AK Steel Begins Marketing New High-Strength Auto Steels
08/22/2016 - AK Steel Corp. is launching a new line of high-strength, lightweight steels intended to help automakers reduce the weight of their vehicles, the Ohio-based steelmaker announced on Monday.
Called NEXMET, the new family of steels was designed with structural and exterior body applications in mind, AK Steel said in a statement.
The company said the first NEXMET product being introduced to the market is its so-called NEXMET 440EX, which is designed for exposed surfaces. It combines high yield and tensile strengths and thinner gauges to help automakers build lighter vehicles, AK Steel said.
NEXMET 440EX is available now and is being qualified by automakers, who are looking at it as a material for lightweight, exposed body panels.
“We are excited about the opportunities NEXMET 440EX offers automotive designers in their efforts to lightweight vehicles,” said AK Steel chief executive Roger Newport in a statement. “This product is yet another important part of AK Steel’s strategy to offer innovative products for our customers.”
AK Steel said it plans to roll out next-generation, advanced high-strength steels, dubbed NEXMET 1000 and 1200, in early 2017, following completion of upgrades to the hot-dip galvanizing line at AK Steel’s Dearborn Works.
The company said NEXMET 1000 and 1200 will offer significantly improved ductility at tensile strengths of 1,000 and 1,200 megapascals.
The company said the first NEXMET product being introduced to the market is its so-called NEXMET 440EX, which is designed for exposed surfaces. It combines high yield and tensile strengths and thinner gauges to help automakers build lighter vehicles, AK Steel said.
NEXMET 440EX is available now and is being qualified by automakers, who are looking at it as a material for lightweight, exposed body panels.
“We are excited about the opportunities NEXMET 440EX offers automotive designers in their efforts to lightweight vehicles,” said AK Steel chief executive Roger Newport in a statement. “This product is yet another important part of AK Steel’s strategy to offer innovative products for our customers.”
AK Steel said it plans to roll out next-generation, advanced high-strength steels, dubbed NEXMET 1000 and 1200, in early 2017, following completion of upgrades to the hot-dip galvanizing line at AK Steel’s Dearborn Works.
The company said NEXMET 1000 and 1200 will offer significantly improved ductility at tensile strengths of 1,000 and 1,200 megapascals.
