12th Annual Great Designs in Steel Seminar Demonstrates Steel’s Vital Role in the Automotive Industry

As automakers progress to the next generation of vehicles to meet increasingly stringent fuel economy regulations, the steel industry continues to develop new steel technologies to design the safe, affordable and sustainable vehicles the industry and consumers seek. To ensure a thorough understanding of these technologies, the Steel Market Development Institute hosted the 12th annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) Seminar Wednesday, May 1 at the Laurel Manor Conference Center in Livonia, Mich. 

The GDIS seminar brought together foremost automotive and steel industry leaders to discuss the latest automotive steel usage trends in this all-day, multi-track event. Engineering, design, technology, policy and academic leaders presented trends and solutions that offer the automotive industry a complete package of benefits: safety, lightweighting, affordability and sustainability. 

The technical program featured more than 35 presentations highlighting steel’s vital role in the automotive industry; such as, advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) technologies in various new vehicle platforms, advancements in the development of third-generation AHSS, steel designs to meet upcoming fuel and emissions requirements and steel’s unique advantages in automotive materials competition. To download the 2013 presentations, click here.

Numerous technologies and vehicle structures will be on display throughout the event, including the Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Escape, Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai HED-7, as well as steel wheels, bumpers and fuel tanks.

GDIS debuted in 2002 and has grown in attendance and scope. In 2013, more than 1,400 North American vehicle manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, equipment suppliers, university representatives, steel company personnel and technical reporters attended the seminar.