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

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

POSCO GIGA STEEL: Lighter for EVs, Less Production Emissions

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

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

POSCO’s Smart Factory Introduces Artificial Intelligence

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

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

POSCO’s Advancements in Lithium Extraction Recharge the Battery Industry

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

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

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

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

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

POSCO Humans Selected as Innovation Leader for Sustainable Solar Power Development

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

Discover how POSCO developed floating solar panels using PosMAC.

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

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

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

PosMAC Shines at Renewable Energy India

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

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

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

Both individuals and corporations must become more environmentally responsible, being mindful of the levels of waste water, trash and emissions produced both at home and in the office. Considering these factors in the architectural designs of the future, we can ensure a healthy and sustainable planet. Yet, a number of buildings are a step ahead and have already incorporated sustainability into their own designs, setting the precedent for future architectural endeavors. On this World Environment Day, let’s take a look at a few of them.

Northeast Asia Trade Tower (NEATT)

Standing 68 stories tall, the Northeast Asia Trade Tower in Songdo International Business District, Incheon, is the tallest structure in South Korea. It is also the crown jewel of POSCO’s leading innovative technology, utilizing revolutionary features such as a 3D exterior design, a seismic force resisting system and high level security and anti-disaster measures.

Yet, NEATT, which is a mix of office spaces, a luxury hotel, serviced residences and retail stores, also serves as a model of sustainable design strategies, carefully balancing energy conservation, increased indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort. Its range of passive design strategies, which include daylighting, natural ventilation and energy efficient HVAC systems, as well as its eco-friendly, non-toxic construction materials, have ensured that the skyscraper is not only friendly to the environment, but to its human inhabitants, too.

Monte Rosa Hut

Perched above the skiing mecca of Zermatt, Switzerland, the Monte Rosa Hut is a lodging space used by hikers in route to the summit of the same name on icy glacier treks. The five-story crystal-shaped building was constructed on stainless-steel foundations with a wooden spiral interior covered by a silver aluminum shell. During its construction, materials and workers were transported by train to Zermatt, requiring 3,000 helicopter trips.

The hut uses solar power for about 90 percent of its energy and heat requirements. Excess energy is stored in valve-regulated lead-acid accumulators, which ensure power in all kinds of weather. Large windows allow the sun to heat air inside the building, and melting glaciers in the area provide the lodge’s water supply, which is collected and stored in a nearby reservoir. (Image from http://bit.ly/1AJVsUa)

Meera Sky Garden

Perhaps no other building on this list is as one with nature as the Meera Sky Garden in Sentosa, Singapore. This eye-catching, eco-friendly home was designed by Guz Architects, and it overlooks the island’s harbor.

Divided into four distinctive floors, each of which is covered with a grass roof, the home appears as if it is four separate houses, yet is still seamlessly connected by a natural element. Not only are these garden-like spaces visually pleasing, but the grassy roofs help to keep the interior temperatures at a minimum, saving energy. (Image from http://bit.ly/1ddeBTx)

Pixel

While Pixel’s chaotic, colorful exterior is the first thing one might notice about the small office building in Melbourne, Australia, its sustainable design is what really makes it noteworthy. Some of its design innovations include a panel shade system that allows natural light into the office, while at the same time, reducing glare and heat. More impressively, Pixel utilizes wind turbines to generate its own electricity.

As Australia’s first carbon neutral office building, Pixel was also the first building to ever be granted a perfect score on the country’s Green Star sustainability rating system. (Image from http://bit.ly/1JoxIpS)

Bank of America

When the Bank of America building was erected in Manhattan, New York in 2009, it set the standard for all environmentally responsible buildings to come. Its base-to-roof insulating glass external structure enhances heat insulation while creating a large source of natural light, while the building’s extensive solar panels produce energy for the building.

And the Bank of America knows how to save water. Its greywater system collects and recycles waste from sinks and water fountains into the refrigeration system, while its catchment systems collect and save around 45 inches of rain that fall on the site each year. Such sustainable features landed the skyscraper the LEED Platinum Award, the highest level of the internationally recognized green building rating system.

The Change Initiative

In a city that is seemingly ever under construction, The Change Initiative (TCI), an eco-lifestyle shop that stocks everything from environmentally-conscious detergent to greywater recycling tools, sets itself apart from other buildings in Dubai.

Often noted as one of the most sustainable commercial buildings in the world, the majority of the materials used to create TCI are recyclable. The roof is coated with heat-reflective paint and is embellished with solar panels that generate about 40 percent of the building’s energy, while the building’s outer structure has three times the insulation of the average building. (Image from Gundeep Singh) 

For more information about current worldwide green initiatives and for ways that you can “consume with care,” check out the World Environment Day website.