The award was presented to Michigan-based Shape Corp. during an event Thursday in Stockholm.  

“With great skill, Shape Corp. has shown the way forward and has succeeded in efficiently utilizing a modern material with the highest possible strength level. This shows a major opportunity in challenging other lightweight materials with a steel solution that allows for circular material flows,” said Eva Petursson, chair of the Swedish Steel Prize jury and head of SSAB’s research and innovation.

Shape was recognized for pairing SSAB’s Docol® 1700, a cold forming martensitic steel, with 3-D roll forming technology to create lightweight solutions for A-pillars and roof rail tubes. By using 3-D roll forming, as opposed to hydroforming, the company is able to manufacture smaller component profiles, which in turn, offers better driver visibility, more interior space and better packaging of airbags, SSAB said.   

The 3-D formed A-pillars also have an improved strength to weight ratio of over 50%, which has led to an overall mass reduction of 2.8 to 4.5 kg per vehicle, SSAB said.