POSCO Group produces the core steel materials required to drive the global shift toward decarbonization. Through high-performance steel products and tailored solutions, the Group enhances safety, efficiency, and durability across industries including oil and gas, power generation, and renewable energy, contributing to the sustainable growth of the global energy sector. Here, we take a closer look at POSCO Group’s key steel products that are shaping the future of energy infrastructure.

Powering the Energy Transition with POSCO Group’s High-Performance Steel

The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. While technologies such as renewable energy, hydrogen, LNG, and CCUS continue to advance in pursuit of carbon reduction, it is advanced materials that ultimately enable these innovations to become reality. POSCO Group is supporting the advancement of next-generation energy infrastructure by providing steel engineered to perform under extreme environments and demanding conditions. From PosMAC, a high-corrosion-resistant alloy-coated steel used in renewable energy infrastructure, to steel forming the foundation of hydrogen pipeline systems, high-manganese steel recognized as a key material for liquefied hydrogen storage tanks, and LT-FH36, a core steel for LCO₂ carriers, POSCO’s high-performance steel products are applied across a wide range of energy transition industries, each tailored to specific application requirements.

Strengthening ESS Safety with PosMAC: A High-Corrosion-Resistant Alloy-Coated Steel

▲ PosMAC is used as a material for ESS battery cases developed by LG Energy Solution.

As renewable energy expands and power efficiency becomes increasingly important, demand for energy storage systems (ESS) continues to rise. Because ESS must store electricity safely and reliably over long periods, corrosion-resistant materials are essential. POSCO’s high-corrosion-resistant alloy-coated steel, PosMAC, is widely used in ESS battery enclosures, ensuring long-term stability and durability.

PosMAC offers more than five times the corrosion resistance of conventional galvanized steel, maintaining reliable performance even in coastal, high-humidity, and high-salinity environments. This durability helps reduce carbon emissions and overall lifecycle costs. As a result, PosMAC is extensively applied across renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbine tower components, offshore wind structures, and solar module mounting systems. By extending equipment lifespans and reducing maintenance requirements, PosMAC plays a key role in driving the growth of sustainable energy.

Beyond ESS battery enclosures, PosMAC is expanding into a wider range of components, including racks and Battery Protection Unit (BPU) cases. Through close collaboration with customers, POSCO continues to enhance the product’s reliability and application range, reinforcing PosMAC’s position as a core material in the renewable energy industry.

Steel for Hydrogen Pipelines: The Foundation of Hydrogen Infrastructure

▲ Model of hydrogen pipeline steel exhibited at the POSCO Group booth at the 2025 International Climate Industry Expo.

Hydrogen is a cornerstone of future clean energy systems, requiring uncompromising safety throughout its entire value chain—from production and storage to transportation. In particular, pipelines transporting high-pressure gaseous hydrogen must resist hydrogen embrittlement* while maintaining reliable performance under extreme conditions.

*Hydrogen embrittlement: A phenomenon in which hydrogen penetrates a material, significantly reducing the ductility and toughness of the metal.

POSCO’s steel for hydrogen pipelines was designed to meet these stringent requirements. By replacing imported seamless pipes previously used for hydrogen transport, POSCO has enabled domestic production while offering strong cost competitiveness, supplying the product at approximately 70% of the cost of imported alternatives. The steel provides sufficient strength and toughness to withstand impact at temperatures as low as –45°C, not only in the pipe body (base material) but also at welded joints. After rigorous testing by international certification bodies, it has been confirmed to meet hydrogen pipeline performance standards, earning official recognition for its safety and reliability.

By 2025, POSCO plans to introduce high-strength materials compliant with API X70 standards for use in high-pressure environments of up to 100 bar. Demonstration and verification testing will be conducted in collaboration with Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS), Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), and domestic steel pipe manufacturers.

*API (American Petroleum Institute): An organization that establishes international standards for pipelines and steel products used in the oil and gas industry.

Challenging –253°C: High-Manganese Steel for Liquefied Hydrogen Storage Tanks

▲ Model of high-manganese steel liquefied hydrogen storage tank exhibited at the POSCO Group booth at the 2025 International Climate Industry Expo.

Liquefied hydrogen (LH₂) is drawing global attention as a core technology for hydrogen transportation and storage in the hydrogen economy. Stored and transported at an ultra-cryogenic temperature of –253°C, liquefied hydrogen places significantly higher demands on storage tank materials than liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is handled at approximately –163°C. Against this backdrop, POSCO’s high-manganese steel is recognized as a key material capable of maintaining stability under such extreme conditions.

Independently developed by POSCO as the first of its kind in the world, high-manganese steel contains more than 22% manganese (Mn). It offers outstanding performance at cryogenic temperatures while offering a unique combination of high strength, excellent wear resistance, and non-magnetic properties that minimize electromagnetic effects. Its yield strength exceeds 335 MPa—approximately twice that of conventional stainless steel—while high elongation ensures excellent formability. In addition, relatively low manufacturing costs* contribute to its economic competitiveness. As a result, high-manganese steel is widely used in LNG infrastructure, including storage tanks, carriers, pipelines, and terminals.

*Manganese used in high-manganese steel is abundant worldwide and relatively inexpensive.

▲ Inside view of Tank No. 7 at Gwangyang LNG Terminal 2. High-manganese steel has been applied to the inner tanks of Units 5 and 6, and it is planned to be applied to Units 7 and 8 to be constructed in the future.

Over the past decade, POSCO’s high-manganese steel has proven its reliability through certifications from leading global classification and certification bodies. In 2022, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) formally adopted international technical standards governing its application, allowing the material to be used in cryogenic cargo and fuel tanks without separate flag-state approval. In 2024, it was further registered under standards applicable to both LNG and ammonia cargo and fuel tanks.

Building on its extensive experience in LNG infrastructure, POSCO is working to improve the performance of high-manganese steel so that it can reliably withstand impact even at –253°C. Going forward, the company plans to conduct demonstration projects and feasibility assessments through the fabrication of liquefied hydrogen storage tanks in collaboration with customers, aiming to secure both safety and economic viability for future hydrogen infrastructure.

Applied to the World’s Largest 22,000㎥ Vessels: Steel for LCO₂ Carriers

▲ AI virtual image of a liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier.

Liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) carriers are specialized vessels designed to safely store and transport carbon dioxide captured through CCUS processes after it has been cooled and compressed into liquid form. As the carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry continues to expand, the need for materials that support safer and more efficient vessel operations is becoming increasingly critical.

Unlike LNG and ammonia, which can be transported in liquid form under low-temperature conditions alone, carbon dioxide must be transported under both low temperature and controlled pressure. Scaling up liquefied carbon dioxide storage tanks therefore requires advanced steelmaking technologies.

POSCO’s LT-FH36 steel for LCO₂ carriers is engineered to maintain stable performance at temperatures as low as –60°C, reflecting the design conditions of low-pressure LCO₂ tanks. It can be applied in thicknesses of up to 50 mm and provides a yield strength exceeding 355 MPa. Even after post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), the steel maintains stable mechanical properties, ensuring long-term reliability in environments with elevated risks of corrosion and structural failure.

LT-FH36 is the world’s first steel to receive certification for use in large-scale liquefied carbon dioxide transport tanks. In 2023, at the international maritime exhibition Nor-Shipping, Lloyd’s Register (LR), a globally recognized British classification society, awarded POSCO official certification for steel used in large-scale LCO₂ carriers.

▲ The world’s largest 22,000㎥ liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) carrier currently under construction at HD Hyundai Mipo. It uses POSCO’s LT-FH36 steel.(Photo source: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries)

LT-FH36 is currently applied to the world’s largest 22,000m³-class liquefied carbon dioxide carriers. In anticipation of the industry’s shift toward ultra-large storage tanks to improve transport efficiency, POSCO has also become the first in the world to complete the development and certification of LT-FH51, a higher-yield-strength steel grade. Over the longer term, the company plans to introduce even stronger grades, such as LT-FH70, further strengthening the safety and efficiency of next-generation LCO₂ carriers.

From PosMAC and steel for hydrogen pipelines to high-manganese steel and LT-FH36, POSCO Group’s independently developed high-performance steel products are delivering greater safety, efficiency, and sustainability across the energy industry. POSCO Group will continue to strengthen its materials technologies to help shape the infrastructure of the future global energy landscape.

Enters market alongside domestic manufacturers, boosting competitiveness across sectors

POSCO is supplying HIC-certified energy steel to Saudi Aramco’s Fadhili Gas Plant Expansion Project.

The Fadhili expansion project is a large-scale energy infrastructure initiative by Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, aimed at increasing the gas processing capacity of the existing plant by approximately 1.6 times.

The HIC-resistant steel provided by POSCO is designed to withstand hydrogen-induced cracking and is used in harsh environments for energy applications such as steel pipes and pressure vessel materials in the oil and gas sector.

Energy steel is typically categorized by application into two segments: plant facilities used for energy extraction and production, and pipelines for transportation. This marks the first time that HIC-resistant steel has been supplied for use in the plant segment.

In particular, the HIC-resistant steel required by Aramco for plant applications must pass HIC testing and quality certification procedures that go beyond international standards (NACE TM0284). Until now, European steelmakers had exclusively supplied this material. Currently, only nine steel manufacturers, including POSCO, have obtained certification from Aramco. With this supply, POSCO is set to expand both its technological presence and market influence in the high-value-added energy steel sector.

In addition, POSCO’s HIC-resistant steel has been processed into finished products by domestic manufacturers of pipes, pressure vessels, and fittings, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of South Korea’s plant industry. Initially, European companies were considered for the pipe and pressure vessel fabrication in the early stages of the Fadhili project. However, with POSCO supplying the steel, the fabrication work was also shifted to domestic firms. This demonstrates how the technological competitiveness of downstream industries has led to new supply opportunities for upstream sectors within Korea. Currently, pipes are being manufactured by Hyundai Steel Pipe and Seah Steel, pressure vessels by Bumhan Mecatec, and fittings by Taekwang.

Amid ongoing uncertainties in the global trade environment, such as protectionism and high tariff policies, POSCO is securing a competitive edge by developing new demand and expanding its market through high-value-added products. Furthermore, by working closely with a wide range of partners, POSCO is actively driving the growth and competitiveness of South Korea’s manufacturing industry.

▲ A view of the ongoing Fadhili Project in Saudi Arabia.

Joint development of steel and battery material utilization technologies and rare earth refining technologies with local raw material companies and research institutions

Chairman In-hwa Chang: “Combining Australia’s resources with POSCO’s technology to create added value … Will become a strategic hub for resource processing technology and critical mineral acquisition”

POSCO Holdings has opened the Australia Critical Minerals R&D Lab in Perth, Western Australia, and is embarking on securing ultra-gaps in technological competitiveness in steel, battery material, raw materials, and rare earth sectors. This marks the first time a Korean company has established a resource research institute on-site where raw materials are located.

The opening ceremony held on May 30 in Perth, Western Australia, was attended by POSCO Group Chairman In-hwa Chang, POSCO N.EX.T Hub Director Ki-soo Kim, representatives from Australian raw material companies including Hancock, BHP, Rio Tinto, and PLS (formerly Pilbara Minerals), research institutions such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), and local universities including Curtin.

Chairman In-hwa Chang emphasized, “Since receiving its first iron ore supply from Australia in 1971, POSCO has been transforming into a global top materials company in steel and battery materials through solid collaboration with the Australian government and industry. The Australia Critical Minerals R&D Lab will combine Australia’s abundant resources with POSCO Group’s materials technology capabilities to add value to the Group’s core businesses and serve as a strategic hub for raw material processing technology and critical mineral acquisition.”

The POSCO Group has recognized the importance of localization strategies in steel and battery materials businesses, which have high raw material cost ratios, extending beyond economical raw material procurement to securing technological competitiveness in carbon reduction. Accordingly, it has become the first Korean company to establish a specialized research institution on-site in Australia, where raw material mines and international research institutions are located.

Chairman In-hwa Chang has emphasized the importance of cost reduction practices and technologies, particularly announcing his commitment to solving business-specific challenges through the integration of technology and business strategy across all steps from research and development to production and sales.

The Australia Critical Minerals R&D Lab will serve as a hub for the Group’s critical mineral research and development, including project execution in collaboration with local raw material companies and research institutions in the Group’s core business areas, such as economical low-carbon steel raw material utilization technology and cost reduction technology in lithium and nickel raw material sectors.

Moreover, the institute plans to conduct parallel research on rare earth supply chains and high-efficiency separation and refining technologies to explore next-generation critical mineral business opportunities and drive investment in global premier mines through local information exchange.

The POSCO Group has been cooperating with Australia in building supply chains for critical minerals, such as iron ore and lithium, since the early 1980s. It has participated in the development of Australia’s Roy Hill iron ore mine to procure steel raw materials stably and operates a joint venture for battery lithium hydroxide with PLS.

In particular, Chairman In-hwa Chang, leading the Korea-Australia Economic Cooperation Committee, is facilitating close cooperation between the two countries’ business communities and industrial development beyond traditional resource cooperation in minerals and batteries.

▲POSCO Holdings held the opening ceremony for the Australia Critical Minerals R&D Lab in Perth, Western Australia, on May 30. From left: Will Milstead, Rio Tinto CFO; John Stanning, PLS Head of Development; Professor Joe Elphick Huang, Curtin University; Ben Ellis, BHP Sustainability Executive; Miriam Stanborough, MRIWA Board Chair; Faye Duda, Honorary Consul to Australia; Chairman In-hwa Chang; Lewis Fisher, CSIRO Mineral Resources Director; Professor Marco Fiorentini, University of Western Australia; Professor Alex Nicholoski, Murdoch University; Ki-soo Kim, POSCO N.EX.T Hub Director.

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.

With the Trump administration recently easing restrictions on LNG exports and actively leveraging tariffs in trade negotiations, the entire LNG value chain—production, storage, transportation, and utilization—is gaining attention. Back in 2008, POSCO anticipated a steady increase in LNG demand as a response to tightening global environmental regulations. POSCO recognized the need for new materials to secure a competitive edge in the materials market for LNG storage and transportation. For this reason, it turned its focus to manganese alloy steel, and thus began the development of high-manganese steel. We sat down with Senior Researcher Soon-gi Lee, who is at the heart of the development, certification, and commercialization of this next-generation material.

Q. POSCO’s high-value-added steel, developed in-house, is drawing attention. What exactly is POSCO’s high-manganese steel, and what makes its manufacturing process unique?

POSCO’s high-manganese steel is a new type of steel alloyed with a high content of manganese (Mn, 22.5–25.5%). Compared to conventional materials such as stainless steel, 9% nickel steel, and Invar alloy, POSCO’s high-manganese steel offers comparable performance, but significantly better cost competitiveness. Most importantly, it retains excellent mechanical properties even at cryogenic temperatures as low as -196°C, making it ideal for LNG storage tanks and carriers.

When manganese is added to steel, introducing solid manganese directly into the molten metal can cause a drop in temperature. To prevent this, we melt the manganese before adding it, rather than inputting it in solid form. Typically, adding manganese increases wear resistance and strength, but this comes at the cost of ductility (the property of stretching easily without breaking). However, thanks to POSCO’s decades of accumulated know-how in controlled rolling and cooling techniques, we have succeeded in producing a ductile product despite the high manganese content. Production is currently taking place at our heavy plate plant, and both the material composition and manufacturing method have been bundled into a single patented package.

Q. You said POSCO melts the manganese first to avoid lowering the temperature of the molten steel. But if your competitors build similar melting facilities, won’t they be able to catch up?

Though it sounds simple, POSCO’s proprietary technology is embedded throughout the process. Manganese alloys often contain impurities, so refining during the intermediate stages is critical. Predicting the behavior of molten manganese is also one of our hidden core technologies. Our facilities for producing molten manganese and storing it in insulated furnaces will not be easy for our competitors to replicate.

Q. Is POSCO the only company that can produce high-manganese steel?

Some steelmakers produce general-purpose high-manganese steel. However, in applications requiring higher manganese content, such as the cryogenic (24%) and slurry pipe (18%) grades used in the energy industry, POSCO leads in technological capability.

Q. How does POSCO’s high-manganese steel compare with competing materials?

POSCO’s high-manganese steel meets all the requirements for LNG transport and storage, and offers several advantages over existing materials. It exhibits high strength and excellent elongation* properties.

While most steel materials used for LNG transport and storage contain a high amount of expensive nickel, nickel has been completely replaced with manganese in POSCO’s high-manganese steel. The manganese used in high-manganese steel is abundant worldwide and relatively low in cost, making the final product approximately 30% cheaper than conventional alternatives. Its high elongation makes it easy to process, and it is also highly resistant to hydrogen embrittlement. Having recently been approved for ammonia applications, it can now be used for most liquefied gases, including natural gas, ammonia, and CO₂.

*Elongation: The ratio by which a metal can stretch before breaking; it indicates ductility.

Q. What are some current applications of POSCO’s high-manganese steel?

▲POSCO International’s Gwangyang LNG Terminal tank using POSCO high-manganese steel.

Currently, it is being used in Gwangyang LNG Terminal units 5 and 6, Hanwha Ocean’s VLCCs, container ship LNG fuel tanks, and onshore LNG storage tanks. We are working toward expanding its use in LNG carriers and other applications. Beyond LNG, POSCO aims to promote high-manganese steel across various industries as a symbol of Korea’s technological strength.

Q. Could this steel eventually be used in LNG carriers, not just LNG-fueled ships? Doesn’t using thick plates reduce capacity?

POSCO manufactures high-manganese steel as thick plates. Onshore storage tanks are built with thick plates, and LNG carriers can be built using either thin membrane sheets (about 0.7–1.2 mm) or thick plates (6–40 mm). Compared to membrane systems, thick-plate LNG carriers are structurally more robust and better withstand sloshing from LNG motion, providing superior safety under various conditions. Recently, President Trump mentioned Korea’s potential involvement in the Alaska LNG project. To navigate through thick Arctic ice, LNG carriers would need to be icebreaking LNG ships. In such cases, high-manganese steel made in thick plates offers a clear advantage.

There is no reduction in capacity. Shipbuilders simply redesign the hull based on the plate thickness. The standard capacity is 174,000 m³, and designs are adjusted accordingly.

▲The 2024 IMO General Assembly in London invited Korea to present POSCO’s achievements.

Q. We read that POSCO’s high-manganese steel is setting global standards. What does that mean?

Materials for energy applications must adhere to strict international standards. For example, ships sail through international waters, so they aren’t subject to just regional or national regulations—they must comply with global standards. Since POSCO’s high-manganese steel was the first of its kind, no existing standards applied, so we had to create them ourselves. Despite continued resistance from our competitors, we succeeded in registering the material with ASTM, API, ISO, and IMO standards. These international standards are based on POSCO’s technology, meaning that other companies must follow our specifications—effectively making POSCO’s technology the global benchmark.

In particular, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN-affiliated body that sets standards for shipbuilding and operation, formally requested the Korean government to present at the 2023 General Assembly when POSCO’s high-manganese steel received final approval. The IMO viewed the 10-year approval journey led by POSCO and the Korean government as a highly successful and exemplary case, and wanted to share it with member states.

Q. There seems to be a longstanding connection between Chairman In-hwa Chang and high-manganese steel.

▲(Left) Hanwha Ocean’s crude oil carrier equipped with a high-manganese steel LNG fuel tank in 2022 (Right) Hanwha Ocean’s ultra-large container ship equipped with a high-manganese steel LNG fuel tank in 2024.

Chairman In-hwa Chang has a deep understanding of both shipbuilding and steelmaking, having majored in naval architecture and marine engineering as a student and later worked as a researcher in the steel industry. This unique background has allowed him to make significant contributions to the development and broader adoption of high-manganese steel.

He played a key role in our solid track record* by ensuring the material was actually used in onshore and marine storage tanks, which laid the foundation for future sales growth. Back in 2017, when POSCO was planning to construct the No. 5 LNG terminal in Gwangyang, the initial plan was to use conventional materials. However, as executive vice president at the time, Chairman Chang personally made the decision to use POSCO’s high-manganese steel instead.

His strategy was to create a proven reference case using POSCO’s own material, thereby paving the way to enter new markets. He also believed that involving POSCO E&C for construction and POSCO International for operations would maximize group-wide synergy. He further helped open a new market for ship applications by driving the use of high-manganese steel in LNG fuel tanks for LNG-powered vessels.

Hanwha Ocean (formerly DSME) was initially hesitant to adopt the new material for LNG-powered ships, as safety assurance is critical for such large-scale vessels. During his term as POSCO CEO in 2020, Chairman Chang met directly with Hanwha Ocean’s top management and strongly advocated for the safety and reliability of the steel. As a result, in 2022, Hanwha Ocean became the first in the world to use high-manganese steel in LNG fuel tanks for a very large crude carrier (VLCC), which was followed by its application in container vessels.

* Track Record: Operational data collected after applying newly developed technologies or products under real working conditions

Q. Beyond the current market, what are the growth prospects for high-manganese steel?

Outside the LNG value chain, POSCO is leveraging the wear resistance and non-magnetic properties of high-manganese steel to explore new markets. Despite severe deformation, its non-magnetic properties do not deteriorate, which enhances stealth capabilities when applied to submarines, warships, and military tanks, thereby pushing for demand expansion as a material for the defense industry.

The trends in POSCO Group’s flagship business area are explained by experts in an easy-to-understand manner. In this third installment, we discuss the latest 3R trend in the steel industry to realize a circular economy with insights from Jong-min Lee, a senior researcher at POSCO Research Institute. We explore various topics, including the influential 3R trend in the global steel industry and POSCO’s energy-saving initiatives.

In recent times, there has been a growing social and economic push towards eco-friendly industries that conserve natural resources and minimize environmental impact. Consequently, the steel industry is striving to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to enhance by-product recovery rates and improve quality during steel production.

The 3R campaign is an environmental movement that first emerged in Wales, UK, in 2008. It started with the concept of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, aimed at reducing waste, reusing items, and actively using recycled products. As this concept entered industries, 3R technology in the industrial sector sometimes expanded to include new ideas such as Recover, Replace, and Rot, forming what some call the 4R framework.

For example, the chemical industry applies the concept of “Rot” to develop technologies that make plastic products more biodegradable to minimize environmental damage. The concept of “Replace” involves developing technologies to substitute hazardous or harmful substances with safer alternatives. However, it can be challenging to distinguish these new concepts from the traditional 3R, and their applicability may vary depending on the industry.

As the emphasis on the circular economy grows in the steel industry, the 3R trend is becoming increasingly prominent. In the steel industry, 3R technologies can be categorized into Reduce, Recover, and Recycle. Reduce technology focuses on reducing the amount of energy and raw materials used during steel production. This includes efficient product design, optimization of production processes, and enhancing energy efficiency. Recover technology involves reclaiming by-products or waste generated during production for reuse or other purposes. Recycle technology pertains to breaking down used products or raw materials for reuse or repurposing them for other applications.

The steel industry, being energy-intensive, focuses on developing technologies that reduce energy consumption. Specifically, various technologies are being developed around the blast furnace process, which has the highest energy consumption in steel manufacturing. A notable technology is hot oxygen injection technology, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which is currently in the pilot stage. This technology injects hot oxygen into the blast furnace, increasing productivity by 15% compared to traditional blast furnaces and maximizing steel production per unit of energy. Blast furnace heat recuperation technology, which reduces fuel costs by using exhaust gases from the blast furnace to preheat combustion gases, and plasma blast furnace technology, which uses the plasma extensively used in the chemical and metallurgical industries to minimize metal loss, are other well-known energy-saving technologies.

Smart factory technology improves yield during steel product manufacturing, resulting in raw material and energy savings. The implementation of smart factories can lead to reduced defect rates, shorter decision-making times, reduced unnecessary inventory or equipment failures, fewer accidents, and faster abnormality response times.

POSCO’s steelmaking process uses AI to learn and adjust temperatures, components, and raw materials, raising temperature accuracy from 80% to more than 90% and reducing raw material use by around 60%.

POSCO’s continuous casting process previously required 100% surface inspection of representative materials and expanded to all materials upon defect detection to remove imperfections. After implementing smart factory technologies, KRW 600 million was saved annually by applying a surface quality prediction model that inputs quality criteria into AI to analyze and select defective materials.

In POSCO’s coating process, deep learning is used to autonomously learn and precisely control the steel grade, thickness, width, operational conditions, and target coating amount, thereby increasing coating control accuracy from 89% to more than 99%.

While new processes are being developed to achieve carbon neutrality, it will take considerable time to commercialize hydrogen reduction technology. Considering sunk costs, existing blast furnace facilities must continue to be used. Therefore, energy-saving technology development for currently used blast furnaces is expected to be active. With the advancement of AI technology, smart factory technology will be competitively adopted by steel companies and become the hottest area for technological competition.

In the steel industry, Recover technologies focus on reclaiming by-products or waste generated during production for reuse or other applications. This practice has led to a remarkable global efficiency rate of 97.3%.

Globally, the proportions of steel products, by-products, and waste generated during steel production are approximately 64.4%, 32.9%, and 2.7%, respectively. Among these, slag, a representative by-product, is used as a raw material in the cement and fertilizer industries or for road construction and asphalt. Dust contains valuable elements such as zinc and iron, which are recovered and reused.

Slag

Slag is the most significant by-product in steel production, with more than 400 million tons produced annually. Blast furnace slag, in particular, is used as a raw material for cement or fertilizers. Slag, a by-product from iron ore separation, is classified into blast furnace slag and steel slag based on its origin. Blast furnace slag is a hot molten slag generated during the production of molten iron. Rapidly cooling this slag with high-pressure water in a closed system produces granulated slag, while slow cooling in a yard forms air-cooled slag.

Granulated blast furnace slag is used as an eco-friendly alternative to limestone in cement production. Increasing the ratio of slag used in place of limestone can reduce limestone usage by approximately 45%, and the lower heat of hydration when cement reacts with water can reduce concrete cracking and enhance durability and strength. Air-cooled slag and steel slag are used as aggregates in civil engineering to curb excessive quarry development and save energy in aggregate extraction and processing.

By-product gas

By-product gases from coke ovens (COG), blast furnaces (BFG), and converters (LDG) contain methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO). These gases have sufficient energy to be reused as fuel. Power plants compress by-product gases with gas compressors to produce primary power in gas turbines and secondary power in steam turbines by recovering hot exhaust gas. By-product gases are 99% recovered and reused or used for power generation.

The development of by-product recovery technologies in the steel industry has achieved notable success over the decades. By using by-products as raw materials in industries such as cement and fertilizers, the industry has established exemplary supply chains. Using air-cooled and steel slag as civil engineering aggregates has minimized environmental damage by reducing excessive quarrying. Recover technologies maximize the eco-friendliness of the steel industry and require continuous technological advancement and development.

Recycle technologies involve breaking down used products or raw materials for reuse or repurposing them for other applications. Currently, various recycling technologies related to steel scrap are being developed in the steel industry. Steel scrap is a major raw material in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, and recycling technologies are being developed to reduce CO2 emissions in blast furnace processes through low hot metal ratio (HMR) operations.

Tramp Element Removal Technologies

A notable Recycle technology in the steel industry is the removal of tramp elements from steel scrap. Elements such as copper (Cu) and tin (Sn) in steel scrap are challenging to remove or separate, making it difficult to produce high-purity steel products. Research focuses on effectively removing these elements in the EAF process. For copper, methods such as low-temperature shredding, aluminum solution immersion, and wet processes involving ammonia solutions containing amine ions are being developed. Various physical and chemical methods are also being explored for tin removal.

AI-based Scrap Inspection Systems

AI-powered scrap inspection systems are also being developed. Recently, automated visual inspection using AI has been actively pursued to increase steel scrap recycling efficiency. Before recycling, steel scrap is classified into various grades, such as light, heavy, and pig iron, and undergoes impurity content analysis. Previously, manual visual inspections by workers led to frequent errors and safety issues. By introducing AI-based visual inspection automation, it is possible to accurately classify and inspect scrap grades and quality based on data, thereby improving accuracy and reducing costs. Japan and China have been competitively developing this technology for the past 2-3 years. Although Korea has yet to widely implement steel scrap sorting systems in the industry, it has entered the development and validation phase.

Blockchain Technology

While not yet widespread, blockchain technology is gaining attention as a solution for traceability, transparency, and certification issues in the steel scrap industry. Blockchain can record and document transactions and transport conditions, providing reliable records at each stage from collection to processing.

Drone Utilization Technology

The use of drones to observe sites in real time from the air can preemptively address safety issues in steel scrap yards and minimize accident risks. Drones equipped with cameras and sensors also enable innovative inventory management.

The most actively developed areas in recent years are smart factory technologies and steel scrap-related fields. From the perspective of Reduce, smart factory technologies increase yield and reduce energy consumption, and their application scope is expanding with technological advancements. The steel scrap industry, particularly highlighted in the low-carbon era, sees active investments and efforts to increase recycling rates using AI and drone technologies for collection and sorting.

POSCO is also envisioning a bright future in the rapidly evolving steel industry through the lens of the 3R concept in the circular economy trend.

Providing satisfaction to customers with high-quality products and eco-friendly steel solutions and striving to reduce CO₂ emissions! Experts introduce POSCO’s new steel wire rod products.

Young-tae Oh, Section Leader

(Hot rolled steel & wire rod marketing office)

Background of non-heat treatable steel wire rod for automobile fastening CHQ

Wire rods are steel materials used in various industries, such as automobiles and construction. Among them, wire rods for CHQ are key steel parts for automobiles that are mostly used for fasteners that are directly related to human safety and thus automobile manufacturers demand strict quality standards for CHQ wire rods. It requires many complex processing stages to convert wire rods into automobile parts that satisfy customers. Before fabricating parts, cold drawing and spherodized annealing (SA) heat treatment are performed to ensure accurate sizing and enhance formability. Afterward, the automobile fastening part is completed by controlling the shape with cold forging and ensuring strength of the part with quenching and tempering (Q/T) heat treatment.

With the rapidly increasing need for low-carbon emissions as society places more importance on eco-friendliness and eco-friendly vehicles, the industry’s interest in eliminating the heat treatment process has grown quickly. In particular, domestic automobile part manufacturers pay attention to non-heat treatable steels since they need to expand into the global market to overcome stagnation in the domestic automobile market. Therefore, POSCO has focused its know-how and capabilities on eco-friendly wire rods with reduced carbon emissions to lead the future market.

Collaboration with a domestic fastener company resulting in application to a Japanese auto part for the first time

POSCO’s non-heat treatable steel series POSNH, which is POSCO’s leading non-heat treatable steel, is a group of steels with improved formability by optimizing alloy contents and refined grains by adding microalloying elements such as niobium (Nb) and vanadium (V) to increase impact toughness. POSCO’s POSNH series includes PONH4, POSNH6, and POSNH9S grades.

Among them, 0.9 GPa level (normally 9T level) POSNH9S is a product developed in 2017 as a material for automobile steering system parts. POSCO worked with Taeyang Metal Industrial Co., Ltd., Korea’s largest fastener manufacturer, to develop vehicle part products and conduct PR activities for them. As a result, the products met the stringent requirements of Japanese manufacturers and mass-produced parts for brake guide pins began to be supplied for the first time in the first half of 2021.

▲Car steering parts brake guide pin.

Application to steering parts for GM vehicles in North America

POSCO worked with Korean auto company CTR to propose the POSNH9S steel part for the tie rod of steering to be used in new pickup trucks for GM in North America in 2022. The company succeeded in mass production for GM finished automobiles in North America in 2022 because it gained a competitive edge over global part manufacturers by developing and providing a solution that applies non-heat treatable steel to auto part company needs such as optimal wire drawing and film conditions, and forging die life improvement technology.

▲Car steering parts tie Rod.

POSCO solves Korean fastener manufacturer’s chronic problems with solutions using non-heat treatable steel

The demand for shoulder bolts for fastening electric vehicle batteries and battery packs has recently increased due to the rapid growth of eco-friendly vehicles such as global electric vehicles. Existing carbon steel (SWRCH45K) requires Q/T heat treatment to secure strength after final bolt processing, but bending after heat treatment requires additional correction work. To solve the problem, POSCO worked with its fastener partner to apply steels without Q/T heat treatment. POSCO achieved the required strength by increasing wire drawing, and its fastener partner optimized the forging process to mass produce PSNH9S, a non-heat treatable steel that can skip correction work. As a result, the fastener manufacturer reduced costs and improved productivity by omitting Q/T heat treatment and correction work. This enabled it to stably supply low-carbon, eco-friendly products to the market.

▲Supply chain processing for the application of heat-treated steel.

POSCO’s POSNH9S confirmed to be applied to a Korean electric vehicle for the first time in 2024

Korean automakers have also shown interest in POSCO’s carbon emission-reducing non-heat treatable steel after the 2045 Carbon Neutrality Roadmap was announced. POSCO proved the excellent quality of its products by conducting material and product durability and performance evaluations in collaboration with Korean automobile and its part manufacturers in the second half of 2022. As a result, the first application was confirmed for the tie rod, a steering part of a new electric vehicle scheduled to be released in 2024. It is expected to be a bridgehead for the company to expand its presence to vehicles produced domestically and overseas.

Providing satisfaction to customers with high-quality products and Sustainable steel solutions and striving to reduce CO₂ emissions! Experts introduce POSCO’s new steel sheet products.

Chang-young Son, Senior researcher

(POSCO Construction Steel Materials Solution Group)

POSCO’s POSEIDON500, a specialized steel solution to combat corrosion in marine environments

In the past two years, POSCO has developed a novel construction technique using POSEIDON500, steel specially designed for high salt resistance, to enhance the durability and cost efficiency of port structures. Seawater contains salt, which corrodes steel more rapidly than other environments. In particular, the splash zone, the area immediately above and below the mean water level, faces direct exposure to seawater due to wave action. This exposure, coupled with an increased supply of oxygen, leads to a significantly higher rate of corrosion.

POSCO developed a specialized steel, POSEIDON500, to address and mitigate corrosion issues in marine environments. This steel has improved resistance to corrosion in the splash zone by more than 40% compared to conventional structural steel and contains just 1% of costly alloying elements such as chromium (Cr), which makes it a more cost-effective alternative to stainless steel.

The company has also reduced material cost by 10-15% with construction methods considering the material characteristics of specialized steel. Based on these strengths, the company plans to supply 20,000 tons of steel for LNG terminal construction projects in the latter half of 2023, and an additional 20,000 tons for quay and shore protection structures in 2025.

Improved customer satisfaction with high-performance, cost-efficient steel and tailored structural solutions

POSCO’s specialized steel for port and offshore structures is highly acclaimed in the market due to the company’s customer-focused and economically efficient research and development approach from the initial stage of steel development to its application in structures. Stainless steel is widely recognized as having excellent corrosion resistance, but it is costly due to its composition, which includes expensive alloying elements such as nickel (Ni) and a high chromium (Cr) content of 12% or more.

The use of stainless steel for structures that require a large amount of steel, such as harbor steel piles, is not cost-effective due to its high price, leading to a demand for more affordable materials.

POSCO took note of this and designed its steel with a low-cost component of approximately 1% chromium (Cr). POSEIDON500 was developed with a corrosion resistance of 40% or more in the splash zone compared to typical structural steel. When it is exposed to seawater, a layer of chromium oxide forms on its surface to inhibit corrosion.

Japanese steelmakers have also developed seawater corrosion-resistant steel that has a yield strength of 240 ㎫ and applied it to ships and plants. In contrast, POSCO’s offshore structural steel has the world’s highest yield strength of 380 ㎫ and tensile strength of 590 ㎫. Furthermore, POSCO provides customized structural solutions that consider the actual conditions in which steel will be used, leading to a high level of satisfaction among domestic customers.

POSEIDON500 outperforms low-cost imports and has completed a successful 5-year verification of its resistance to seawater corrosion

Before the development of POSEIDON500, which began in 2010, STP275 and STP355 were the primary materials used for port steel piles, and this was mainly low-cost hot rolled steel imported into Korea in large volumes. In response to the influx of low-cost imported steel, POSCO actively sought input from key stakeholders, including port-related clients, builders, and designers, to better understand their needs and perspectives. After considering various viewpoints, POSCO recognized that the low-cost imported steel fell short of customer expectations in terms of corrosion resistance and strength. Consequently, its research team began developing steel that would better fulfill these requirements.

At that time, Japan also developed seawater corrosion-resistant steel with a yield strength of 245 ㎫. However, its high cost hindered its application in port structures. So, its use was primarily confined to seawater piping in the shipbuilding industry. POSCO concluded that by enhancing the yield strength to 380㎫ and boosting corrosion resistance by 40%, it could achieve economic viability. Consequently, the company concentrated its efforts on research and development to realize these improvements.

This research began with uncertainty and was gradually fulfilled with twists and turns. At that time, POSCO aimed to release the steel as fast as possible by limiting its corrosion performance verification to just a basic indoor accelerated corrosion test. However, the company faced significant resistance in the process of registering KS standards and the design standards of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries from officials who demanded extensive, long-term corrosion resistance performance verification results for more than two years.

It was a critical challenge that threatened to bring the development process to a halt. But POSCO realized that the tough verification process could actually act as a shield to effectively control the influx of imported products into the country. This moment marked the turning point where a crisis was transformed into an opportunity for the creation of specialized steel.

Following a year of detailed planning, the company placed long-term corrosion test samples in the splash zone, tidal zone, and underwater zone in Sihwa, Gwangyang, and Pohang, representing the West, South, and East Seas, respectively. These samples were monitored for five years to rigorously assess their seawater corrosion performance. Based on this, POSCO went through all required procedures to enter the market by achieving registration of their steel with the KS standard in 2013 and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ harbor and port design standard in 2015.

POSEIDON500, spearheading advancements in port technology by expanding the scope of application

▲Cases of application to ports and marine structures.

After developing the steel, POSCO expanded its scope of application by innovating new construction methods for port structures. It has also expanded the scope of application by port structure type. It was first applied to steel pipe piles at Pohang New Port in 2016, followed by domestic piers,^* coal-fired port facilities such as jetty steel pipe piles at the import/export pier of Shinseocheon Thermal Power Plant in 2019, the jacket structure at the Jinhae Submarine Base in 2020, marine bridge foundation of the Gwangyang dredged soil dump site in 2023, and the jetty^** jacket structure and steel pipe piles at Gwangyang LNG Terminal 2 in 2023.

In particular, the company developed and supplied POSEIDON500 steel plates for the jacket structure as well as steel pipe piles at the Jinhae Submarine Base. Accordingly, POSCO plans to supply POSEIDON500 hot rolled steel and steel plates for both the steel pipe piles and jacket structures at Gwangyang LNG Terminal 2. In 2023, in collaboration with specialized builders and designers, POSCO intends to develop “walled steel pipe piles” designed for use in quay walls and shore protection that are expected to be applied in earnest starting from 2024.

While seawater corrosion-resistant steel such as POSEIDON500 has generally been confined to specific uses such as seawater pipes in shipbuilding and harbor sheet piles globally, POSEIDON500 is at the forefront of port technology innovation and is finding unique applications in key structural elements of harbors such as steel pipe piles and jacket structures.

*Pier: a docking facility created by placing steel pipe piles adjacent to land and then covering them with a concrete slab
**Jetty: a docking facility supported by piles that extends out from the land and is advantageous for larger vessels such as coal or LNG carriers

POSCO wins Gold, Silver, and Bronze for new technologies at the worldstainless-27 conference, a first among global steelmakers

Recognized superior technologies such as high-strength steel for large-scaled premium home appliances, non-magnetic steel for mobile devices, and low-cost brazing filler metal

“We will lead the global market and supply the highest quality products to our customers based on our stainless steel material development technologies,” said Lee Kyung-jin, Head of Office Stainless Steel Marketing at POSCO

POSCO made a groundbreaking achievement by winning three awards in the Technology Category at the worldstainless-27 conference. The company is the first global steelmaker to win three awards for new technologies.

POSCO garnered Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards in the Technology Category at the 27th the worldstainless-27 conference held in Brussels, Belgium, held on May 10 to 12 (local time). This is yet another global recognition of their technical prowess, following the Gold Award for the same category at the 26th conference last year.

The worldstainless is a representative organization in the global stainless steel industry. Established in 1996, it is a association for discussing and exchanging information on the challenges and development directions facing the stainless steel market, such as securing raw material competitiveness, developing new demands, and transitioning towards environmentally friendly practices. Since 2006, it has been awarding best practices in four categories—Technologies, Market Development, Safety and Sustainability—to enhance members’ efforts in developing technologies and expanding markets.

In the Technology Category, four steelmakers submitted a total of eight nominations, and POSCO won all three awards, including Gold, for its “High-Strength 430 Dual Phase (DP) Stainless Steel for Large-Scaled Premium Home Appliances”; Silver for its “Non-Magnetic and High Strength Austenitic Stainless Steel with 316 High Nitrogen (HN) for Mobile Devices”, and Bronze for its “Development of Low-Cost Brazing Filler Metal for Stainless Steel” for air-conditioning refrigerant piping.

The high-strength 430 DP steel, which won Gold, was developed in cooperation with Samsung Electronics based on original technology from the POSCO R&D Center. It is a highly innovative steel product that has increased its strength by 50% while reducing the material thickness by 20% compared to conventional steel. It has strong properties that can withstand dents and scratches and will be available later this year for exterior use, such as premium refrigerator doors.

Based on this joint development with Samsung Electronics, POSCO will expand its technology exchanges to produce eco-friendly and high-performance steel materials in the future. Ultimately, the two companies expect to reduce carbon emissions through lighter materials, contributing to the achievement of low-carbon and green goals.

The Silver award–winning 316 HN steel was developed for the non-magnetic, high-strength needs of mobile devices requiring high precision. Recently, mobile devices, such as smartphones, have been enhancing their camera performance by adding various sensors, bringing about the challenge to block electromagnetic waves inside the device to prevent camera malfunctions. As such, POSCO developed 316 HN steel, an improved version of existing steel grades that generates magnetism when processed. With its high strength and ability to prevent interference between electronic components, 316 HN steel is expected to be widely used in mobile and foldable devices with improved camera performance.

In addition, the Bronze award was given for low-cost brazing filler metal for stainless steel that uses more copper and significantly less silver than conventional welding materials, resulting in more than 80% reduction in costs.

“Winning the award in the Technology Category is the result of POSCO’s active identification of the needs of customers and the market, as well as researching and developing them in close cooperation with technical research institutes and steel mills,” said Lee Kyung-jin, Head of Office Stainless Steel Marketing at POSCO, who attended the conference. “We will continue to strive to lead the global stainless steel technology market and provide customers with the highest quality products.”

Meanwhile, POSCO has won 13 awards so far, including the 470 FC for hydrogen electric vehicle (EV) divider plate (Gold in Technology) in 2018, fuel tanks for plug-in hybrid EVs (Silver in Technology) and stainless steel sealed containers (Gold in Market Development) in 2020, and high-performance ferrite stainless steel manufacturing technology for large home appliances (Gold in Technology) in 2022.

▲ Stainless steel cold-rolled coil products produced by POSCO’s Pohang works.

1. Steel Is Cold? Steel Is Warm!

When you see the word “steel,” a cold grey or silver metal might be the first thing on your mind. Its grey color gives you little chills, and the same goes for the silvery stainless steel as well. However, surprisingly, steel is warm. From its start, steel is made in a furnace that reaches 1,500°C. Of course, it turns into a cold metal after going through the cooling process, but steel can spread warmth when colored with warm colors.

The color steel plate easily seen around us is one good example. Color steel plates are made by coating steel plates with the desired color and paint. After the coating, the steel plates are heated and dried and then used as final products. They are used in various fields, including construction materials, home appliances, and office equipment. POSCO has taken a step further by introducing PosART, a premium color steel sheet that is capable of displaying perfect full coloring as well as 3D textures.

When high-resolution inkjet printing technology meets steel, it becomes PosART. PosART is known for its high-resolution, which is at least four times higher than that of other regular print steel plates. This feature enables PosART to become a true art piece. World-famous paintings can be printed on it as well as large-sized photographs — like the exterior walls of Pengsoo House, which POSCO built for EBS star Pengsoo. And this is just the beginning. PosART is also capable of emulating patterns and textures of various materials, including marble, wood, and fabric. This innovative technology even earned POSCO the worldsteel Steelie Awards ‘Innovation of the Year’ last year. You can meet the actual beauty of PosART at “The Sharp Gallery” in Seoul.

2. Steel Is Expensive? Steel Is Economical!

Iron (Fe) is the fourth most abundant element on the planet, and owing to its rich reserves, quite economical as well. The price per ton of cold rolled steel coil, a typical steel product, is around 750,000 KRW. Bottled water sold in stores is usually about 750 KRW per 500ml, which means that one ton equals to 1,500,000 KRW, about twice the price of steel. Steel’s other competing material, aluminum, reaches 1,700~2,000 USD per ton, while steel products amount to less than half of that.

3. Steel Is Heavy? Steel Is Light!

Steel is often considered heavy, large, and solid. When asked to name things made of steel, most people would reply with massive structures like cars, ships, rails, machinery, and buildings. Though this is true, many would be surprised to learn that steel is also used widely in small, light, and thin objects. You can find steel in home appliances and furniture, as well as in smartphones and tumblers. As observed here, steel is huge and heavy, but at the same time, small and light as well!

Steel is becoming lighter yet stronger as the development of materials continues. POSCO’s Advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) like GIGA Steel is one example. POSCO developed GIGA Steel as an automotive material for the future, and this amazing ultra-strong steel can withstand more than 100 kg per ㎟. Simply put, this means that a 10-won coin-sized GIGA Steel is enough to withstand a 25-ton truck! POSCO GIGA Steel is three times (and more) stronger than the aluminum used to make automotive bodies, so an automotive made with GIGA Steel can be three times thinner — and yet equally strong.

4. Steel Industry = Old-fashioned Industry? Steel Industry = High-tech Industry!

Boiling blast furnaces, towering chimneys, and gigantic cranes are all a common sight at steelworks, so the steel industry has long been considered as an old-fashioned industry. However, the steel industry is actually a high-tech industry embracing the core technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as AI, Big Data, and IoT.

The smart technology has not only helped control the steelmaking process and manage product quality but also secure the safety of workers at POSCO. POSCO has gone further and has been transferring its Smart Factory technology to over 100 SMEs through its support service. As a result of the company’s shared growth activities and smart factory establishment, POSCO was named as a ‘Lighthouse Factory’ for the first time in Korea.

5. Steel Industry = Smokestack Industry? Steel Industry = Sustainable!

The steel industry utilizes natural resources and processes them and supplies them as materials for major industries such as automotive, home appliances, and machinery. For this reason, the steel industry was labeled as a smokestack industry. However, the steel industry is actually a sustainable industry that saves the earth.

The recycling rate for steel is significantly higher than in other materials. According to worldsteel, steel has a recycling rate of 85%, making it the most recycled material in the world. The recycling rate of plastic is a mere 3~5%. Over 98% of the co-products of the steelmaking process are also recycled. Steel slag is used to make cement, fertilizers, and sea forests, while coal tar is used as a material for EV batteries. 90% of process gases are transformed to heat energy and electricity as well. As such, steel is a sustainable material that does not leave any waste behind — from beginning to end.

So far, we’ve looked into the misconceptions and truths of steel. We learned that steel is filled with warm colors and is light yet strong. Steel was actually saving the earth, and POSCO steelworks were driving the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. So many things we did not know about steel! If you want to learn more about the charms that steel has to offer, do not miss the latest news at POSCO Newsroom!