being developed in California at that time. He called it “both one of the most expensive per mile and one of the slowest in the world.” Musk said, “It would be great to have an alternative to flying or driving, but obviously only if it is actually better than flying or driving.”

He imagined capsules, zooming by at speeds faster than any train or plane, that would allow him to get to San Francisco from LA in 35 minutes. The basic concept was that the capsules would float through partially evacuated steel tubes propelled by fans and electromagnets. Because there would be less friction from air and rails, there could be significant increases in speed and durability, while decreasing reliance on fuel at the same time.

Workers install Hyperloop’s stator blocks at our test and development site in North Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy of Hyperloop One)

Because Musk was so involved transforming the space industry with SpaceX, the auto industry with Tesla, and the energy industry with SolarCity, he did not seem to have much time for Hyperloop. So, he developed a 58-page outline of his ideas and left it to others to develop. And they have.

Hyperloop One Unveils Testing Site

To fulfill this improbable dream, a handful of startups have stepped in – one of them being California-based Hyperloop Technologies. They have been building a test site, called DevLoop, 30 minutes outside of Las Vegas in the Nevada desert that was unveiled last week to the public. According to their press release, DevLoop is a 500-meter full-scale Hyperloop test structure weighing over one million kilograms. The Hyperloop One tube measures 3.3 meters in diameter and they are expected to perform their first full test sometime in the first half of 2017.

Hyperloop unveiled its first test site, the DevLoop on March 7. Later this year, they will run their first test of the Hyperloop. (Photo courtesy of Hyperloop One)

In November, Hyperloop Tech signed an agreement with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to evaluate building a Hyperloop between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. When completed, a commute that once took several hours will take just 12 minutes.

All parties involved realize the costs are going to be high. Creating a new form of transportation infrastructure is not simple and building large steel semi-vacuum tubes over ground (or under) is technologically difficult requiring trained engineers and highly skilled workers. To offset this, Hyperloop Tech is focusing some of its energy in attracting industrial freight clients.

The Future of Freight

One of Hyperloop Tech’s Transportation Economists, Dapeng Zhang, recently presented on transformational freight explaining that their “vision at Hyperloop One is to connect cities into mega-regions, and turn metro areas into metro stops. This will inevitably improve the efficiency of freight supply chains. By connecting two distant metros, Hyperloop One creates a geographical cluster which could help reduce inventory costs, promote even more just-in-time strategies, and expand same-day delivery service areas.”

A Hyperloop steel tube awaits entry into the tube processing building, where they are painted and prepped for use. (Photo courtesy of Hyperloop One)

Whether or not this is completely feasible is still up for debate, but it is exciting to see the strides being made in this type of supersonic transportation technology. Other developments such as electric cars, autonomous vehicles, and SkyTran (below) will help us move short distances, but ideas like the Hyperloop are needed to connect the larger metropolitan areas.

SkyTran – Personal Rapid Transit

Apart from the Hyperloop and autonomous driving technology, other personal mobility developments are being made. One of those is SkyTran, a company working to develop a personal rapid transit system that carries people in autonomous pods. Located near Mountain View, California, SkyTran has focused its efforts on relieving congestion in cities by creating a system that rides on an elevated monorail. It is both quick and efficient, and unlike the Hyperloop, it is nearing completion with plans to open in Israel, Nigeria, and France.

This concept image shows a drop-off point for one of SkyTran’s capsules. (Photo courtesy of SkyTran)

Using what is called maglev technology (magnetic levitation), the SkyTran uses electromagnets (similar in concept to the Hyperloop) to propel itself forward (up to 155 mph) while using little to no electricity. SkyTran says that when the pod reaches 10 mph, it can continue to glide and accelerate without any extra power. SkyTran’s CEO says the pods can on the same amount of electricity as two hair dryers.

SkyTran capsules are elevated above the city streets avoiding traffic and giving them the freedom to move at high speeds. (Photo courtesy of SkyTran)

In addition to being highly efficient to operate, SkyTran benefits in its low upfront costs. Unlike the Hyperloop, which requires rather large infrastructure and maintenance costs to ensure proper functionality of the pipe’s vacuum and propulsion system, SkyTran is projected to be a much more economic option. Because the system is set up above the streets, its footprint is small – requiring only an 18-inch steel pole to hold the steel and aluminum capsules.

The company estimates that it will only cost about USD 13 million per mile to build, compared to a subway system that can cost around USD 160 million for the same distance. Because of the low upfront costs, SkyTran believes that malls, hotels, and other private businesses will want to build their own offshoot lines – not only for their customers but because it will be profitable.

POSCO’s Advanced Auto Steel in Future Cars

Autonomous, connected, electric. These are the common buzzwords that come to mind when we think about future trends in personal transportation. At CES earlier this year, seemingly everyone had their own solution to made driving cars more connected and safer, and with less human involvement.

Nissan and BMW unveiled plans to use Microsoft’s personal assistant technology, Cortana, with their cars. Honda became the first major manufacturer to develop an electric concept car specifically designed for ride-sharing. And as for self-driving cars – Nissan announced it would bring autonomous driving support to its Leaf electric car, Hyundai introduced one that would be affordable enough for the masses, and Audi announced a partnership with Nvidia to bring self-driving cars to market by 2020.

At the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), POSCO showcased its advanced automotive steel products that are both strong and lightweight, making them uniquely suited for the electric cars of the future.

The weight of POSCO’s advanced auto steel is about 26.4 percent lighter compared to that used in most mid-sized vehicles. But despite being lighter, it received the highest level possible ratings from Europe and North America’s automobile collision evaluation Institute, Euro NCAP and IIHS.

In addition, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which measures the amount of CO2 discharged throughout the entire life cycle from material production to recycling, showed that emissions from the internal combustion engine body were 50 percent lower. Electric car emissions were also decreased by about 9 percent.

POSCO’s advanced auto steel is uniquely developed to be lighter and stronger for the cars of the future

The displayed products included the new PosM Steel and hot press forming steel (HPF). PosM Steel is a “dream material” for car manufacturers because it is five times stronger than other steel in terms of machinability while also having an impact absorption of up to 100 kg per mm². While many steelmakers have been developing PosM Steel type steel, it has never been produced on a commercial scale before. In addition, POSCO’s HPF steel is stronger than many other steel alloys making it a good solution for manufacturers looking to improve car safety.

POSCO currently supplies advanced auto steel sheets to car and component manufacturers, including Toyota, Volkswagen, and GM. POSCO has 10 automobile production plants and 24 machining centers around the globe. In addition to providing its World Premium Products, POSCO also provides Solution Marketing services that offer customized technologies developed in-house (such as welding and molding) that are customized to fit a customer’s unique needs depending on the product and manufacturing process.

Innovations in the transportation industry require big ideas, big investments, and new technological advancements. Right now, all of these seem to be coming together for what is expected to be some big changes. If the investors at Hyperloop and SkyTran have their way, pretty soon we will be able to travel across Europe on a Hyperloop, transfer to a SkyTran, and arrive in our hotel in less than an hour.

*Cover photo courtesy of Hyperloop One.