HYUNDAI-STEEL

The era of carbon neutrality

To mitigate risks from climate change such as global warming and rising sea levels, the world declared carbon neutrality through the Paris Agreement in 2015. And recently countries, particularly in Europe and the United States, have proposed policies such as carbon border taxes and clean competition act.

South Korea has established a carbon neutrality national strategy to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% compared to 2018 levels by 2030 and is planning to promote the purchase of 4.5 million electric and hydrogen vehicles by 2030.

Establishing a Production System Based on Hydrogen-Reduced Ironmaking and Next-Generation Electric Arc Furnace

Hyundai Steel R&D Center has established a two-route strategy to achieve its carbon reduction goals: ① developing low-carbon process technologies and ② reducing the carbon footprint of products. The R&D Center is actively developing core technologies to establish a production system for low-carbon premium products based on hydrogen-reduced ironmaking and next-generation electric arc furnace.

Discover Hyundai Steel’s innovative technologies
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Carbon Neutrality

Advancing product production using the Electric Arc Furnace–Blast Furnace Hybrid Process

The Electric Arc Furnace–Blast Furnace Hybrid Process serves as a preliminary stage for next-generation electric arc furnace-based production. This process mixes molten iron produced from both electric arc furnaces and blast furnaces, significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to conventional blast furnace methods. Hyundai Steel R&D Center is taking the lead in pilot production using the hybrid process for a variety of products traditionally manufactured through the blast furnace method. Products produced via this hybrid process undergo comprehensive evaluations, including basic material properties (chemical composition, tensile/bending tests), application properties (formability, weldability, paintability), and final component performance assessments. Currently, the hybrid process has demonstrated equivalent quality and performance levels to conventional blast furnace products for several items, including automotive steel sheets and corrosion-resistant heavy plates. Moving forward, Hyundai Steel plans to continuously expand the coverage of low-carbon products through ongoing development efforts.

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  1.5GPa-Class Hot Stamping (SABC1470)

  Favorable results in weldability, durability, and hydrogen embrittlement evaluations
  Favorable results in crash simulation evaluations

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  High-formability outer panel material (SGACUD-E)

  Good formability (Limit Drawing Ratio (LDR), Forming Limit Curve (FLC), etc.)
  Favorable results in weldability and paintability evaluations, among others

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  780MPa-Class Hot-Rolled Ultra-High-Strength Steel (SPFH780-P)

  Favorable results in durability limit evaluations
  Favorable results in formability (Hole Expansion Ratio, HER) and laser
  welding evaluations, among others

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  1.2GPa-Class Cold-Rolled Ultra-High-Strength Steel (SP(GA)FC1180Y)

  Internal evaluations for formability and welding in progress

Development of low-carbon tire cord steel

Tire cord steel is composed of ultra-fine wires, and strict control of non-metallic inclusions within the steel is essential to refine wire rods and enhance tire quality. Steel with residual elements that could cause non-metallic inclusions controlled to the extreme is referred to as high-cleanliness steel, and it is typically produced using molten iron from blast furnaces. Hyundai Steel R&D Center is developing high-performance, high-cleanliness tire cord steel with reduced carbon emissions compared to conventional blast furnace products by utilizing the Electric Arc Furnace–Blast Furnace Hybrid Process.

Change in the mobility paradigm

The electrification of vehicles is the most critical trend in the rapidly changing automotive industry. If the current challenges facing the electric vehicle industry, such as bridging the price gap with internal combustion engine vehicles, battery technology, and charging infrastructure issues, are resolved, the growth of the electric vehicle market will accelerate significantly.

The advancement of autonomous driving technology is accelerating the emergence of new mobility solutions that have not been experienced before. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) based on self-driving technology is set to greatly change human life, and numerous demonstration flights and practical projects are currently underway. Hyundai Motor Group is showcasing the PBV concept that can be used as hubs and docking stations, connecting AAM with ground mobility and offering various services to present a new mobility lifestyle

Execution of the group’s future mobility strategy

Hyundai Steel R&D Center is responding to the evolving mobility industry and implementing the group’s future mobility strategy by developing key materials for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, such as magnetic powders for drive motors and separator plates, as well as conducting research on the componentization of PBV and AAM bodies.

Drive Train

Drive Train

Metal separator plates
Electrolysis separator plates

Body

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  High-Performance Steel Materials

  Customized steel component for next-
  generation mobility (PBV, seats)

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  CFRP/GFRP

  High-Speed Manufacturing Technology for
  AAM and Aircraft components

Shifting demand industries

Steel is a material widely used across various industries, including automotive, energy, shipbuilding, and construction.

In light of the recent global emphasis on sustainability, the harshening of energy extraction environments, and the trend toward super-tall buildings, the steel industry faces the challenge of meeting the diverse needs of its demand industries.

Building a premium steel portfolio

Hyundai Steel R&D Center is committed to proactively responding to industry changes by focusing on the development of new steel grades and technologies. The R&D Center aims to establish a comprehensive product portfolio that meets the diverse needs of its customers with exceptional quality and precision.

Key achievements

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  1.8 GPa-Class ultra-high strength hot stamping steel

  The 1.8GPa ultra-high strength hot stamping steel is a premium product developed and mass-produced for the first time in the world by Hyundai Steel. Moving beyond the conventional hot stamping process of heating steel to over 900℃ and rapidly cooling it in a mold, Hyundai Steel developed a specialized process that lowers the heating furnace temperature by over 50℃ and applied it to component production. This product, used in the center pillar as automotive crash components, achieves a 20% improvement in tensile strength compared to conventional 1.5GPa hot stamping steel and allows for approximately 10% weight reduction during part manufacturing.

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  Premium 1.5GPa MS Steel Sheet for Eco-Friendly Vehicles

  The 1.5GPa GA-coated MS steel sheet is a premium product that addresses flatness issues caused by rapid cooling and cracking issues due to hydrogen penetration. By optimizing alloy composition during the raw material production stage and applying a heat treatment process that replaces traditional rapid cooling, the product achieves flatness of 3mm or less and enhanced crack resistance. Using this technology, Hyundai Steel became the first in the world to develop a 1.5GPa MS steel sheet with GA (galvannealed) coating. This product combines high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, making it ideal for use in side sills and other parts of the lower body of vehicles.

Data-driven manufacturing process advancement

In the past, steel manufacturing processes were primarily operated based on experience and expertise. However, in recent years, steel companies have been actively adopting cutting-edge technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence (AI).

Through a big data platform, each data is connected to provide information needed for decision making. By integrating AI with this big data, steel manufacturing processes can be further advanced and optimized.

Enhancing steel manufacturing competitiveness through digital transformation

Hyundai Steel R&D Center has established and is implementing a roadmap for smart factory development across all its facilities. The R&D Center also focuses on creating programs to enhance the digital capabilities of its employees. By realizing and expanding smart factory outcomes, Hyundai Steel aims to maximize the benefits of smart factory implementation and contribute to strengthening the core manufacturing competitiveness of the steel industry.

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  Infrastructure
  development

  Big data platform
  Product development system
  Supercomputing

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  Process and
  workflow optimization

  Optimization of operations and
  scheduling
  Process improvements utilizing
  artificial intelligence

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  Future technologies

  Automation with robotics
  Computational material analysis