.jpg?lang=en-US&ext=.jpg)
-(1).gif?width=220&height=200&mediaprotectionhash=8011a71ede637cd523c67b1296fc49e6151560fde821a46f29cc85998cc76615&ext=.gif)
Product Designs Incorporating High Strength Steel Vie for Swedish Steel Prize 2008
10/16/2008 - Four European companies have been nominated for this year’s soon-to-be-awarded international Swedish Steel Prize design accolade for the use of high strength steels in their products.
Four European companies have been nominated for this year’s soon-to-be-awarded international Swedish Steel Prize design accolade.
SSAB Tunnplåt founded the Swedish Steel Prize ten years ago with the aim of stimulating companies around the world to increase the use of high strength steels in their products. Since then, the proportion of high strength steels has increased significantly and is continuing to grow. The development is prompted by the need for lighter, stronger and more environmentally friendly products.
”The major benefit of high strength steels compared to other materials is that they are strong, easy to use and allow more slender products to be made for a given application,” said Martin Lindqvist, Head of the SSAB Sheet Steel Division. “Moreover, the cost is very competitive. Over the past ten years, the Swedish Steel Prize has illustrated the opportunities offered by the steels.
“This year’s four nominated entries have all used advanced high strength steels and follow the high standard set by earlier winners of the Prize in terms of creativity and pioneering design approach,” commented Lindqvist
“This year’s four nominated entries have all used advanced high strength steels and follow the high standard set by earlier winners of the Prize in terms of creativity and pioneering design approach,” commented Lindqvist
This year’s four candidates for the Swedish Steel Prize are:
Kuhn Audureau of France, which has developed a new arm for mower units intended for mounting on tractors for mowing roadway shoulders and edges. The high strength steel arm is more than 20% lighter than the earlier model and has around 20% higher load-bearing capacity. The new design contributes to lower fuel consumption, better ergonomics and reduced load on the vehicle.
LKAB of Sweden has been nominated for the Prize for a new railway wagon that solves the company’s need for transporting larger quantities of iron ore. High strength steel helps to make the new wagon lighter and also more wear-resistant than the earlier model. As a result, the wagon needs less maintenance and has around 25% higher payload capacity. Without the total weight being affected, the new wagon can carry 100 tonnes of ore, compared to the 80-tonne capacity of the earlier wagon. The environmental effect is lower energy consumption per tonne of ore transported.
Modec of Great Britain, whichdevelops electrically powered commercial vehicles, has developed a new, lightweight and strong chassis using high strength steel. The chassis is the platform for a new vehicle that has higher payload capacity, which offers direct environmental benefits. The company has also achieved simpler production and lower material costs.
Silos Cordoba of Spain was nominated for this year’s Swedish Steel Prize for the development of a new silo design using high strength steel. The company is a major manufacturer of modular silos that are produced in the factory and are then assembled on site. The new design is around 25% lighter, is easier to erect and is about 30% cheaper to transport. The transport costs are lower largely because of the reduced fuel consumption due to the lower silo weight.
The winner is to be awarded on November 20 as part of a jubilee gala in the Blue Hall of the Stockholm City Hall. The Prize-giving ceremony will be the conclusion of a three-day event attended by hundreds of visitors from engineering and industry all over the world.
