“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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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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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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