Around these roadside trees, however, sidewalk blocks are often found to be misplaced or even broken. The recent typhoon Lingling turned so many street trees in Korea, upside down inside out.

Korea’s epic poem Yongbieocheonga features trees with deep roots that never sway, even in the face of the strongest winds. But outside the poem, keeping the trees steady and strong requires an actual solution. In POSCO’s partnership with its customer, MYSTECH Co., LTD., there might be an answer the industry has been looking for. Meet PosMAC Barrier, the result two companies’ latest collaboration, at POSCO Newsroom.

▲ The aftermath of the recent typhoon Lingling

l Water Supply: the Key to Urban Forest Maintenance

From 1988, Korea carried out extensive afforestation policy, especially for roadside trees — and since 2000, the country has been planting 600,000 roadside trees every year, accelerating the progress of the country’s urban forest landscape project. However, planting trees is one thing, maintaining is another. In 2017, Korea Land & Housing Corporation released a new study on the reasons behind roadside trees defect in Gyeonggi Province. The study revealed over 35% of trees defects were due to water shortage.

Underground water shortage causes abnormal growth in roots as they outstretch themselves for an alternative water source. These roots soar above the ground, breaking down the sidewalk blocks. Or, these roots overgrow underground, making the ground uneven.

With sufficient water supply, a tree grows countless fine roots. These fine roots firmly ground the tree. Otherwise, a tree solely relies on the main root with no firm grip. A strong typhoon like Lingling could topple over such trees.

When tree roots are not kept under control, they can damage underground utilities like sewer pipes. Worse, it could cause dangerous sinkholes. Maintaining roadside trees require a huge financial commitment in the form of taxes — proper water supply can help deal with many problems in maintaining roadside trees.

l PosMAC Barrier, a Sustainable Solution Recycles Rainwater

So, how to keep the trees hydrated? POSCO, together with its client company MYSTECH CO., LTD., is providing an innovative solution with the PosMAC Barrier, a tree barrier made of POSCO’s high-strength and corrosion-resistant PosMAC. PosMAC Barrier protects rainwater storage and water tank.

Under the leadership of CEO Jin-Hwan Kim, MYSTECH CO., LTD. was founded in 2002. The company produces specialized products for roadside facilities such as sewer covers and protection plates for trees. POSCO’s relationship with the company dates back to 15 years ago when the two companies’ R&D endeavors led to the creation of sewer coverage that prevents odor — across the globe, the first of its kind. After the years of focused work on developing an eco-friendly technology for tree growth, MYSTECH reached out to POSCO in 2017.

POSCO’s collaboration in MYSTECH’s research can be attributed to the high bar set for the material. Since MYSTECH’s rainwater storage tank stays underground, it must withstand the underground pressure and resist corrosion. An ordinary steel plate would require much thicker coating, making it difficult to manufacture. Stainless steel could have been the alternative material if it weren’t for its high cost.

Enter PosMAC, rust-free and one of POSCO’s WTP (World Top Premium) products which provided just the right solution for MYSTECH’s dilemma.
*PosMAC: POSCO Magnesium Aluminum Alloy Coating

PosMAC is a ternary alloy coated steel composed of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum. When exposed, the coating forms a highly stable and dense film layer called “Simonkolleite.” This means the product creates an extra protective layer, a ternary alloy layer whose density much higher than that of conventional galvanized steel sheet. PosMAC is 10 times more corrosion-resistant than conventional steel.

The high-strength PosMAC’s tensile strength is 400Mpa or up. Because of this, PosMAC can hold rainwater for a long time even in the corrosive environment such as soil or chloride-rich roads. It is also strong enough to withstand root pressure. To ensure optimal design and development of the product, POSCO provided full support to the R&D endeavor by forming a research team with MYSTECH and the RIST (Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology).

Gwang-Ho Ko of POSCO Construction Steel Solution Group summarized the strength of the PosMAC Barrier: “It is a strong and eco-friendly steel product that addresses the fundamentals of urban forestation. The Barrier controls the uplifting of tree roots and recycles stored rainwater to provide water to the roots when needed.

l Two Years of Testing Proves, “PosMAC Barrier Saves Trees”

Above the ground, the only visible part of the PosMAC is its main body and the cover, but underneath the ground, there is a water tank.

When it rains, rain accumulates in the tank, and a water discharge pipe located towards the direction of root discharges rainwater, providing much-needed water to the roots during the periods of water shortage. The filter located in the upper body guards off foreign substances, and a water inlet allows in additional water supply when necessary. The water tank can hold 45 liters of water per unit and can be selectively installed from one side to four sides. One set of the water tank can hold up to 180 liters of water.

POSCO and MYSTECH completed the commercialization and the patent registration (patent 10-2108-0162207) for PosMAC Barrier. Over the past two years, the product received rigorous testings to help verify how much it contributes to tree growth. PosMAC was installed for the tree on the verge of perishing, and the trees with too many roots also received the Barrier treatment.

The result was incredible. After two years of installation, it was clear PosMAC Barrier made huge difference. PosMAC Barrier even revived dying trees, sprouting green leaves shortly after the installation.

l PosMAC Barriers to Go Nationwide

Last April, a policy seminar at Korea’s National Assembly introduced PosMAC Barrier as an ideal steel solution to address climate change. The seminar generated momentum in raising awareness on how water shortage could trigger damages to urban forestation. It also created opportunities for PosMAC Barriers — numerous local governments are turning to the product as a solution to deal with damaged roadside trees.

Since then, the PosMAC Barrier has been installed for 255 trees across Korea. POSCO and MYSTECH are currently conducting pilot projects in collaboration with Seoul, Jeonju, Suwon and Korea Forest Service. Local governments are currently undertaking urban forestation projects and POSCO is proactively supporting its client companies to meet the growing demands across the country.

A local government official said, “Conventional tree barriers merely set boundaries for the tree protecting them from the footsteps of pedestrians or vice versa. As the need for proper management and tree growth escalate, we’re realizing that PosMAC Barrier is providing an excellent solution.”

He added, “Urban forestation can truly benefit from this kind of innovative brand-new technologies. Not only does PosMAC provide sufficient hydration to the trees, but it’s also extremely cost-efficient. Compared to conventional tree barriers, the cost difference is minimal.”

In collaboration with MYSTECH, POSCO is putting forward eco-friendly marketing to expand the application of POSCO’s LID (Low Impact Development) steel products. As part of the plan, the company is carrying out a marketing strategy to install POSCO Barrier in the landscaping businesses of large construction companies as well as for public roadsides facilities.

MYSTECH CEO Jin-Hwan Kim said, “The roots of roadside trees trapped underneath concrete pavement suffocate and perish. Every year, precious resources are being wasted just to remove these dead roots.”

He continued, “Time and again, our collaborative research demonstrated that PosMAC provides a nip-it-in-the-bud solution to this problem. Now, it is time for us to see beyond the domestic market and head to the global stage. We are set to establish PosMAC as the go-to steel product when it comes to environmental sustainability.

Right next to POSCO Center at the heart of Seoul’s Gangnam district, PosMAC is protecting trees. With deep faith and confidence in the product, the company installed PosMAC for dying trees. Needless to say, PosMAC saved the dying trees!

Roadside trees are essential elements of urban living. Unlike other urban facilities, it breathes and brings life to cities, so it requires more sustainable and long-term management. PosMAC Barrier, POSCO’s sustainable steel solution, is bringing life and vitality to roadside trees and thus, urban life.

– Finding the Hidden POSCO! –

Discover POSCO’s Heartbeat!

① Saving the Waters with ‘POSCO Volunteers for Clean Oceans’

Launched in 2009, POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean started with a group of passionate scuba divers who are POSCO employees. Since then, they have been volunteering to collect various ocean wastes and starfish from Pohang, and Gwangyang where POSCO steelworks are located. POSCO Volunteers’ cleaning activities also extended to other areas like Incheon, Gangneung and Ulleungdo.
They’ve collected 1,650 tons of marine debris through over 540 underwater clean-up activities. Their volunteering is not just saving the oceans but also helping improve the livelihood of local fishermen.

With #SteelSaveEarth campaign this year, POSCO is channeling its effort on collecting plastic wastes from the ocean. The work of POSCO Volunteers for Clean Oceans will continue to protect Korea’s water resources and marine ecosystem.

② Never-Ending Community Service ‘With POSCO’

The employees of Pohang Steelworks continue practicing the spirit of community service through donating their talents. POSCO’s talent volunteer group participates in regular weekend volunteer activities to spread the company’s ‘With POSCO’ principle that seeks mutual growth. Recently, mural painting volunteers created color murals near the Pohang canals where many tourists visit. Various other POSCO volunteers also participated in senior care, especially those living alone, replacing old wallpaper, floorboards, and lighting to help improve their living conditions. POSCO employees are regularly donating their time and talents as a way to express their gratitude toward the community. Altogether 10 volunteer groups are active in the region, participating in such activities as mural painting, reforms, electric repairs, senior care, technical volunteering, tutoring, and ocean clean-ups.

③ ‘STEEL HOUSE’, the POSCO Exclusive

POSCO STEEL HOUSE is designed to protect people and their properties from disasters like earthquake, typhoons, and fires, by applying stronger and more durable techniques than any other construction methods. STEEL HOUSE is a residential structure using internal and external steel with a thickness of 1mm. Strong enough to withstand earthquakes and yet, it has a short construction period. With thin walls, STEEL HOUSE can create a spacious living space, making it an economical choice for both constructors and residents. Because it uses a dry construction method, not only can it be built quickly, it can also be constructed at any time of the year.

Since 2009, POSCO has been collaborating with the National Fire Agency of Korea to support fire-stricken communities. POSCO employees, firefighters, and POSCO’s youth volunteer group Beyonders regularly roll up their sleeves to build steel houses and provide safe living spaces for the fire victims across the country.

④ POSCO Creates Sea Forests and Restores Marine Ecosystems

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem. Reefs are formed of colonies of polyps held together by calcium carbonate providing a home for many precious marine species. What if POSCO could create this coral reef? It sounds slightly unbecoming perhaps, but there are actually good reasons backing this unusual idea. Triton, an artificial reef developed by POSCO, is made of slag, a steelmaking by-product. Slag has high mineral content such as calcium and iron, which are useful for marine ecosystems than general aggregates. Not only can the Triton help grow algae, but it can also promote photosynthesis purifying contaminated sediments and water. Also, Triton reef can withstand typhoons and tsunamis due to its high gravity and strength. It also reduces CO₂ through carbonation and algae photosynthesis. The World Conservation Congress and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development recognized the positive contribution POSCO’s Triton is making towards the marine ecosystem and announced it as one of the best practices. In 2018, POSCO used 1,418 tritons and 12,200 underwater rocks to help expand clean spaces for the marine ecosystem.

⑤ POSCO Steel Gives Rise to Rice!

Produced during the ironmaking process in the blast furnace, slag contains various impurities other than iron. POSCO’s slag is 100% recycled as either fertilizer or cement. Quality furnace slag is rich in silicic acid, an important ingredient to ensure a large rice harvest. Last year, about 390,000 tons of POSCO slag was used as agricultural fertilizer. Slag fertilizer not only increases the crop yield, but it also improves the taste of rice. Slag is not just a recyclable steel byproduct — as an excellent fertilizer, it is also a tremendous source of joy for farming communities.

⑥ Eco-friendly High Performance POSMENT

In addition to fertilizers, furnace slag also transforms into cement! POSCO developed the eco-friendly POSMENT back in 2012 after 10 years of persistent R&D effort to recycle slag. Instead of limestone, POSMENT mixes slag into general cement for added strength. Compared to conventional cement, POSMENT can reduce up to 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2018, 10.69 million tons of POSCO slag were used as cement helping reduce 8.39 million tons of net greenhouse gases.

⑦ Pohang’s Cultural Hub, POSCO’s Hyoja Art Hall

Since its opening in 1980, Hyoja Art Hall has been providing free performances and concerts for POSCO employees and Pohang residents. The performance facilities and safety management have seen a steady improvement, but POSCO invested in a full remodeling of the space last year to further improve the audience’s experiences. In 2006, Hyoja Art Hall was selected as an excellent performance facility and has been at the forefront of implementing “With POSCO” vision through free performances for the residents, and free rentals to help develop local talents.

If Hyoja Art Hall is the cultural hub of Pohang, what about Gwangyang? Opened in 1992, Gwangyang’s Baegun Art Hall holds 990 seats and is a cultural hub of Gwangyang, Like Hyoja, Baegun has been presenting various cultural events including classical music concerts, musicals, plays and films for POSCO employees and the local population, free of charge.

⑧ Pohang International Fireworks Festival — With POSCO!

On the first night of June this year, Pohang’s night sky was laced with vibrant colors. Established in 2004, the Pohang International Fireworks Festival celebrates its 16th event this year. In the conception stage of the Festival, POSCO focused on two themes: ‘light’ which the city of Pohang signifies and ‘fire,’ strong imagery of the blast furnace at Pohang Steelworks. Since then, the event grew to become global-scale and the themes of the Festival are much more diverse than simple flame imageries. Regarded as one of the top summer festivals in Korea, Pohang International Fireworks is now attended by over 2,000 visitors and features not only spectacular fireworks but also various street performances, culture exchange programs as well as movie screenings.

Though it might seem invisible, POSCO is indeed breathing all around us. And we’re not just talking about its products and technologies. As a corporate citizen, POSCO’s constantly reaching out to spread its community spirits. Perhaps, the most essential is invisible to the eyes but can be felt only with the heart. Beyond hardware, POSCO’s creating many pieces of ‘heartware’ across every corner of our communities. Listen. POSCO’s heart is beating strong — here and now.

– 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.

– Finding the Hidden POSCO! –

Let’s begin!

① GIGA STEEL — Stronger, Lighter and Better for the Environment

POSCO developed GIGA STEEL, stronger and lighter than competing materials like aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). Withstanding over 100 kg on 1mm2 space, GIGA STEEL builds stronger car bodies, suspension and battery packs making electric vehicles (EVs) safer for the public. Three times stronger and yet 3 times thinner than aluminum, it vastly lightweights car bodies.

With such strength, the GIGA STEEL effectively absorbs and disperses shocks in the event of an accident. It minimizes the shock impact thereby protecting the passengers as well as the batteries. Lighter but sturdier cars were made possible through POSCO’s GIGA STEEL.

GIGA STEEL is also eco-friendly as it helps protect the environment by reducing the cumulative CO2 emissions of cars by about 10%.

② Steel in the Tires! POSCO’s WTP Tire Cord Steel

Though invisible, steel is what makes car tires more durable. POSCO’s WTP (World Top Premium) tire cord steel is hidden in tire chords one of the many essential tire components. POSCO’s WTP refers to a line of products that enhance clients’ competitiveness with its high technology. POSCO’s WTP steel wire for tire cords are highly regarded – it improves stability and while minimizing the tire weight.

And it’s produced by twisting high carbon steel wire rod into a fine wire of 0.4 to 1.15mm in diameter. To withstand various dynamic loads on the vehicle, the tire cord steel undergoes rigorous quality control.

③ For Drive Motors, the World-class Electric Steel Hyper No

A motor is a key component of EVs. It boosts fuel efficiency and the performance of EVs. The function of drive motors in EV is that of an engine in gas vehicles – it allows the driveshaft to rotate via electric current. Highly efficient drive motors must be equipped with electrical steel plates with minimal power loss. POSCO has developed just that – the world-class electric steel plate, Hyper NO. Hyper No is used on high-efficiency motors.

When converting electricity into rotating energy, energy loss is inevitable. POSCO’s Hyper NO effectively minimizes the energy loss, thereby increasing energy efficiency – by over 30% than conventional products. To maximize motor efficiency, POSCO increased the magnetic flux density and successfully minimized energy loss. Thanks to POSCO’s Hyer No, an ultra-thin electric panel, as thin as 0.15mm, with minimum energy loss became a reality.

The ‘self-bonding’ technology POSCO developed recently applies coatings to the surface of electric steel plates, whose function is similar to that of glue. Unlike welding, POSO’s self-bonding technology retains the innate electromagnet characteristics of electric steel plates, which also connects to the improved motor efficiency. The self-bonding reduces energy loss by over 10 % compared to the conventional welding technique.

④ Secondary Battery Materials – from POSCO CHEMICAL!

Unlike disposable primary batteries, secondary batteries can be recharged and reused repeatedly. Lithium-ion battery, an essential component of EVs, is a type of second batteries. Besides EVs, it is a popular choice for many consumer electronics such as portable devices and laptops. It’s also widely used for industrial robots and power tools that require high capacity and power.

A secondary battery consists of cathode materials that determine the average voltage and capacity of a battery, and anode materials which induce current flow by storing then releasing lithium-iron from the cathode, via external circuits.

POSCO CHEMICAL, POSCO Group’s up-and-coming-global enterprise, produces key materials for secondary batteries – cathode and anode materials. The newly established POSCO CHEMICAL is the result of the merger back in April – between POSCO ESM, top-quality cathode producing enterprise, and POSCO CHEMTECH, Korea’s only natural graphite anode producer. As a result of their merge, POSCO CHEMTECH is expected to bring synergies between anode and cathode production. Large-scale early investments in production facilities are currently underway.

⑤ Battery Charge Stations? POSCO ICT Is on It

The biggest concern for the early adopters of EVs is the business of charging the EVs. Making the charge as easy as possible is the key part of the solution.

That’s where POSCO ICT comes in. POSCO ICT established ‘ChargEV,’ a charging infrastructure for EVs. ChargEV provides comprehensive services related to charging EVs, which includes charge stations, control systems, charging membership as well as car-sharing services. Considering accessibility and charging time, POSCO ICT has already established public charging networks at major hubs across Korea – Lotte Mart, E-Mart, Homeplus, and LG Electronics’ BEST SHOP, etc.

⑥ Safe Power Supply, With POSCO ENERGY

Providing power for EVs is also POSCO Group’s utmost priority. Since launching the energy business in 1969, POSCO ENERGY has steadily supplied power to the Seoul Metropolitan area for over 50 years. Through expanded businesses such as the LNG combined-cycle power plant in Incheon, the company went from being Korea’s first private power plant to Korea’s largest.

As it turns out, the world’s top steelmaker POSCO was also a key player in producing core EV materials. The next installation of [Find the Hidden POSCO] will explore POSCO technologies that can be found inside our homes.

On August 28, POSCO kicked off the second cycle of its #SteelSaveEarth campaign to raise awareness on and inspire actions to protect the planet.

Originally launched in April this year, the #SteelSaveEarth campaign aims to curb single-use plastics through alternative materials such as steel which can be reused and recycled. During the initial period of the campaign, over 5,000 participated in the offline events and 1,700 others joined the Instagram hashtag event.

With the continued focus on reducing single-use plastics, the second cycle of #SteelSaveEarth will zero in on ocean clean-up activities to help mitigate the effect of plastic pollution.

The ocean clean-up initiative will commence on the ‘Clean Ocean Day’ on October 19 together with POSCO Volunteers for Clean Oceans. Celebrating its 10th year, the POSCO Volunteers is a group of certified skin-scuba divers dedicated to protecting marine life in the vicinity of POSCO establishments in Pohang, Gwangyang, Incheon, and Gangneung. Over the last ten years, the Volunteers conducted over 540 ocean clean up activities collecting about 1,650 tons of ocean waste.

To spread the #SteelSaveEarth awareness, the campaign organizers are opening up volunteer opportunities to the general public. Those interested can apply via POSCO’s official Instagram account – the application is open from August 28 to September 27. On October 19, the selected volunteers will conduct ocean clean up activity in Gwangyang together with the POSCO Volunteers for Clean Oceans.

▲ POSCO Volunteers for Clean Oceans conducting ocean clean-up in Pohang, August 10

Additionally, POSCO is hosting a steel bottle event to encourage campaign participation – the bottles, made of POSCO stainless steel, will include drawings of marine creatures suffering from plastic waste such as turtles, whale sharks, and seabirds.

▲ POSCO stainless steel bottle with #SteelSaveEarth design

Beyond #SteelSaveEarth campaign, POSCO is also striving to build sustainable business practices through innovation. POSCO’s GIGA STEEL lightweights vehicles, ultimately reducing carbon dioxide emissions. PosMAC, POSCO’s corrosion-resistant steel, extends product life – and Hyper NO, electrical steel sheet, boosts energy efficiency for electric motors.

Furthermore, POSCO recycles 98.4% of by-products from its steelworks such as slag and by-product gases to keep their steelworks more sustainable.

▲ POSCO Volunteers for Clean Oceans after the ocean clean-up in Pohang, August 10

▲ #SteelSaveEarth Trailer: Cycle #2

Blast furnace produces molten iron, and it is indispensable to steelworks operation. With 110 meters in height, its scale is enormous.

All the steel products we see in our everyday lives are made from the molten iron. However, other than this simple fact, there really isn’t much we know about the blast furnace as what’s visible is its colossal steel exterior, not the inside.

What’s inside the blast furnace and how does it operate, with what technology? To help understand the details of blast operation, POSCO Newsroom presents ‘Blast Furnace Anatomy #1 – To the Heart of Steelworks Operation.’

l Earth, Fire, and the Wind: The Three Elements of Molten Iron

What gives birth to molten iron? It’s Earth, fire and the wind — these three elements come together in a blast furnace to create molten iron. How exactly? Let’s find out.

First, the iron ore, the raw materials for steel, comes from the Earth. Most iron ores — hematite, magnetite, limonite — contain an average of 60% of iron (Fe). Before the iron ores enter a blast furnace, it undergoes ‘sintering’ which turns the pristine iron ore into more compact and appropriate sizes.

The sintered iron ores become ‘sinter.’ The iron ores that come in just the perfect size right from the extraction are called ‘sized lump.’ The ores in microscopic scales are pelletized, which are called ‘pellets.’ Steelmaking utilizes all three materials as raw materials. Subsidiary raw materials like limestones are also used.

<Blast Furnace: Fuels & Raw Materials>

Now, the blast furnace will melt all the raw materials and extract only the iron (Fe), where coke and pulverized coal fuel the raw materials.

Coke is a grey, hard, and porous fuel made by heating coal up to 1000℃. Inside the furnace, coke is the main heat source melting various materials. It also acts as a reducing agent deoxidizing iron ores. The pulverized coal is a lump of the coal smashed into small pieces — of 0.125mm in size or less. Of the two, pulverized coal makes for a more economical option.

The raw materials and fuels alone do not magically create molten iron, of course. They will need the hot air inside the blast furnace — the hot air about 1200 ℃ in temperature. Then, the fuels and raw materials layered inside the furnace literally fly up inside the furnace! To better grasp the process, let’s slice the blast furnace in half and look inside.

This is what a blast furnace looks like. What exactly happens inside the blast furnace?

Fuels and raw materials enter the furnace through the top opening. The rotating chute evenly distributes the materials, landing them precisely at the due location. Then, the fuels and raw material layer in rotation — a layer of fuel, a layer of raw material, etc. Together, they create more than 40 layers of fuels and raw materials.

At the bottom of the blast furnace, the hot air of 1200℃ heats the materials and fuels. The hot air with a force of 4.0bar triggers such a force that the materials fly up in the air. Because of the heat, coke chemically dissolves the raw materials.

These processes produce molten iron, slag, and by-product gas at which stage, they are still mixed. Then, the by-product gas rises to the top while the molten iron and slag drop to the bottom. Once filtered through dust collectors, the gas transforms as a power source for steelworks. As for slag and molten iron, they are each separated for slag granulation and steelmaking. From the moment the raw materials enter the furnace, it takes about six and a half hours for the materials to transform into molten iron.

l And By-products? Recycle, Recycle, and Recycle

The by-product gases produced inside the blast furnace are released through the top pipe, mostly carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. For every ton of molten iron produced, the furnace emits about 1,600 cubic meters of gas. The gases go through primary and secondary dust collectors for purification. The purified gases are utilized to power different facilities at steelworks. This is how POSCO self-produces 74% of the electricity for its steelworks operation.

<Blast Furnace: The Journey of By-product Gases>

Other by-products from inside the furnace also include ingredients like silica (silicon dioxide) — not part of necessary ingredients to produce molten iron. To separate silica from iron ore, the subsidiary material limestone is added during sintering. Once inside the furnace, limestone combines with the silica and drops to the floor. The mixture is lighter than molten iron, so it layers above the molten iron. This mixture is another steelmaking by-product, slag.

Where does the slag end up? POSCO slag is recycled 100% as fertilizer and cement. Blast-furnace slag is rich in silicic acid, an excellent fertilizer for rice farming. Altogether 390,000 tons of POSCO slag was used for agricultural farming in 2018.

POSCO also developed POSMENT, an eco-friendly cement with a higher portion of slag which reduces CO2 emission up to 60%. Altogether 10.69 million tons of POSCO slag contributed to reducing 8.39 million tons of net greenhouse gas emissions.

l Is Blast Furnace Outdated?

Because blast furnaces have been around for so long, it could feel outdated. However, the furnace is full of sophisticated technology.

The sophistication starts from the very moment when the raw materials drop into the blast furnace. Landing them at the precise locations requires advanced technology. Precise calculation is crucial in all procedures — the order of insertion, in what sizes, how much, where, and at what timing. Based on these calculations, the rotation angle of the chute is adjusted, so that the raw materials and fuels distribute evenly inside the furnace.

Another part of the furnace technology involves the insertion of hot air into the furnace through over 40 holes. The timing must be steady. To boost productivity, pure oxygen is sometimes added to the hot air. There is also a facility that produces the hot air, which is called a hot stove. What powers the hot stove is the by-product gas produced in the blast furnace — recycled 100%. Such sustainable technology is at the core of POSCO’s competitiveness.

With the mixtures of solids, liquids, and gases creating many chemical reactions, it can be difficult to predict exactly what’s happening inside the furnace. With the 46 years experience of operating blast furnaces, POSCO has a reliable system to predict the condition of furnaces, however. At POSCO, the condition of blast furnaces can be monitored through live-data such as the temperature of the furnace, pressure, and the status of molten iron-making. Since the blast furnace operation is 24/7 nonstop, maintaining a stable condition has a critical bearing on the safe and economical operations of steelworks.

l Blast Furnace Shapes Korea’s Modern History

It’s no wonder the Pohang No.1 Blast Furnace was cited as Korea’s economic national treasure — for the immense contribution it sparked for Korea’s overall economic growth.

During the 1960s, when the whole country was still reeling from the wounds of the war, POSCO’s blast furnace provided an opportunity not only to lift the country off abject poverty but to continue — to hope.

Even at this moment, the Pohang No.1 Blast Furnace is making molten iron just the same — like the time when the golden molten iron poured out of the tap of the Pohang No. 1 blast furnace for the first time. The initial sentiment of the time might have faded, but the blast operation continues.

In this instance, HYBRIT, a ground-breaking initiative in Sweden, is making bold moves to replace the coke, the standard material used for current steelmaking – with hydrogen produced from renewable electricity.

If successful, HYBRIT will dramatically transform the traditional landscapes of steelmaking, according to the worldsteel. Taking a step towards the future of zero environmental impact, POSCO Newsroom presents worldsteel, “Revolution at the heart of green steelmaking.”

A low-carbon pilot steel production facility in northern Sweden could drastically reduce the industry’s carbon emissions.

In June 2018, a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony took place at the site of a pilot steel plant in Luleå, Northern Sweden. It marked the start of a project which is hoped will eventually lead to a revolution in steelmaking – the reduction of the factory’s carbon emissions to virtually nil.

The project, called HYBRIT – HYdrogen BReakthrough Ironmaking Technology – aims to replace the coke that is traditionally used in steelmaking with hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. Both coke and hydrogen can be used as a reducing agent to remove impurities from iron ore. In traditional steelmaking, the carbon in coke reacts with the oxygen in iron ore to form carbon dioxide. If hydrogen is used instead of coke then it reacts with the oxygen in iron ore to form…water vapour.

“Sweden has good access to renewable electricity, easy access to water, Europe’s highest-quality iron ore, and a specialised, innovative steel industry”
– Mårten Görnerup, CEO of HYBRIT

Those involved in the project believe it has the potential to significantly decarbonise the steel industry in Sweden and elsewhere. Indeed, the steel industry as a whole has been continually striving to improve the efficiency of its processes, and producing a tonne of steel now takes 40% of the energy it required in 1960.

HYBRIT is a joint venture between SSAB, the largest steel producer in the Nordics, LKAB, Europe’s largest iron ore producer, and Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest electricity producers. If the project is successful, it has the potential to reduce Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent, and Finland’s by seven percent.

Mårten Görnerup, CEO of the joint venture company, explains the project timeline: “A pre-feasibility study began in 2016 and now we are building the pilot plant and will run tests between 2020 and 2024.

“By 2028, we will scale up to a demonstration plant which will run as an industrial facility operating 24/7 for months. All being well, the goal is to have an industrial process in place by 2035.”

▲ The symbolic groundbreaking for the HYBRIT project, which could significantly lower steel-making’s carbon footprint

l Right Place, Right Time

Currently, the majority of hydrogen is produced through a process called steam reforming, which involves using high temperature steam to extract hydrogen from natural gas, a fossil fuel. What is special about the HYBRIT process is that all the hydrogen is obtained by passing an electric current through water in what is called electrolysis. Although this is energy intensive, if the required electricity can be sourced renewably then the carbon emissions in the whole process are negligible.

Sweden was therefore an ideal location for HYBRIT due to a combination of factors. “Sweden has good access to renewable electricity, easy access to water, Europe’s highest-quality iron ore, and a specialised, innovative steel industry,” says Gornerup. “The signing of the Paris Agreement and the decision in the national parliament that Sweden would phase out fossil fuels for electricity production by 2045 means the timing is also perfect.”

The plant will be used to run experimental campaigns to find the optimum conditions for reduction. The work will give a clearer understanding as to what happens within an interconnected industrial system and how to achieve an efficient production process.

Martin Lindqvist, President and CEO of SSAB, adds: “HYBRIT is a significant part of the road towards SSAB’s sustainability goals, and the report from the pre-feasibility study shows not only that is it possible to carry out this initiative, but it can also create exciting future opportunities for us as a company. We want to be part of the solution to the problem of climate change.”

▲ Vattenfall operates a number of hydropower facilities

l Counting the Cost

HYBRIT has been extensively supported by the Swedish government and in June, received the largest ever financial contribution from the Swedish Energy Agency for a pilot project – a total of 528m Swedish krona, equivalent to €51.3m.

While initial research suggests HYBRIT’s production costs will be around 20 to 30 per cent greater than traditional steelmaking processes, that gap is expected to shrink over time, with the potential for increasing costs for carbon dioxide emissions through the European Union Emissions Trading System, and an expected decline in the cost of renewable energy.

If HYBRIT is successful, the implications for the future of steelmaking globally could be significant. Görnerup concludes: “We are entering a new era for the steelmaking industry. Of course, the technology requires large amounts of cheap renewable electricity, which today is not available in all parts of the world. But reducing iron ore without using coking coal would be a massive shift in the industry and have major positive implications in our fight against global climate change.”

For more information visit hybritdevelopment.com
Images: Hybrit Development, SSAB, Vattenfall
Video: SSAB

The original content published on the worldsteel’s ‘Our Stories’ section is available at: https://stories.worldsteel.org/innovation/sustainability-fossil-free-steel-factory/

Last month, worldsteel published a story on FinalStraw, a startup based in Santa Barbara, United States. With a simple but ambitious mission to remove single-use plastics from planet Earth, the creators of FinalStraw pioneered the project last year hoping to secure $12,500 in funding. Instead, they collected $1,894,878 with 38,443 backers who gladly said yes to paying more than $20 dollars to replace single-use plastic straws.

So it began – the birth of a sleek stainless steel straw that is durable, collapsible and therefore, portable. Goodbye to plastic and hello stainless steel. #SteelSaveEarth – POSCO Newsroom reports.

l With Plastic Straws, Our Oceans Writhes in Pain

Americans use 500 million straws every single day. That’s 1.6 straws per person every day, enough to wrap around the earth 2.5 times, and because they’re so lightweight, straws blow into waterways, where they head out to sea and harm wildlife.

▲ Plastic straws can drift in the ocean for years and harm marine life (Image source: Ocean Pledge)

The United Nations Environment Programme reports that only 9% of the plastic waste ever generated has been recycled, and only 14% is collected for recycling now. The global recycling rate for plastics is already abysmal, and for plastic straws, it’s even worse. They are too small to be picked up by the waste management system. Plastic straws can’t be recycled, and they don’t decompose – they pollute our land and oceans.

l Plastic Ban Goes Viral

For years, environmentalists, as well as private industry stakeholders, had been aware of the grave dangers single-use plastics pose to the planet, so they have been implementing various measures to spread awareness and suggest alternatives. POSCO’s #SteelSaveEarth campaign is one such example.

In 2015, a video from Costa Rica went viral – a group of scientists was helping a sea turtle with a wrinkled brownish object stuck up in his nostril, which turned out to be a 10-centimeter plastic straw! The video of sea turtle writhing in pain resonated with the people across the globe.

▲ A scientist helping a sea turtle with a 10-centimeter plastic straw stuck up in his nostril (Image Source: Sea Turtle Biologist)

Since then, the ban has rapidly spread worldwide. Last year, Seattle became the first US city to ban plastic straws and utensils. The EU has agreed to ban single-use plastics by 2021, and Taiwan is also following the suit. According to a UN report, most countries are taking plastic pollution very seriously – 127 countries had already implemented some type of policy regulating plastic use by July 2018.

Global coffee giant Starbucks will phase out plastic straws by 2020 worldwide – and McDonald is also ditching plastic straws.

l Out Goes Plastics, In Comes Stainless Steel

Enter stainless steel FinalStraw.

When FinalStraw first launched on Kickstarter last year, it instantly made headlines – the company smashed past its initial goal. The 38,443 backers pledging all together $1,894,878 sent a clear message – the consumers wanted to end single-use plastic straws, and there was a hunger for the plastic alternative, and in this case, it was found in the stainless steel FinalStraw.

▲ Image Source: FinalStraw

l One Stainless Steel FinalStraw to Replace 584 Plastic Straws

Certainly, FinalStraw is not the first reusable straws. There are alternatives out there like paper, bamboo, glass, silicone, etc. FinalStraw is not even the first stainless steel straw – what makes it different from any other contenders already out there?

It is the world’s first reusable and collapsible straw – which makes it extremely portable. It’s collapsible, how? The stainless steel straw divides into 4 pieces and folds neatly into the container. When it comes out of the container, it assembles like a magic wand – the magnetic nature of steel not only boosts steel’s recyclability, it obviously plays a big role here too.

Because it’s made of stainless steel, the straw is also extremely durable. The creators say the straw can last up to 16 years. One stainless steel FinalStraw can save 584 plastic straws from entering our oceans every year. With the stainless steel FinalStraw, the creators dream of achieving plastic straw-free Earth by 2032!

▲ Image source: Final Straw

l Life Cycle Thinking Gives Birth to FinalStraw

The FinalStraw CEO Emma Rose Cohen spent years in the Pollution Prevention Department at Los Alamos National Laboratory, working to reduce the Lab’s waste. The genesis of the stainless steel straw started as her thesis project when she was a master’s student studying environmental management and sustainability at Harvard.

Environmentally conscious for years, Cohen had not been using plastic straws for years but hated to-go container box. That was the starting point of her thesis.

▲ Image source: Final Straw and the quote sourced from ‘The Startup Story‘

“Every time I go out to eat, I always got something to go, and I hated the to-go containers because you never know what you’re getting. You can get styrofoam, plastic, or aluminum, all these different things. Once I get home, I put my food on a plate, and throw them all away. So my idea was first to look at the life cycle assessment of reusable containers – how many times these reusable containers need to be used in order to hit the break-even point with the single-use container. And secondly, whether I could design something that would be convenient to carry, easy to use, and simple to clean. So I designed a collapsible to-go container .”

So the journey of FinalStraw began – from the life cycle assessment of reusable containers.

l Stainless Steel Straw to Save the Planet

Is $20 too much to create a plastic-free future? Thousands of FinalStraw backers say it might just be the cheapest ticket to step away from plastic pollution. FinalStraw just launched #PlasticFreeJuly campaign encouraging their followers to make small changes by refusing the single-use plastics we use every day.

▲ Image source: Final Straw

Meanwhile, alongside the creative and innovative entrepreneurs like the FinalStraw creators, POSCO will continue the journey to help build a sustainable future with the clean steel initiative, like #SteelSaveEarth.