SSAB: The Swedish steel prize for innovation
Challenge
Customers require a constant supply of new ideas for application of SSAB’s advanced high-strength steels. This helps them to create costs savings and environmental benefits and to develop markets.
Action
SSAB develops its own innovative products with major focus on advanced high-strength, quenched and tempered steels. It also produces other new steels for its range.
For specific applications, SSAB organises the annual Swedish Steel Prize competition. Open to all who use high-strength steels in their production or in a product, it has been held for the last 10 years. The competition stimulates innovative uses for these steels, giving customers additional perspectives on their potential.
Outcome
SSAB’s own products provide energy and cost savings for customers and their clients. For example, Prelaq energy has an organic-coated surface with thermal qualities that help insulate buildings, thereby reducing air-conditioning or heating costs.
Similarly, all nominations for the 2008 Swedish Steel Prize used high-strength steels to create environmental advantages over using traditional steels. Weight reduction was a common theme.
The winning contribution, by the French company, Kuhn, was a new grass cutter made of advanced high-strength steel that can be mounted at the end of rotable arm attached to a tractor. It is 20% lighter and stronger than a design made from traditional steel.
With a lighter weight, the grass cutter experiences less wear and tear over uneven ground, expanding the lifespan of the unit, and reducing fuel consumption and environmental impact.
Other nominations using high-strength steel included: A lighter, more durable, increased-capacity iron ore car from the Swedish company, LKAB; A competitive, electric-powered, commercial delivery vehicle for urban areas from Modec in Great Britain; and A new light-weight silo from Silos Cordoba in Spain that is easier to assemble on-site and is up to 30% less fuel-intensive (and therefore cheaper) to transport than the traditional heavier silos.
Last updated: June 2010
