SOLAR POWER steel car innovation • TOUGH CRANES take on higher loads

World
SSAB

CUSTOMER BUSINESS IN FOCUS

SMOOTH
OPERATOR
Kiruna Wagon takes Swedish Steel Prize
with energy-saving ore dumper

2/17 SMARTSTEEL for smarter markets • HEAVY-DUTY trucks in China •

BETTER FIT with prefabrication • NANOTECHNOLOGY all around
Inspiration

Racing steel with

solar power
A lightweight, solar-powered racecar developed by Jönköping University’s
Solar Team has won the 2017 University Steel Prize. In October, the team
raced its car at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a 3,000-kilometer
race across Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. by SARAH MILLER photo: JU SOLAR TEAM

THE TEAM was able to the car and to continu-

enter the race thanks to ally improve the design.
the car’s innovative design In addition to being
incorporating Docol high- durable and versatile,
strength steel. Previous high-strength steel is also
iterations of the team’s lighter, which meant the
solar-powered cars were chassis and body weight
constructed with carbon ended up 35 percent
fiber, a material with some lighter than previous ver-
limitations. “You only get sions of the car.
one chance to build a body The team’s consen-

“
out of carbon fiber,” says sus? High-strength steel
team spokesperson John gave team members the
Ingold. “If it doesn’t come competitive edge they With the weight
out right the first time, you needed. “With the weight
have to live with it.” reduction, our car is very reduction, our car is
SSAB’s high-strength
steel allowed the team to
good right now,” says team
member Matilda Ekman.
very good right now.
make multiple versions of “We will aim for the top.”• We will aim for the top.”

The JU Solar team

consists of 25 students.

     2 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 Management notes

JOIN US Blow our

minds
Facebook: SSAB AB
LinkedIn: SSAB
Twitter: SSAB_AB
Instagram: ssab_steel
YouTube: SSAB steel
17 INNOVATION can be killed by buts: But what if the
idea doesn’t work in practice? But I’m sure someone has
already done this elsewhere? But what if the solution is
impossible to produce and sell? The list can be endless.
But what if instead of digging for all the buts, we let
our minds really innovate freely and boldly share
our wildest ideas and thoughts – those which might
currently feel like the most far-fetched ones?
For almost 20 years, Swedish Steel Prize has been
honoring the art of engineering
and, most importantly, innova-
tion. Over the years, we’ve seen

10 13 the development of products

utilizing high-strength steels
as well as some truly innovative
19 20 solutions.
When evaluating the applica-
tions, the excitement of the jury
is always palpable: What new
products will we come across this
time? How have the benefits of
high-strength steels improved
the industry since last year?
Basically, what’s new in the world
content #2–2017 of steel? We just can’t wait to get
our hands on the solutions!
Eva Petursson,
Head of SSAB’s
02 Inspiration 19 At your service When applying for the Swedish
Steel Prize or the University Steel
strategic R&D
Solar-powered car got lighter with steel. Coskunlar brings higher quality for the and Chairman
Prize, a prototype of the product
mining sector in Turkey. of the Swedish
04 Smart solutions is enough. If you have a totally
Steel Prize jury
Look into the smart solutions of the 20 The big picture new, wild, even outrageous idea
that really pushes the limits of
innovative companies Kiruna Wagon, Nanotechnology is everywhere.
steel, we want to see it. It doesn’t matter if the product is
Fermel, JMG Cranes and Wabash.
22 The improvement still at the beginning of its journey.
10 Focus Better bendability for KFK Plc.
The application time for 2018 is now open, so head
for steelprize.com and be ready to blow our minds with
It is time for “the internet of materials,”
an ecosystem of information. 23 SSAB inside your groundbreaking steel solutions!
Learn more about what is going on
13 Digital content within SSAB.
The last paper issue of SSAB World.
27 Hardox In My Body
17 In-depth Greater profitability in light-weight
Prefabrication services give customers trucks.
shorter lead times.

World
Published by SSAB, P.O. Box 70, Klarabergsviadukten 70, D6, 101 21 Stockholm, Sweden
SSAB Editor-in-chief Taina Kyllönen
Managing editor Sari Idman, +358 50 314 3165, [email protected]
Editorial production Spoon, www.spoonagency.com
Editor Chi An Gramfors Englund, +46 765 26 48 49, [email protected]
Layout Eva Englund Cover photo Kiruna Wagon Copyright Texts and images in SSAB
CUSTOMER BUSINESS IN FOCUS World may not be republished without permission. www.ssab.com/world

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 3

 The team from Kiruna
Wagon receives the
2017 Swedish Steel
Apply with your Prize award.

innovation for the

next Swedish
Steel Prize.
www.steelprize.com

Smart
solutions ➔
Together we create better results
 Smart solutions

EFFICIENCY in motion
Pioneers in faster, smarter and cheaper mineral transport,
Kiruna Wagon used SSAB’s high-strength steel to make its
Helix Dumper the most innovative and versatile wagon on
the market. by SARAH MILLER photo: KIRUNA WAGON

FOR 100 YEARS, Kiruna Wagon has

been a pioneering manufacturer of
wagons for the ore transport business. In
Kiruna Wagon is based
2012, Kiruna Wagon’s valued customer
in Kiruna, the mining
Northland Resources challenged the
capital of Sweden.
company to design a more energy-
efficient, cost-effective wagon. The result
is Kiruna Wagon’s Helix Dumper, which
brings together SSAB’s high-strength and
wear-resistant steels in an immensely
innovative response to the challenges of
long-haul rail transport and the unloading
of minerals.
Ore wagons tend to be slow, expensive,
complicated and limited in what they
can carry – repeated stopping to unload
wastes energy, and constant braking
increases wear and tear.
When Kiruna Wagon and Northland
Resources talked about initial design, they
envisioned a wagon that could handle a
high payload, but would not, like other
wagons, lose momentum or wear out
its components. Cost effectiveness was
also a huge factor. “There were many
challenges to overcome, including how to
achieve a carrying capacity of a 100-ton
payload while keeping the wagon light,” offset arches over the tracks made of ● ABOUT KIRUNA WAGON
explains Fredrik Kangas, Managing Direc- wear-resistant Hardox 400. Each wagon
tor at Kiruna Wagon. has a capture wheel, and as it moves Kiruna Wagon designs and manufac-
Use of SSAB’s high-strength steel along the railroad track it connects with tures ore wagons for the Nordic
enabled an ingenious solution, a self- the stationary Helix structure. The wagon and international markets. The
carrying 32.5-ton axle load dumper, is then gradually tipped over and back company’s wagons allow for higher
with a tough, light body made of SSAB’s again in a single smooth motion. productivity through lower weights
Strenx 700 and 650. Its unloading system “Since we do not have to tip the and efficient unloading of goods.
incorporates a fixed helix system, two wagon chassis, we do not have to stop à

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 5

Smart solutions

the train,” says Kangas. “We just unload

at a smooth even pace, with no stresses
from stopping and starting.”
The Helix Dumper’s unloading speed
The ore dumper innovation is around double that of other systems
lowers energy usage. – about 25,000 tons per hour. It’s also a
cheaper system, around one-seventh the
cost of rotational wagon system. Finally,
the Helix Dumper utilizes momentum,
which lowers energy usage and costs.
Given its superiority to other wagons
and unloading solutions, as well as its
ability to raise productivity while cutting
expenses, the Helix Dumper was met with
very high demand at its 2012 rollout. In
2017, Kiruna Wagon was declared the
winner of the international Swedish Steel
Prize. “Kiruna Wagon has developed an
innovative dumper wagon system for
long-haul rail transport and efficient un-
loading of minerals,” says the Steel Prize
jury. “With its nearly doubled unloading
rate, the Helix system is superior to all
conventional solutions.” •

● HOW SSAB STEEL

BENEFITS THE HELIX DUMPER
• SSAB’s Strenx 700 and 650
are light but handle large payloads.
Wear-resistant Hardox 400
toughens the unloading structure
• Use of SSAB materials uniquely
allows for energy-saving innova-
tions

No stresses
from stopping
and starting”

     6 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 ● WHY FERMEL USES Smart solutions
SSAB STEEL

• Strenx 700 allowed for maximum

payload with minimum weight
• Hardox 450 hits a sweet spot
between light and robust Vehicles ready
• Durable but lightweight, SSAB for tough mining
steel cuts both energy and main- conditions.
tenance costs.

UNDERGROUND performance
South African mining equipment manufacturer energy use and costs. For the chassis,
Strenx 700 was chosen for its ability to
Fermel put half a century of industry experience carry payloads of up to 2.5 tons while
being light enough to do so without
into the development of its Maverick product fatiguing.
range. These light-duty vehicles are made of “The desired outcomes for this
product would not be easily achieved
SSAB steel for longer life, greater efficiency and if we did not have advanced high-
reduced costs. by SARAH MILLER photo: FERMEL strength steel materials as an option,”
explains Maxine Penn, Director of Sales
and Marketing at Fermel.
CONVENTIONAL MINING uses light- a vehicle that both looked appealing Added bonus: the Maverick line is
duty vehicles for the transportation of and was practical,” says Corné Wehr, attractive, comfortable and modular,
both people and equipment. In the past, Product Design Manager at Fermel. going from pickup to transport van
existing vehicles have been retrofitted “We also wanted to be able to manu- in minutes. Nominated for the Swed-
for tough mining conditions, but these facture the vehicle without spending ish Steel Prize 2017, the Maverick line
vehicles are not ideal as they require money on special tooling.” ushers in a new era for trackless mining
constant repairs, incur high operating Fermel had traditionally used vehicles. •
costs and are hard to make industry- 355JR “mild steel,” but as the design
compliant. progressed, it was clear that the ● ABOUT FERMEL
In 2014, Fermel saw the need for an light but robust structure could only
industry-specific vehicle that would be achieved with a combination of South African manufacturer Fermel
meet increasingly tough safety stan- high-strength and wear-resistant specializes in mining machinery and
dards as well as operate at a lower cost steel. SSAB’s abrasion-resistant, equipment. The company focuses
and with greater energy efficiency than weld-friendly Hardox 450 was chosen on tailoring products to the needs of
the vehicles that were being used. for the cab. This impact-absorbing individual operations.
“We needed to find a way to design material is also lightweight, which cuts

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 7

 Smart solutions

Carrying INNOVATION
Using SSAB’s high-strength steel, Italian manufacturer JMG Cranes designed
a pick and carry crane that’s easy to transport and manages a higher payload
than its competitors. by SARAH MILLER photo: JMG

● ABOUT JMG CRANES

The only electric pick and • Founded as JMG 2007
carry crane in the world • Maurizio Manzini, CEO at JMG, has
able to lift 58 tons. been in the pick and carry business
for 30 years, with a constant focus on
performance, safety, durability and low
operating costs.
• Swedish Steel Prize finalist 2017.

● WHY JMG CRANES USES

SSAB STEEL

• SSAB’s Strenx 700 and 900

allow for an advanced compact
design
• Modular design enabled by use
of SSAB high-strength steel
provides lifting power without
excessive weight

ITALIAN manufacturer JMG Cranes has Emilio Berti, Chief Design Director at electric pick and carry crane in the
been making electric pick and carry JMG Cranes. world able to lift 58 tons. An extendable
cranes with a focus on safety, perfor- Berti understood that to achieve this chassis enables compactness while
mance, ease of use, durability and low vision, the mild steel typically used for saving valuable storage and transport
operating costs since 2007. In 2016, re- the boom, rear frame and outriggers space. Innovative modular design al-
acting to market demand for a stronger, would have to be replaced with high- lows it to be completely dismantled for
more energy-efficient, portable crane, strength steel. He chose SSAB’s Strenx easy transport, and an emission-free
JMG Cranes set out to create a best-in- 700 and 900, both known for having electric motor increases performance
class electric crane. favorable strength-to-weight ratios. “In by up to 80 percent over competing
Historically, pick and carry cranes our world, being small is important, but products.
have been both crucial to industry and so is being strong,” Berti says. “We are very proud to have been
disappointingly limited. They’re heavy, The MC 580 is a best-in-class crane able to create a crane with perfor-
hard to transport and have trouble that outperforms the competition, mance that goes far beyond that of our
with large loads. “The market wanted a thanks to the unique properties of previous models as well as competi-
tors,” says Berti. •

“
new crane with the same dimensions, SSAB’s high-strength steel. It’s the only
but with bigger capacity and a low
deadweight. It would need to be able to
lift big loads, but also be light enough
Being small is important,
to move from site to site via truck,” says but so is being strong”

     8 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 Smart solutions

The best-perfoming
rear impact guard in
North America.

MOVING in safety
Using SSAB’s market-leading products, U.S. manufacturer
Wabash National manufactures a safer, lighter, more efficient
rear impact guard for truck trailers. by SARAH MILLER photo: WABASH

TRUCKING is one of the most strictly explaines Andrzej Wylezinski, Manager ● ABOUT WABASH NATIONAL
monitored industries in terms of safety of Structural Engineering at Wabash.
— which can pose challenges when it The idea for the new RIG design was In 1985, Wabash began manufactur-
comes to innovation. But using SSAB’s to use four vertical posts instead of ing trailers in Lafayette, Indiana. The
high-strength steel, Wabash National, two, and a longer, reinforced bumper company soon became the leading
the biggest manufacturer of highway to better deflect impact.  American manufacturer of semi-trailers
truck trailers in the U.S., launched an With traditional materials, the new used by some of the largest fleets
updated rear impact guard (RIG) for design would add a significant amount across the country.
truck trailers. of weight, so Wabash National used
The company also became interna- sheets of SSAB’s Strenx 110XF steel in
tionally recognized for its new design by 3 mm and 2 mm thicknesses to create ●  THREE REASONS
earning a Swedish Steel Prize nomina- the RIG-16 Rear Underride Guard WABASH’S RIG-16 REAR
tion. System.  UNDERRIDE GUARD SYSTEM
In the U.S. and Canada, highway Testing proves the RIG-16 exceeds USES SSAB TECHNOLOGY
trucks weighing 4.5 tons or more are North American standards and im-
required by law to have a RIG, which ex- proves protection of people in case of • Strenx high-performance moldable
tends below the rear bumper of a truck an accident. It also minimizes damage steel increases strength without
trailer to prevent smaller vehicles from to the truck, is very cost-effective to adding to weight or costs
slipping under the truck upon impact. manufacture and can even be applied • It can be added to update older
Three years ago, Wabash National to older models. models
invested considerable resources to focus Since early 2016, the RIG-16 has • The materials’ toughness reduc-
on enhancing RIG performance. The been sold by the thousands and has es passenger compartment intru-
challenges were formidable. “We could become known as the lightest and sion (PCI) by 100 percent in a wide
not add significant weight or costs, nor best-performing RIG system on the range of offset collision scenarios
make the trailer impractical in any way,” market in North America. •

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 9

Focus: SSAB SmartSteel

SSAB JOINS
THE “INTERNET
OF MATERIALS”
In the future, users of SSAB’s products will be able to access relevant data
about their steel via an ID that links directly to the cloud. This concept is
being developed as part of a project known as SSAB SmartSteel.
by ISABELLE KLIGER photo: SSAB

THE IDEA BEHIND the SSAB Smart- Niko Korte, SSAB’s Head of Digital ensure the quality, safety and durability
Steel project is to create a digital Business Development, is managing the of the product.
platform based on cloud-based data, SmartSteel project. He says the infor- “By using and adding to the data, any
enabling the various stakeholders in the mation that accumulates in the cloud user of the product will have access to
value chain to access information on the over the course of the entire produc- every piece of information they might
properties and characteristics of SSAB’s tion chain will eventually be utilized to need, allowing them to make optimal use
steel. This would allow each link in the create new services, while accelerating of the steel and save time in the work-
chain – from SSAB to the manufacturer and improving the efficiency of product shop,” says Korte.
and the end user, and even users of development at every stage. In addition, Eva Petursson, SSAB’s Head of
future recycled products – to access and the accumulated information would al- Research & Development, adds that
utilize valuable information. low end users and other stakeholders to SmartSteel would exist within the

     10 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 Focus: SSAB SmartSteel

so-called “Internet of Materials,” forming ecosystem around the product,” she says. and organizations such as Meyer Turku,
part of the digital manufacturing trend It’s not only the material manufactur- Sandvik Materials Technology, Swerea
known as Industry 4.0. The Internet ers like SSAB that stand to gain from KIMAB, IBM, Siemens, Umeå University,
of Materials is the next step after the SmartSteel. Vinnova, Sweden’s innova- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and
Internet of Things, moving beyond tion agency, has already pledged SEK 10 FindIT. SSAB has also received funding
communication between components million of funding to SmartSteel. SSAB for SmartSteel in Finland from Tekes
and machines, to a future in which even is also collaborating with companies via the DIMECC (Digital, Internet, à
materials share information.
“SmartSteel creates a so-called
platform economy, where everyone con-
Everyone contributes information,
tributes information, forming a kind of forming a kind of ecosystem”

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 11

 ● INDUSTRY 4.0

Industry 4.0 is the current trend in

manufacturing, defined by increased
automation and data exchange. Key
features of Industry 4.0 include the
Internet of Things (IoT), cyber-phys-
ical systems and cloud computing.
Industry 4.0 creates what is known as
a “smart factory,” consisting of cyber-
Niko Korte, Head of physical systems that communicate
Digital Business and cooperate with each other and
Development, SSAB with humans in real time, using IoT.
Going beyond IoT, SSAB SmartSteel
would form part of the Internet of
Materials, in which the actual materials
used to make components and sys-
tems are also able to communicate.

● SSAB SMARTSTEEL 1.0

What? SSAB SmartSteel 1.0

How? Marking steel products to
connect each one to the cloud
individually. This will enable customers
and anyone else using the product to
access instruction manuals and other
product information digitally.

Materials & Engineering Co-Creation) portunities for new businesses in our

co-creation ecosystem. industry,” continues Klockars, adding
Mattias Klockars, R&D Process that Sandvik Materials Technology
Manager and coordinator of the SMART intends to play a key part in help-
offering at Sandvik Materials Technol- ing to improve the efficiency of its
ogy, admits that SSAB SmartSteel, with customers, through data capture and
its ambition to establish an ecosystem utilization, as well as by creating value
as a data collector, carrier and provider, in a cooperative ecosystem.
represents a “thrilling vision.” “Our aim is to find a way to add
“The area of Internet of Materials a unique product identifier to our
is the perfect space for collaboration advanced materials for even the most Our aim is
between Sandvik Materials Technology demanding industries. T he vision is for
and SSAB. We will all benefit from co- product identification to become an to find a way to
creation, which will speed up the pace
of innovation and increase our ability to
intrinsic part of the product, with the
ability to withstand both thermal and
add a unique product
be number one in new smart offerings to
the industries we serve,” he says.
mechanical processing throughout
the entire product life cycle,” Klockars
identifier to our
“Industry 4.0 presents vast op- says. • advanced materials”

     12 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 Digital content

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to see the latest SSAB
news, feature stories and
other content.

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This is the last issue of SSAB World magazine.
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JOIN U
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# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 13

In-depth: Prefabrication

Prefab sprouts
Upgrading products with high-strength steel makes them lighter,
stronger and more efficient. But sometimes, upgrading isn’t as easy as it
sounds – you may lack the necessary equipment, resources or
manpower to change your production process. That’s where SSAB
Shape and prefabrication services come in.
by ISABELLE KLIGER photo: SSAB

● THE SSAB SHAPE

OFFERING:
• Engineering support, design
solutions and steel-processing
expertise
• Component solutions with
prefabricated and semi-finished
parts as well as kits produced
and delivered just in time
• Steel processing services that
cut costs, avoid errors and
obsolescence, while speeding up
the production process
• Ready-made tubes and profiles
from a wide range of SSAB’s
high-strength steels
• Tailored logistics and communica-
tion solutions

     14 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 In-depth: Prefabrication

SSAB offers unique, tailored solutions

for laser welding and laser cutting.

WITH MORE than half a century of ex-

perience in high-strength steel process-
ing and design, SSAB is more than just a
steel manufacturer. Through a series of
services known as SSAB Shape, SSAB’s
teams of steel experts use 450 machines
situated across 21 locations worldwide to
support customers with everything from
basic cutting of steel parts to extensive
joint development projects. In 2016
alone, SSAB delivered more than 84
kilotons of processed parts to customers
ranging from some of the world’s leading
truck manufacturers to an engineering
start-up in Australia.
“Combining SSAB’s premium steel
products with engineering support and ● EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMERS
prefabrication services, we’re here to AND THEIR PRODUCTS
empower you to develop your products THAT UTILIZE SSAB’S
and become more competitive,” says logistics flow and eliminate waste in the PREFABRICATION SERVICES
Matts Nilsson, Director, SSAB Services supply chain,” says Nilsson.
& Head of Shape. SSAB Shape also offers extensive Laser welding with bending
SSAB Shape’s prefabrication ser- experience in laser welding, with unique, and laser cutting:
vices are adapted to the needs of each tailored solutions. For example, many Customer: BMI
individual customer. For example, many customers within heavy transport Product: Walking floor metal mover
customers in the tipper and body build- and railways take advantage of SSAB Processing close to mills:
ing market require support with bending Shape’s prefabricated laser-welded Customer: AlfaLaval
high-strength steels. SSAB Shape has components. Product: Heat exchanger
responded by producing tipper kits, Another specialized service is SSAB’s Long laser cutting and bending:
used by leading tipper and body building unique roll forming line for high-strength Customer: Zetterbergs
manufacturers in every corner of the steel. Roll-formed top rails made of Product: Tipper sidewalls
globe. high-strength steel are available for 3D scanning:
SSAB has huge cutting capacity at its OEM customers in the tipper and con- Customer: Joy Global
21 local SSAB Shape centers, many of tainer segments. Product: Bucket P&H 4100XPC
which are situated close to steel mills and Finally, certain customers may require High precision cutting (fiber optic
can produce parts and components ac- additional prefabrication services, such cutting):
cording to customer specifications with as milling and painting. SSAB Shape Customer: Shaeffer
extremely short lead times. SSAB Shape offers these services both in-house and Product: Screens
offers flame, plasma, laser and water jet via its extensive network of processing Processing & Design:
cutting. partners. Some customers also require Customer: Wilcox
“Many customers utilize our capac- beveled parts to speed up the assembly Product: Tipper bodies
ity close to the mills to streamline the process, which SSAB can provide. •

Many customers utilize our capacity

close to the mills to streamline the logistics
flow and eliminate waste in the supply chain”

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 15

In-depth: Prefabrication

QUICKER ASSEMBLY
with cutting and bending
Polish company Bodex supplies a range of semi-trailers to customers
across Europe. SSAB Shape delivers cut and bent components for
Bodex’s dumper trailers, thereby supporting the quality and efficiency
of the manufacturing process.
by ISABELLE KLIGER photo: BODEX

sidewalls, upper sidewall profiles and

floors for the tipper bodies, while pre-
fabricated chassis flanges are delivered
a few times a year. 
“By using these prefabricated ele-
ments, we avoid errors in bending and
cutting, since the parts are ready for the
next stage of production when then
arrive,” says Damian Stepien, Bodex
Sales Representative. “The steel for
the chassis is delivered with the desired
width, while tipper body parts are cut
and bent accordingly to our draw-
ings. This helps us reduce lead times,
due to quicker assembly, while ensuring
the consistent high quality and regular
delivery of the plates.” •

Bodex dumper trailer, ● ABOUT BODEX

manufactured using
Bodex is one of Poland’s leading
prefabricated plates.
manufacturers of semi-trailers. It
produces more than 1,500 custom-
made semi-trailers every year. Bodex
BASED IN Szczerców in central Po- Strenx 700 is used to design a durable, offers a wide range of products, from
land, Bodex is one of the leading Polish lightweight chassis. dumper trailers to curtain trailers,
manufacturers of semi-trailers. For the SSAB Shape also delivers prefabri- tank trailers, low loaders and more. It
last decade, Bodex has been utilizing cation services to Bodex, mainly in the serves a broad client base from coun-
steel from SSAB to build the upper form of cutting and bending, for the tries including Poland, Russia, Norway,
structures and chassis of its dumper parts used to assemble tipper bodies Denmark, Holland, Slovakia, Ukraine,
trailers. While Hardox 450 significantly on dumper trailers. Bodex receives Estonia and Finland.
extends the service life of the trailer, regular deliveries of prefabricated

“
By using these prefabricated elements,
we avoid errors in bending and cutting”

     16 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 In-depth: Prefabrication

Heat exchangers with

prefabricated pressure
plates from SSAB.

Pressure perfect
Swedish company Alfa Laval is a global supplier of products used for heat
transfer, separation and fluid handling. Alfa Laval’s market-leading
gasketed plate-and-frame heat exchangers are assembled using pressure
plates produced by SSAB. by ISABELLE KLIGER photo: ALFA LAVAL

FOUNDED IN 1883, Alfa Laval has more ricated pressure plates from SSAB. ● ABOUT ALFA LAVAL
than 2,500 patents to its name. One of In addition to producing the actual
its key products is the heat exchanger steel for the pressure plates, SSAB also With more than 42 production units
– a piece of equipment that is used to cuts, grinds, machines and grit blasts across four continents, Alfa Laval is
transfer heat across a wide variety of the parts before delivering them to Alfa a truly global company. Founded in
applications. Laval’s factory in Lund, Sweden. 1883 in Sweden, it has more than 130
Alfa Laval’s gasketed plate-and- “The benefits SSAB brings to Alfa years’ experience in the manufacture
frame heat exchangers provide efficient Laval are the good quality of the plates, of industrial equipment. These days,
heat transfer in compact equipment with short lead times and the ability to Alfa Laval’s heat exchangers, separa-
minimal environmental impact. For many deliver steel according to specific de- tors, pumps and valves are involved
years, Alfa Laval has been manufactur- mands,” says Robert Andersson, Global in treating water, reducing carbon
ing these heat exchangers using prefab- Strategic Purchaser, Alfa Laval. • emissions and minimizing water

“
and energy consumption, as well

Benefits include good quality as heating, cooling, separating and

transporting food.
and short lead times”

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 17

In-depth: Prefabrication

SMOOTH RIDE for grains

Australian company Trufab Global is best known for its market-leading
Grain King range of chaser bins. by ISABELLE KLIGER photo: TRUFAB GLOBAL
WITH MORE than 50 years of experi- longer service life. Nyrex uses Strenx 700 is well suited to kit deliveries, making it
ence in the Australian agricultural sector, MC Plus and Strenx 900 MC products. more affordable to transport through-
Trufab Global recently launched a new Huck bolting and boming are used in out Australia and internationally.
generation of its Grain King chaser bins the fabrication of the bins and welding “The benefits Trufab Global gets in
– Nyrex. With an innovative, world- is kept to a minimum. Because these using SSAB’s prefabrication services
patented modular design, the market methods require extensive bending and are the consistency in the required
response to Nyrex chaser bins has been extremely accurate components, they accuracy and the quality of compo-
overwhelmingly positive. can only be produced through laser nents with laser cutting, increasing the
Nyrex utilizes SSAB’s materials to cutting. SSAB supplies the laser-cut ease of assembly, reduced assembly
decrease tare weight. High-strength components, along with sheet material, times and a reduction in scrap,” says
steels are used in the chassis as well as in which is of particular interest to Trufab Daniel Alvino, Sales Manager at Trufab
the bins to facilitate higher payloads and Global since the modular design of Nyrex Global. •

The benefits Trufab Global gets in using SSAB’s pre-

fabrication services are the consistency in the required
accuracy and the quality of components with laser cutting”
● ABOUT TRUFAB

Initially founded as a family business

in 1962, Trufab specializes in precision
steel fabrication for the mining and
agricultural industries. Using cutting-
edge technology, high-quality materi-
als and skilled labor, Trufab’s products
maintain a competitive edge, with
innovative, intelligent solutions to in-
crease customer productivity and ef-
ficiency. Combining extensive experi-
ence with the latest CAD technologies,
3D steel models and 3D fabrication,
Tare weight is
Trufab seeks to deliver superior-qual-
reduced and
ity products to its customers. Trufab is
higher payload is
headquartered in Canning Vale, close
achieved.
to Perth, Western Australia.

     18 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFIT
• Hardox Wearparts is the leading manufacturer of wear parts
and wear services in the world.
• With more than 265 centers in more than 70 countries,
there is always a Hardox Wearparts Center close to you.
• hardoxwearparts.com

• ●
ABOUT COSKUNLAR
• Founded in 1970
• Operates two plants in Usak,
western Turkey
• Member of Hardox Wearparts
network since 2013
• Provides wear solutions to a
customer base consisting of Turkish
gold mines, recycling plants, marble
quarries and ceramic plants.

WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD

By providing wear parts with higher quality and increased service life,
Coskunlar has established itself as a key supplier to the demanding
Turkish gold mining segment. by ISABELLE KLIGER photo: SSAB, COSKUNLAR

A FAMILY BUSINESS based in western customers and we’ve also gained busi- used down to a minuscule degree of
Turkey, Coskunlar has been providing ness from other segments.” accuracy.
wear parts to mines, recycling plants As Coskunlar introduces more “As a Hardox Wearparts Center,
and machine manufacturers since the customers to improved quality and we’ve become aware of higher qual-
1970s. The wear parts are made from longer service life wear parts, its busi- ity wear
Hardox wear plates, and typical ap- ness continues to grow. As the only products,
plications include wear parts for mobile Hardox Wearparts Center in its region, and that
and fixed equipment in mines, recycling Coskunlar now supplies almost all the has enabled
knives and screens, chutes for ceramic gold mines in Turkey. us to solve
plants and cutting edges for buckets. Coskunlar has worked with SSAB many of our
In 2013, Coskunlar was named an to upgrade the wear parts used by customers’
official Hardox Wearparts Center. Halil its mining customers. By introducing wear-relat-
Coskun, Sales & Business Development its customers to products made of ed issues,”
Manager, says being part of the Hardox Hardox 550, Hardox 600 and Hardox adds Ömer
Wearparts network has enabled Coskun- Extreme, which weigh less and offer Coskun, Halil and Ömer Coskun at the
lar to improve its standard of service. longer service lives than their previous General Hardox Wearparts Center in Turkey.
“The training we’ve received from wear parts, downtime has been reduced Manager,
SSAB has improved our knowledge of successfully. SSAB supported Coskunlar Coskunlar. “When our experience and
processing wear parts and wear applica- in this project, providing 3D laser scan- knowledge isn’t sufficient, we can count
tions in different industries,” he explains. ning that made it possible to ensure on SSAB to support us to deliver a
“We can offer a better service to our correct dimensions of the equipment higher-quality, faster service.” •

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 19

The Big Picture

THE FUTURE
OF NANO-
TECHNOLOGY
IS HERE!
Researchers are manipulating matter
on the nanoscale to create new devices and
materials for our everyday lives.
by CHAD HENDERSON photo: ADOBE STOCK

HOW WOULD YOU Strømme, Professor nanotechnology could

like clothes that never of Nanotechnology at be used to create steel
need to be washed? Or Uppsala University in that prevents corrosion,”
windows that block the Sweden. “It uses these Strømme says. “You
sun’s heat? Or water con- tools on the nanoscale to could coat the steel with
taining nano-bubbles give materials properties a hydrophobic material
that help you heal faster? that we want on the mac- that prevents water mol-
Nanotechnology is on roscale in our everyday ecules from attacking it.”
the way to creating all of lives.” Medicine is another
these things, and much, Strømme holds 30 area where there is huge
much more. patents for nanotechnol- potential for nanotech-
Nanotechnology is ogy inventions, including nology – from cheaper
booming because sci- an environmentally- diagnostics to medicine
entists now have better friendly battery based that only targets cancer
tools and techniques for on algae. She says that cells. “Nanotechnology
building things that are while nanotechnology can will be an ongoing revolu-
very small. make things that are very tion for the next 20 to 30
“Nanotechnology is small, like nanoparticles, it years,” Strømme says.
a toolbox that borrows can also be used to make “We’ll see everything from
tools from disciplines things that are very big. new implants in our bodies
like chemistry, physics “For marine con- to new solar cells and ways
and biology,” says Maria struction, for example, of storing energy.” •

Nanotechnology is a toolbox that borrows

tools from disciplines like chemistry,
physics and biology”

     20 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

Atoms and molecules
Nanotechnology is science, engineering and
technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is
about 1 to 100 nanometers - down to individual
atoms and molecules. Nanoelectronics refers
to the use of nanotechnology in electronic
components, such as this curcuit board.
The Improvement

KFK uses plasma cutting to produce

bottom plates for road compactors.

Better bendability
As a supplier of bottom plates for road compactors, KFK Plc needed
a wear plate that could withstand tough conditions and was easy to
bend, weld and machine. With Hardox 400, the company now can
produce high-quality parts faster. by CHAD HENDERSON photo: KFK

KFK Plc is a company in Varna, Bulgaria, that requires high strength and wear ● THE SOLUTION
that manufactures parts for compact- resistance,” says Veselina Baramova,
ing and excavation machinery, as well Manager, Purchasing and Logistics, Customer: KFK Plc
as custom industrial equipment. Three KFK Plc. “Hardox has good bendability, Location: Varna, Bulgaria
years ago, KFK was having difficulty pro- so when we bend it with our hydraulic Application: Bottom plate for road
ducing bottom plates for road compac- press brakes, we do not need to take compactors
tors, which are used to compress gravel additional corrective measures that we Challenge: Combining wear
before asphalt is laid on roads. usually do with other materials.” resistance with good bendability
The problem was the quality of steel Wear plate: Hardox 400
plates the company was using, which REDUCING MACHINING TIME BY Result: More efficient production
were difficult to drill, bend and machine. 30 PERCENT and faster machining
This resulted in cracked drills and slower “When using Hardox with the right tools
production times. KFK also needed and mode of operation, we can shorten
plates that had high strength and wear the machining time by up to 30 percent ● ABOUT KFK
resistance, due to their contact with compared to the same conditions for
gravel. other material grades,” says Baramova. KFK is a metal-working company
“Hardox also does not require special specialized in the production of
IMPROVING BENDABILITY welding technology or material prepa- parts for road construction machin-
KFK contacted SSAB and began testing ration, which makes our production ery, custom industrial equipment,
Hardox 400, an abrasion-resistant steel more efficient.” Baramova says that coffee and snack vending machines,
with a nominal hardness of 400 HBW. The another advantage with Hardox 400 is self-service kiosks and unattended
company was so pleased with the wear that its protective coating allows long- payment solutions.
plate’s performance that it began using term outdoor storage with no corrosion.
Hardox 400 for all of its bottom plates, Furthermore, when plasma-cutting
and now orders custom sizes from SSAB. Hardox, the volume of slag produced
“KFK uses Hardox 400 to produce is considerably less compared to other
parts for construction equipment construction steel grades.•

     22 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 SSAB Inside

Mentorship program
builds leadership
For the second consecutive year, SSAB is running an executive mentorship
program for women. The program is part of SSAB’s long-term objective to
increase the number of female leaders in the company. by ISABELLE KLIGER

THE STEEL INDUSTRY is traditionally more responsive to customer needs,” target – to have women in 30 percent of
male-dominated, and with only says Martin Lindqvist, SSAB’s President the company’s top management posi-
17 percent of com- and CEO. “The tions by the end of 2019.
pany’s employees competition for To accelerate this process, a high-
being female, highlyskilled talent level, in-house female mentoring pro-
SSAB is no excep- is tough and we gram launched in 2016 and was repeated
tion. As a knowl- need to attract, in 2017. The program includes leadership
edge company, recruit and retain development and networking activities. 
SSAB’s success employees who “This is one of several initiatives to
depends on the will contribute to strengthen our attractiveness as an
engagement of its our performance, employer,” says Maria Långberg, EVP
employees, and The objective is to increase the making diversity a and Head of HR and Sustainability.
diversity remains presence of female employees. strategic business “I see this program as a mutual learn-
one of the crucial decision.” ing experience for both mentors and
factors in this success. It has been SSAB’s objective to mentees, by challenging each other,
“We believe that improving gender increase the presence of female employ- exchanging experiences, broadening
balance will positively contribute to ees across the company, and in 2015 perspectives and building networks
our performance culture and make us the company introduced a new diversity across the organization.” •

Easier access to
digital handbooks
SSAB’s product handbooks are now
available online in PDF format. The new
digital handbooks are designed to be more
easily accessible to SSAB’s customers.
by ISABELLE KLIGER

SSAB’S DIGITAL HANDBOOKS are library of many engineers. They can be downloaded at ssab.

PDF versions of previously printed The handbooks, which are primarily com/support/handbooks.
handbooks. The guides are continuous- intended for structural designers, welding Users can also link to the handbooks
ly updated as new steel grades, knowl- engineers and production engineers, but directly from the web or from social
edge and standards are developed. also for development and purchasing media sites. •
Today, they are a part of the standard functions, are now easier to access.

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 23

SSAB Inside

SSAB expands in North Africa

SSAB has opened an office in Egypt and intends to open another in Algeria,
both with great potential for new business opportunities. by ISABELLE KLIGER
ONE OF SSAB’S OBJECTIVES as the
company pursues global leadership in
SSAB representatives together with targeted steel segments is to increase
attendees at a mining seminar in Ghana. company focus on emerging markets.
One of the most important customer “North Africa is a very interesting
segments in Africa is the mining sector. market area for SSAB for several rea-
sons,” says Carl Robert Borgenstierna,
Area Sales Manager of SSAB Special
Steels for North, West and Central
Africa. “One is the huge potential for
upgrading. In many countries in the
region, with the exception of Morocco
and Tunisia, there are no tipper or
trailer manufacturers currently using
high-strength steels. Secondly, Africa is
a huge continent and developing quite
fast, so it offers growth possibilities. We
just can’t afford to miss out on these
opportunities.”
Progress so far in Egypt has been
positive. SSAB also plans to look at
Western and Central Africa for longer-
term growth plans.•

SSAB EcoUpgraded app

calculates savings for customers
The SSAB EcoUpgraded program is designed for customers who want to
upgrade their products using high-strength steel. SSAB has created a new app
that makes it possible to quickly and easily to calculate the savings you can
achieve with SSAB EcoUpgraded.  by ISABELLE KLIGER
A MACHINE made from high-strength are larger than the CO2 emissions from the difference in fuel consumption and
steel weighs less, consumes less fuel and the production of the upgraded part – CO2 emissions.
can carry a heavier load. When resulting in net CO2 savings. “We’ve experienced huge interest
an application is labeled as SSAB SSAB’s salespeople can in the SSAB EcoUpgraded program,
EcoUpgraded, it means that it will now use the “EcoUpgraded so we needed a simple tool to enable
emit less CO2  both in production Calculator” to demonstrate our salespeople to demonstrate the
and during its lifespan. The total the potential benefits of benefits,” says Thomas Hörnfeldt,
CO2  saving is the result of the eco-upgrading. This new tool SSAB’s Vice President Sustainability
combination of improved material compares the weight of an and Public Affairs.
efficiency and transport efficiency. For an application made of regular steel and one The SSAB EcoUpgraded calculator
SSAB EcoUpgraded machine, the savings made of high-strength steel to calculate is available worldwide. •

     24 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 SSAB Inside

Weusthagpark Watchtower,
The Netherlands.

Aesthetic architecture
GreenCoat and SSAB Weathering can both be used as cladding for façades to
cover all or parts of buildings. GreenCoat, currently the greenest color-coated
steel on the market, can be found in award-winning architecture and is also
made for roofs, rainwater systems and indoor solutions. SSAB Weathering is
often used in art installations due to its unique look. by ISABELLE KLIGER
GREENCOAT is a comprehensive range before use. Instead, it develops a patina, weight and resistance to aggressive UV
of color-coated steel products for the a kind of hard surface that serves as a influences, as well as its environmental
building industry. One major benefit is protective coating and prevents rust. The advantages.
the pioneering Bio-based Technology surface does not need to be painted at An example of  the versatile use
(BT) coating found on most GreenCoat all, but if it is, it will withstand scratches of SSAB Weathering in architecture,
products – a patented solution that and other wear due to the patina that is Weusthagpark Watchtower  in The
uses Swedish rapeseed oil instead of forms as soon as the surface is open Netherlands.
traditional fossil oils. The result is a high- to wet or dry cycles. SSAB Weathering Ever since a new highway split the
quality, sustainable coating that resists comes in different strengths, creating Weusthag natural park in Hengelo in two,
corrosion, UV radiation and scratches, a variety of different opportunities for architects had been looking for a way to
and is hand-formable down to -15°C. The architects. create a visual connection between the
GreenCoat portfolio includes a wide vari- However, the principal benefit is the two halves. The solution needed to melt
ety of products and a seemingly endless patina and the opportunity to save time, into the surroundings and have both a
range of colors. money and the environment by painting cultural and recreational function.
SSAB Weathering offers significant less, or not at all. The winning project, designed by a
architectural benefits as the surface Club-Hotel Riu Helios Paradise in local architect and a steel construction
does not require any anti-rust treatment Bulgaria is an example of how GreenCoat company, is a 22-meter-high watchtower
combines aesthetics and functionality made from COR-TEN  weathering steel.
in architecture. To convey elegance and The shell is made from thin steel sheets,
luxury, the architects designed a series with leaf-shaped perforations and peep-
of ambitious curved and dome-shaped holes to create transparency.
roofs, but needed a suitable roofing A special technique was used to double-
material that could easily be formed and fold the material to improve stiffness and
would retain its color and appearance provide a more artistic appearance. The
over time. GreenCoat PLX Pro BT, a top- tower is popular with photographers and
class metal roofer product, was chosen visitors who enjoy the climb to the top
Club-Hotel Riu Helios due to its formability, durability, low and the astonishing views. •
Paradise, Bulgaria.

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 25

SSAB Inside Technology expert Tommi Liimatainen and
project manager Kati Rytinki proudly demon-
strate one of the SSAB M43 test pieces.
Examination after shearing, flame cutting,
punching and quenching in water confirms the
performance of this revolutionary material.

Innovation
in response
to customer
demand
When SSAB invests in
Research & Development,
it does so in response to
customer demand. The new
SSAB M43 steel grade for
quench and press hardening,
developed for the agricultural
equipment segment, is just
one example. by ISABELLE KLIGER
SSAB DEVELOPS PRODUCTS that better toughness and cost efficiency. ● ABOUT SSAB M43
meet the needs of its customers. In order SSAB M43 was developed in col-
to develop products successfully, it is laboration with 17 customers who re- SSAB M43 offers outstanding
necessary to thoroughly understand ceived trial material, along with SSAB’s workshop properties and excellent
customers’ demands. That’s why SSAB recommendations for heat-treatment. performance during heat treatment.
often invites customers to actively par- In exchange, SSAB’s laboratory re- It’s suitable for plain water quench-
ticipate in development projects. ceived samples of customer products ing as well as water/polymer and oil
The new SSAB M43 steel grade was for investigation. This enabled SSAB quenching, creating a wide variety
developed in response to a specific de- to gather knowledge, enabling the of processing possibilities to obtain
mand from the agricultural equipment- company to support customers with desired hardness and toughness.
manufacturing segment. Customers process parameters and suggestions.
wanted an alternative to higher-alloyed SSAB M43 is currently available for
steels while offering the same hardness, trial orders. •

Centenary donations
SSAB is celebrating the centenary of Finland’s independence by
donating 25,000 euro to organizations working to benefit children.
DURING THE EARLY summer, every final local beneficiaries by voting for Taina Kyllönen, SSAB’s Head of Group
SSAB, Ruukki Construction or Tibnor the causes they wanted the company to Communications.
employee in Finland had a chance to support. The company is also encouraging
suggest any suitable causes working “We wanted to highlight suggestions its employees to take part in voluntary
to benefit children and young people. that bring joy, support and wellbeing work in the charities that received most
The personnel at each site chose the to those particularly in need,” says votes. •

     26 SSAB WORLD # 2/ 2017

 QUALITY AND TRUST
• The Hardox In My Body trademark represents a first-class
product that delivers superior resistance to wear, dents and
cracks even under the harshest conditions.
• Hardox In My Body manufacturers benefit from priority
access to SSAB’s latest expertise.

TOUGH AND
INNOVATIVE
– HOW SINOTRUK
STAYS STRONG
As the subsidiary of the third-largest
manufacturer of heavy duty trucks
in China, Sinotruk Qingdao credits
its success to innovation and
uncompromising dedication to
quality. by SARAH MILLER photo: SINOTRUK

BASED IN Qingdao City, China, bring more strength and weather resis- weight, low fuel consumption, great wear
Sinotruk Qingdao manufactures dump tance to its tippers and semi-trailers. resistance and overall attractiveness –
trucks, mixers, garbage trucks, armored In 2013, the company began using thanks to its design made from Hardox
cars, semi-trailers and hydraulic com- Hardox 450 for all of its mining trucks. wear plate. “We believe in Hardox plate,
ponents. Sinotruk vehicles are used in “We found that Hardox 450 really and in the Hardox in My Body program,”
many industries, including construction, increased the reliability of products, says Cheng. •
transportation, sanitary, airport, mining extended their lifetime and enhanced
and steel production. Founded in 1954, their competitiveness in the market,”
Sinotruk Qingdao’s international clients says Cheng. ● ABOUT SINOTRUK
count on it for high-quality equipment In 2016, with support from SSAB
CEO: Wang Yingbo
that’s durable and long-lasting, and China, Sinotruk Qingdao was approved
Company founded: 1954
incorporating SSAB’s steel has allowed as a member of SSAB’s Hardox in
Number of employees: 1,500
for even more intelligent technology for My Body program. “This partnership
Location: Qingdao City, Shandong
ease of use, greater profitability and means that in addition to the benefits
Province, China
conservation of resources. provided by using Hardox 450, we
Main products: As the subsidiary
“We recently perfected our U- also got a lot of support from SSAB’s
of the third-largest manufacturer of
shaped tippers using SSAB’s steel experts concerning structural applica-
heavy-duty trucks in China, Sinotruk
materials and its technical support,” tions, material welding and forming,”
Qingdao mainly manufacturers more
says Cheng Xiaodong, deputy director Cheng says.
than 300 types of heavy-duty trucks,
of Sinotruk Qingdao’s technical center. Sinotruk Qingdao exhibited prod-
special vehicles and excavators, and
“We expect to make more lightweight ucts featuring SSAB’s Hardox 450 at
more than 50 types of key compo-
trucks together with SSAB, and to grow the 122nd Canton Fair, Asia’s biggest
nents such as the hydraulic lifting
and innovate like never before.” commercial goods exposition. Fair
system of heavy-duty trucks.
Sinotruk Qingdao started using attendees admired Sinotruk’s HOWO
SSAB’s Domex 700 steel in 2002 to lightweight 6x4 dump truck for its light

# 2/ 2017 SSAB WORLD 27

INTRODUCING THE
NEW GENERATION
HARDOX WEAR PLATE
®

Hardox® 500 Tuf wear plate is the latest upgrade in the Typical working conditions include loading and unloading
Hardox® range. Hardox® 500 Tuf combines the best of heavy and sharp rocks in quarries and mines, handling
properties from Hardox® 450 and Hardox® 500. The result large and heavy steel scrap, and in demolition when pieces
is a wear plate with no real competition on the market. of concrete with rebar are loaded or dropped into dumpers.
Hardox® 500 Tuf delivers extreme hardness and
guaranteed toughness in one and the same wear plate. Hardox® 500 Tuf. It’s new, it’s here, it’s ready for wear!

hardox.com