Steel Markets
Award-Winning MSC Smart Steel Wins Over Ford
Written by Tim Triplett
April 12, 2019
Material Sciences Corporation was honored with a 2019 Automotive News PACE Award for its MSC Smart Steel®, a new multilayer steel laminate engineered as a direct substitute for low carbon stamped vehicle body parts.
Offering up to a 35 percent mass savings compared with same-thickness standard steel, MSC Smart Steel is produced as a coil, stamped in conventional dies, spot welded with existing equipment and processed through standard electro-coat and paint systems—essentially compatible with existing manufacturing systems. MSC claims it is the first ever spot-weldable, low-density composite laminate to be used in an automotive body application.
“We could not have earned this recognition without the vision and support of Ford Motor Company. After years of collaboration with MSC, Smart Steel will make its first appearance in the automotive industry as roof bows on the 2019 Lincoln Aviator,” said Matt Murphy, MSC vice president, Engineered Solutions. “This is a perfect example of how innovative designs and lightweight materials are playing a significant role in delivering competitive vehicles that do not compromise performance.”
Material Sciences Corporation earned the PACE Award following an extensive review by an independent panel of judges including a comprehensive written application and a site visit.
Headquartered in Canton, Mich., Material Sciences Corporation has operations in Elk Grove Village, Ill.; East Chicago, Ind.; Walbridge, Ohio; Canfield, Ohio; and Toronto, Ontario. The company provides advanced solutions in metal products and processing, including electrogalvanizing, continuous coil-coating, laminating, acoustic composites and supply chain management.
Tim Triplett
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