Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks Appoints New Program Manager
01/04/2013 - The Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks (SASFT), together with the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, recently announced the appointment of Richard J. Cover as program manager.
The Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks (SASFT), together with the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, recently announced the appointment of Richard J. Cover as program manager. In this position, Cover will be responsible for managing SASFT’s technical and market development initiatives, and leading technology transfer of steel fuel tank design and benefits with automakers, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, universities and other strategic groups. Cover replaces Dr. Peter Mould, who retired in July 2012 after heading the group for more than 10 years.
“With more than 30 years of experience, Rich brings a wealth of knowledge in the steel and automotive industries to SASFT,” Ron Krupitzer, vice president, automotive market, SMDI, said. “We’re confident that his background in the communications, technical and commercial sides of the industry contains the experience needed to help make steel the preferred material in fuel tanks.”
In addition to his position with SASFT, Cover serves as president of Richard J. Cover & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm in Rochester, Mich. The consulting firm specializes in metals and materials engineering, training in quality performance management, surface quality monitoring, metallurgy and welding, strategic planning, investment analysis, market research and global purchasing.
Prior to this, Cover worked for General Motors Company from 2002 to 2009 as global commodity manager of steel and as manager of steel quality, where he led a team of engineers and was responsible for steel quality in metal fabricating plants and suppliers. Earlier, he held various positions of increasing responsibility for more than 20 years with LTV Steel, an integrated steel producer.
Cover earned Master of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.
According to Krupitzer, “Peter was instrumental in directing a number of crucial SASFT projects, including developing a toolkit that will help automakers in applying preferred steel grades and optimized design methods to future steel fuel tanks. We wish him the best.”
The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction and container markets, as well as for new growth opportunities in emerging steel markets.
The Strategic Alliance for Fuel Tanks (SASFT) is an international alliance of companies specializing in the various areas of fuel tank production possessing a common interest in the development, optimization and application of steel fuel tanks for automobiles. SASFT brings together the diverse business disciplines involved in designing, manufacturing and supplying steel fuel tanks in the automotive market.
Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks Members:
• Aethra Sistemas Automotivos S.A.
• AK Steel Corporation
• Allgaier Automotive, GmbH
• ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• ArcelorMittal USA LLC
• Dong Hee Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Henkel Corporation
• JFE Steel
• Nippon and Sumitomo Metal Corporation
• Nisshin Steel
• North American Stainless
• Nucor Corporation
• POSCO
• Soutec
• Severstal North America Inc.
• Spectra Premium Industries
• Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
• ThyssenKrupp Steel USA LLC
• Unipart Eberspacher
• United States Steel Corporation
