According to AK Steel, the settlement allows it to produce – and more importantly, its customers to stamp – its aluminized boron press-hardenable steel, Ultralume PHS.  

AK Steel said that as part of the agreement, it will produce the steel under license from ArcelorMittal, allowing it to sell the product for processing by way of ArcelorMittal’s licensed patents for the press-hardening of parts made of its own aluminized boron high-strength steel, Usibor. 

“AK Steel will be the sole licensee, along with subsidiaries of ArcelorMittal, permitted to produce aluminized boron press-hardenable steel in the United States, Canada or Mexico able to be processed as per licensed ArcelorMittal’s patent about its USIBOR® part processing technology,” ArcelorMittal said. 

AK Steel said that with the dispute now resolved, it expects to significantly expand its sales of the product.