The Swedish Steel Prize will soon be awarded for the 15th consecutive year. Four finalists have been nominated for the award for the best design in high strength steel.

Since start up in 1999, the Swedish Steel Prize has been annually awarded to the most innovative design made in high strength steel. The purpose of the award is to inspire and spread knowledge about high strength steel and how this can be used to develop lighter, safer and more environmentally friendly products.

‘The quality of entries received is higher than ever,’ said Melker Jernberg, chairman of the jury and head of SSAB EMEA. ‘The prize makes a tangible contribution to an increasing number of companies around the world developing new, innovative products that can do more, function better, weigh less and possess better environmental properties.

Condeco Technologies AG / Toolox cooking ware  (Switzerland)
Condeco has developed a new production method for cooking pans, significantly improving cooking performance and reducing manufacturing time. By using Toolox for the bottom plate and laser welding, instead of brazing the stainless steel sheets, the excellent form stability of Toolox at elevated temperature can be fully utilized to give considerable energy savings.

Mack Trucks Inc. – part of Volvo Group / heavy truck suspension  (USA)
Mack Trucks Inc. – part of Volvo Group has developed a completely new wheel suspension where conventional leaf springs are replaced with two Y-shaped components and advanced high strength steel is skilfully utilized. This results in improved vehicle performance, such as driver comfort, roll stability, reduced braking distance and bogie weight. Tire wear is considerably reduced, which leads to major improvements in transport economy and environmental performance.

PESA Bydgoszcz S.A. / passenger DMU railway vehicle (Poland)
By using advanced high strength steel, PESA has developed a new rail car body. The train is the only diesel multiple unit passenger train on the market that meets all four crash scenarios according to the new European standard. The design concept, using high strength steel, significantly increases the energy absorbed in a collision.

Tuff Trailers Pty Ltd / drop deck widener “Load´n Lift” trailer  (Australia)
Tuff Trailers Pty Ltd´s new trailer is an innovative design for transport of heavy machinery. High strength steel combined with closed frame profiles results in a flexible, safer, lighter and more efficient vehicle. Production cost is lower due to less welding. Fuel consumption is considerably reduced thanks to better aerodynamics of the retractable trail lift.

The Swedish Steel Prize is to be awarded on November 20:th at Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre. The winner receives a grant of SEK 100 000 and a statuette by Jörg Jeschke. Prize giving is included in a three day event in Sweden, where some 600 representatives from the industry participate in seminars and mill visits at SSAB.

SSAB is a global leader in value added, high strength steel. SSAB offers products developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world.SSAB has employees in over 45 countries and operates production facilities in Sweden and the US. SSAB is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange, Stockholm. www.ssab.com