LIVONIA, MI., May 17, 2017 -- The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), honored the Volvo Car Corporation body structure team with its Automotive Excellence Award for its advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) innovations in the 2016 Volvo XC90. The award was presented today at the 16th annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar in Livonia, Mich.

Henric Lindberg, system attribute leader – body structure at Volvo, received the award for his GDIS 2016 presentation, “Advanced High-Strength Steel Technologies in the 2016 Volvo XC90.”

Volvo created a new generation architecture for the XC90, the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which achieved a stiffer, stronger, larger and lighter body structure to optimize driving performance through extensive use of AHSS. This achievement earned the vehicle a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2015 as well as North American Truck of the Year in 2016.

“Our award winners exhibit outstanding innovation with steel in automotive design and manufacturing,” said Jody Hall, vice president of the automotive market, SMDI. “Volvo used steel in a way which will launch a new generation of applications of the material. Their new architecture exemplifies the use of the right material in the right application. By utilizing a steel-intensive structure, they were able to reduce mass without sacrificing strength and safety.”

The SMDI Automotive Excellence Award is presented each year at Great Designs in Steel. Individuals or teams from automakers, suppliers or the academic community who embrace innovation and make significant contributions to the advancement of steel in the automotive market are recognized for their innovation. Award winners are chosen from presenters at the previous year’s GDIS seminar. Candidates are rated in several categories, including: challenges and benefits associated with cost, mass reduction and performance; overall contribution to the advancement of steel; and implementation in production.

GDIS debuted in 2002 with 475 registrants and has continually grown in attendance and scope. In 2016, more than 1,350 North American vehicle manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, equipment suppliers, university representatives, steel company personnel and technical reporters attended the seminar. Founding members of the event include: AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal USA LLC and Nucor Corporation. GDIS 2017 featured welcoming remarks by ArcelorMittal Dofasco president and CEO, Sean Donnelly followed by a Q&A discussion moderated by Andrew Humphrey, host of Tech Time on WDIV Channel 4. Helping to support this year’s event are GDIS Gold Sponsors’ 

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.