Shape Corp. wins Swedish Steel Prize 2019

Shape Corp., based in Grand Haven, Mich., has been named by SSAB as the winner of the 20th international Swedish Steel Prize. The award recognizes the company’s groundbreaking use of martensitic steel in a 3D-formed tube for automotive roof rail applications.

“With great skill, Shape Corp. has shown the way forward and has succeeded in efficiently utilizing a modern material with the highest possible strength level. This shows a major opportunity in challenging other lightweight materials with a steel solution that allows for circular material flows,” says Eva Petursson, chair of the Swedish Steel Prize jury and head of SSAB’s research and innovation.

Shape Corp.’s used 3D forming to shape SSAB Docol® 1700M martensitic steel into lightweight A-pillar and roof rail tubes with a minimal profile size. The A-pillars have an improved strength-to-weight ratio of more than 50 percent, which has led to an overall mass reduction of 2.8 to 4.5 kg per vehicle. The components will soon be implemented in a number of Ford vehicles, including the 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Ford Escape.