Sheet Steel Industry is Key Participant in DoD IMPACT Program
23 November 1999
Sheet Steel Industry is Key Participant in DoD IMPACT Program, Reports American Iron and Steel Institute
Program Will Contribute to Advancing Steel's
Lightweighting Technologies For Trucks
DETROIT, Nov. 22 -- American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
will contribute nearly $2.6 million in cash, in-kind services and materials to
IMPACT (Improved Materials & Powertrain Architectures for 21st Century
Trucks), a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)-sponsored program to develop
strategies for reducing weight, enhancing performance, improving mobility and
increasing fuel economy of tactical trucks for the U.S. Army.
IMPACT is part of the DoD's Dual Use Science and Technology (DUST) program
in which government, industry and academia leverage resources and gain
understanding from the development and optimization of technologies that have
potential applications in both military and commercial vehicles. Under AISI
auspices, member steel company engineers will work with Ford Motor Co.
engineers and representatives of the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments
Command's National Automotive Center. Other partners include Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Mississippi State University and the University of
Louisville.
"We are looking forward to contributing to the success of IMPACT," said
Darryl C. Martin, senior director, Automotive Applications, AISI. "We already
have shown how steel can significantly reduce weight and improve performance
without increasing cost through our various UltraLight Steel Auto Body (ULSAB)
initiatives. IMPACT gives us the chance to show what we can do with trucks."
Basic to the DoD DUST program is technology transfer, which has become an
increasingly cost-effective tool in the development of emerging technologies
that are critical to modernizing and supporting military vehicles. IMPACT
reflects the Army's recognition of the strength of partnering with commercial
industry leaders, such as AISI and Ford, in efforts to increase vehicle fuel
efficiency, performance and affordability.
Fuel economy and emissions compliance are the major driving forces behind
weight reduction efforts in military and commercial vehicles. Corrosion
resistance also is a key factor in the maintenance of these vehicles.
A current generation Ford F-150 truck is the IMPACT benchmark vehicle and
will serve as a "technology demonstrator" for the project. Ford stands to
gain from its involvement by increasing its understanding of how to build
lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicles and having access to technological
innovations stemming from the project.
The major enabling technologies that IMPACT will integrate into the
"technology demonstrator" F-150 include lightweight steel structures and
advanced processes, optimized design architecture, advanced engines and
corrosion protection strategies.
As it has in its ULSAB series, the steel industry will contribute cutting
edge materials, such as high and ultra high strength steels, and advanced
process technologies such as tailor welded blanks, laser welding and
hydroforming.
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) is a non-profit association
of North American companies engaged in the iron and steel industry. The
Institute is comprised 46 member companies, including integrated and electric
furnace steelmakers, and 175 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers
to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its
applications, view American Iron and Steel Institute's website at
http://www.steel.org .
The Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) is a subcommittee of the
Market Development Committee of AISI and focuses on advancing the use of steel
in the highly competitive automotive market. With offices and staff located
in Detroit, cooperation between the automobile and steel industries has been
significant to its success. This industry cooperation resulted in the
formation of the Auto/Steel Partnership, a consortium of DaimlerChrysler, Ford
and General Motors and the member companies of the AAC.
This release and other steel-related information are available for viewing
and downloading at American Iron and Steel Institute/Automotive Applications
Committee's website at http://www.autosteel.org .
Automotive Applications Committee member companies:
AK Steel Corporation
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Dofasco Inc.
Ispat Inland Steel Company
LTV Steel Company
National Steel Corporation
Rouge Steel Company
Stelco Inc.
US Steel Group, a unit of USX Corporation
WCI Steel, Inc.
Weirton Steel Corporation
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation