Severstal North America (SNA), one of the largest steel producers in the U.S., reports that it is helping its automotive customers achieve lighter weight, stronger vehicles using the latest Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) technologies, state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and new grades of high-strength and high-formability steel, all while keeping costs low.
 
"We have been working directly with design engineers at OEMs and reviewing upcoming platforms, and as a result, we have achieved impressive weight reductions of up to 42 percent, while improving or maintaining overall performance," said Jon Powers, manager, Advanced Engineering and Product Applications.
 
Severstal engineers focus on the latest optimization techniques to meet customers’ rigorous design goals, including 3G optimization (gauge, grade and geometry), topometry, topology and topography, all of which focus on placing the steel in exact locations with the strength and minimum thickness combinations necessary to meet system requirements and achieve the lightest-weight steel design possible. For example, a recent 3G optimization effort resulted in a full-vehicle weight reduction of 7.3 percent while improving roof roll-over crash performance and maintaining other stiffness design targets.
 
Severstal’s stamping engineering team conducts computer simulations in order to achieve successful tooling designs for stamping processes that address unique challenges found in the production of thinner, higher strength automotive parts from new advanced high strength steel grades.
 
"As a result of these efforts, 20 percent mass reduction was achieved in select vehicle parts," added Dr. Yu-Wei Wang, manager, Stamping and Material Engineering.