“Acoplados Salto uses hot-rolled and cold-rolled Strenx performance steel and Hardox wear plates in the trailers,” says Sergio Andriano, plant manager at Acoplados Salto. “As a result of using SSAB’s lightweight steel we have gained new clients who are enthusiastic about the material. We have increased our sales by 30 percent.”

Among the products the company makes there are semitrailers, curtain side trailers, hopper wagons and flatbed trailers. Compared with a few years ago, customers can carry much heavier loads, which increases productivity and efficiency – the lighter the trailer is, the more products it can carry.

“The lightweight material from SSAB has enabled us to reduce the weight of our units by 1,800 to 2,000 kilograms (4,000 to 4,400 pounds), depending on the product. This has translated into a greater load capacity for our clients,” Andriano says.

Juan Manuel Pierce, head of design department at Acoplados Salto, has been part of developing the new lightweight products. He says one of the main advantages of using SSAB’s materials is their reduced weight and high level of safety. Even though the material is lightweight it is robust and do not crack when in contact with hard surfaces or harsh conditions, making them safer for heavier loads.

“The use of Strenx 700MC and 700CR as well as Hardox 450 has helped us achieve a product that is highly resistant to wear and tear while at the same time reducing thickness,” Pierce says. “The best properties of the SSAB steel enable us to improve the design of our products.”

Since December 2017, Acoplados Salto has been a member of the My Inner Strenx program.

“Through My Inner Strenx we have integrated new knowledge about the SSAB materials to constantly improve our production,” Pierce says. “The help and support we receive from SSAB includes technical advice on how to use the material, soldering, welding, cutting it and bending it.”

Andriano also sees another advantage to being a member of My Inner Strenx.

“Having the My Inner Strenx logo on our units represents quality products. It’s something the client values, knowing that the unit is made with SSAB lightweight material. They know its qualities,” Andriano says.

For further information, please contact:
Ana Fontes, SSAB Special Steels Marketing, ana.fontes@ssab.com

SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company. SSAB offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries. SSAB has production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.ssab.com. Join us also on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

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thyssenkrupp Materials Services continues to drive digital transformation: Since early 2019 an artificial intelligence solution (AI), supported by Microsoft’s cloud platform Azure, has been integrated into the processes of the largest materials distribution and service provider in the Western world. “alfred” supports his colleagues at Materials Services in dynamically managing the global logistics network with 271 warehouse sites and more than 150,000 products and services. As with his namesake – Alfred Krupp – all information comes together at alfred. As a first step, alfred will help to optimize transport routes and thus save the transport of thousands of tons of material per year. In addition, materials will be available more quickly at the right locations in the future. In the medium term, Materials Services will be able to make all processes along the supply chain more flexible, for example, in order to better take into account specific customer requirements for delivery speed, pricing or material quality.

Klaus Keysberg, CEO of thyssenkrupp Materials Services, summarizes alfred’s strengths: “Artificial intelligence is one of the technologies that will make a decisive contribution to competitiveness in materials distribution in the future. With alfred we are taking an important step towards making our processes even more efficient and optimizing our value chain. At the same time, he gives us better insight into our customers’ needs so that we can align our offerings accordingly. In the medium term, this holistic approach will also open up new business opportunities for us”.

Using Big Data systematically

With the AI, the approximately 14 million order items received annually by Materials Services can be processed and analyzed much more efficiently. For the first time, the materials experts are also bringing all company data together on a single platform. Using self-learning algorithms based on Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, alfred analyzes all relevant information, generates important findings and supports employees with appropriate recommendations: Which materials have to be assigned to which industry? Where are materials processed? What would be the most intelligent transport route to supply the customers with materials in the best possible way? What are the needs of the individual locations? “The intention is very clear: With alfred we are improving our own processes so that we can serve our customers all over the world more efficiently,” says Axel Berger, Head of Digital Transformation Office at Materials Services.

The focus is on customer benefit

At Materials Services, the digital transformation is aligned along the value chain and consistently placed at the service of customer benefit – whether directly or indirectly. “From procurement through warehousing and logistics to sales, we rely on integrated digitalization concepts. While we simplify cooperation with our suppliers in the area of procurement by means of a cloud-supported platform, for example, we create possibilities for networking internal machinery with our self-developed IIoT platform toii. toii allows us to flexibly coordinate and optimize the processes of warehousing and logistics. In sales, we offer our customers access to 150,000 products and services at 271 warehouse sites sites in the world’s largest virtual materials warehouse,” says Klaus Keysberg. As a link between all these areas, alfred fits into the ecosystem and ensures continuous optimization of speed and service quality through intelligent data processing with corresponding recommendations.

Lifelong learning with Microsoft

In the company’s own Digital Transformation Office in Essen, all strands of digitalization flow together. Here, integrated teams of IT experts, engineers and business coordinators work under the direction of Axel Berger on various digitalization projects that arise directly from the core business of Materials Services – including alfred. The materials experts were supported by Microsoft and its global cloud platform Azure. “Joining forces with Microsoft allows us to use advanced technologies for our in-house developments. This enables us to ensure that the projects are very closely linked to our core business on the one hand, and that they are technologically state-of-the-art on the other,” says Axel Berger.

“At this point in history, manufacturers need to become digital companies to lead in their industries. thyssenkrupp Materials Services is not only adapting digital technologies, they are building their own digital capabilities and portfolio to elevate their logistics business with AI services to the next level. They unlock new business opportunities by merging their industry know-how with the core of AI: large volumes of relevant data as well as strong machine learning methods and algorithms”, said Çağlayan Arkan, Global Lead Manufacturing & Resources, Microsoft.

Klaus Keysberg is also convinced of the synergies of the partnership. “The collaboration with Microsoft makes the implementation of projects like alfred much more efficient. Ultimately, it will enable us to apply our in-house developments more quickly, gather important insights there and develop new business models from them.

Interview with Axel Berger:
On Microsoft’s Transform blog you can also read an interview with Axel Berger, Head of Digital Transformation Office, thyssenkrupp Materials Services:
https://news.microsoft.com/transform/thyssenkrupp-materials-services-keeps-calm-and-carries-on/

Illustrative image material is available for download under the following link
(Source: thyssenkrupp Materials Services):

https://transfer.thyssenkrupp.info/public/h89780b_1c6686d9f0ec443bdcbd17/

About thyssenkrupp Materials Services

With around 480 locations – including 271 warehouse sites – in over 40 countries, thyssenkrupp Materials Services is the biggest materials distributor and service provider in the western world. The broad service spectrum offered by the materials experts enables customers to concentrate more on their individual core businesses and spans two strategic areas: global materials distribution as a one-stop shop – from steel, tubes and pipes, nonferrous metals and specialty materials to plastics and raw materials – and tailored services in the areas of materials management and supply chain management. An extensive omnichannel architecture offers 250,000 customers worldwide cross-channel, round-the-clock access to more than 150,000 products and services. A highly efficient logistics system ensures that all requested services are smoothly integrated into customer production processes “just-in-time” or “just-in-sequence”.

Contact:
Lars Bank
thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbH
Head of External & Internal Communications
Business Area Materials Services
www.thyssenkrupp-materials-services.com
E-Mail: lars.bank@thyssenkrupp.com
Phone: +49 (201) 844-534416

Katharina Nordmeyer
thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbH
External & Internal Communications
Business Area Materials Services
www.thyssenkrupp-materials-services.com
E-Mail: katharina.nordmeyer@thyssenkrupp.com
Phone: +49 (201) 844-535721

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This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Swedish Steel Prize. Over the past two decades, the award has inspired creative engineers, designers and inventors to utilize the endless potential of steel to change our world for the better.

The Swedish Steel Prize is open to any individual, company or institution and is awarded to the method or product that best displays how the properties of the chosen grade of steel has contributed to a significant innovation.

All entries are assessed by an independent jury. Together they review each entry based on its level of innovation, creativity, sustainability, performance and competitiveness. Out of the box thinking as well as entries addressing the environment, digital solutions and new trends in the economy are especially encouraged.

“The Swedish Steel Prize is a celebration of innovation and good engineering. We are looking for solutions that really push the limits of steel – alone or in a combination with another material – and with a sustainable or digital twist that can help make the world a better place,” explains Eva Petursson, Chair of the Swedish Steel Prize jury and head of SSAB’s research and innovation.

The winner of the Swedish Steel Prize receives a diploma, a statuette by the sculptor Jörg Jeschke and intense media exposure. In conjunction with the Swedish Steel Prize event, SSAB will also make a SEK 100,000 donation to charity.

The prize ceremony takes place at the end of a fascinating and renowned event where participants from across the world meet to learn about new steel technologies, be inspired, network with peers and celebrate innovation.

For the full rules, to read about previous finalists and to apply, competitors can go to www.steelprize.com/apply. All applications must be received before the deadline of August 15^th for consideration.

For further information, please contact:
Eva Petursson, Chair of the Jury, Swedish Steel Prize, eva.petursson@ssab.com
Anna Rutkvist, Project Manager, Swedish Steel Prize, anna.rutkvist@ssab.com

About SSAB                                                                          

SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company. SSAB offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries. SSAB has production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.ssab.com.

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“Weland Solutions and Weland Plastic will be representing the Group together at one stand. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase our products to 220,000 visitors and thousands of other exhibitors. It’s going to be exciting,” says Björn Karlsson, CEO of Weland Solutions AB.

Weland Solutions is a leading supplier of solutions for warehouse management and logistics, for example, customised vertical storage lifts. It has customers in 27 countries worldwide, but this is the first time that Weland Solutions has exhibited at the Hannover Messe trade fair.

“That’s right! But we’ll be there this year and we’re obviously aiming to establish new contacts. Our goal is to continue expanding on international markets with more dealers and distributors. We will be showcasing our full range of vertical storage lifts at the fair. These machines are some of the fastest in the world and are designed to handle the heaviest loads and weights too,” says Björn Karlsson.

Weland Solutions has partnerships with international customers that include Iberia, Königsegg, Volkswagen, Rolls Royce and Jaguar Land Rover.

“Some of them, like Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls Royce, are also customers of Weland Plastic. We supply these companies with completely different products in entirely different segments. I think this perfectly illustrates the quality and strength of the Weland Group,” says Björn Karlsson.

Weland Plastic is an expansive full-service company that develops and produces thermoplastic injection-moulded products. The company has exhibited at Hannover Messe before and is an established supplier to the German automotive industry today.

“A relatively large amount of our work is with German industries and the trade fair is a huge venue where we are able to meet existing customers and present our company to new business partners. Between 70 and 80 percent of our production is for the automotive industry and we are fully certified in compliance with the industry’s standards. Today, we are a Tier-1 supplier to Scania, MAN and other manufacturers. The bulk of the products that we supply are technical components, like pedals and engine covers, as well as interior parts such as mouldings, dashboard details and speaker grilles,” says Per-Olof Axelsson, CEO of Weland Plastic AB.

Hannover Messe
• 1 April – 5 April 2019
• 6,500 exhibitors
• 220,000 visitors
• Weland is in Hall 14, Stand L12

About the Company

Weland Solutions AB is a leading provider of solutions for warehouse management and logistics. We deliver customized and optimized lifts and warehouse inventory.

Our range of warehouse inventory includes pallet racks, cantilever racks, pull-out units and sigma beams. With the right products in the right places, it’s easy to streamline the entire production. Our concept is the same since our start – to deliver Swedish-made products that streamline inventory management and logistics. Weland Solutions always strives to deliver the most effective solutions possible.

Weland Solutions is a global company and is represented in several countries. All our production and development takes place at our premises in Gislaved. We guarantee efficient inventory management and long-life products.

Further information:

Björn Karlsson

CEO

Weland Solutions AB, Anderstorpsvägen 24, 332 36 Gislaved, Sweden

Email: Bjorn.karlsson@welandsolutions.se

M: +46 734-425 534

P:  +46 371- 371 52 30 40

SB: +46 371- 371 52 30 40

welandsolutions.se

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Two years ago, Hyundai Motor in South Korea decided to go from regular steel to SSAB’s Hardox abrasion-resistant steel when producing the concrete mixers for their special commercial vehicles. The results include mixer drums, hoppers, and chutes that are much more resistant to abrasion and corrosion than the earlier versions.

“The reason for choosing Hardox is its durability. Compared to other mixer trucks, these last a great deal longer. They have a very long lifespan, so the customer demand is high for mixers made out of Hardox steel,” said Byung-cheol Kang.

Used mainly in the construction industry, the mixer trucks are running in harsh conditions where they constantly transport concrete from one place to another, mixing the concrete as they move along. With the continuous wear and tear the mixers made out of regular steel have to be replaced after a few years, which means a huge amount of extra costs for the customers. With Hardox steel the mixers at least double the service life.

For commercial vehicles it is crucial that they last as long as possible whilst also being efficient and productive. For Hyundai that means not only do they use the best quality material, but they of course also put a major effort into the design. Joo-suk Shim is an engineer designer at the special designs team for commercial vehicles at Hyundai Motor. He is grateful for the collaboration with SSAB when using Hardox steel for the mixers. He met some challenges when Hyundai started to use Hardox steel.

“Hardox steel was harder to work with, because it is so strong and there is less deformation than in conventional steel. SSAB was extremely helpful to us. Firstly, when reviewing the blade design on the drum made of Hardox. Then, when analyzing the discharge rate and mixing effect of the concrete. We received valuable data which we have been able to include in the design,” he said.

The hardest thing was shaping Hardox steel to fit the blade molds. SSAB was operational in getting this to work. Also, welding steel plates in straight lines did not work, so Hyundai made the drum in a slightly different way, using a spiral design. The switch to Hardox steel came mainly from customer demand. The market knew what it wanted and asked for it.

“What differentiate us is that we always pay attention to our customers’ opinions and focus on meeting their needs. We include their demands in our design,” said Joo-suk Shim.

Hyundai was determined to listen to the customers and introduced Hardox steel as a competitive feature. Even though there was a cost increase for the high-quality steel from SSAB, the demand went up right away.

“The service life is more than doubled from the earlier design. We offer a lot better quality than our competitors, and we now have a market share of 80 percent compared to previously 50 percent,” said Byung-cheol Kang.

The Hardox In My Body sign on the mixers is something that makes them even more sought after. The traceability of the signs with unique ID number is also a guarantee that a product is made out of genuine Hardox steel.

“You can’t tell from simply looking if a mixer is made out of a regular steel plate or if it is actually Hardox. However, when customers see the Hardox In My Body sign they trust that they get quality design because they know the brand,” he said

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