Research and development
No aspect of our work is more important in meeting the challenges of tomorrow. Demands on stainless steel products are set to increase as environmental protection requirements continually gain importance. We at ThyssenKrupp Nirosta mean to keep pace with these developments. Working closely with our customers, we will seek out innovative new ways to enhance the performance of our materials and optimize their use for our customers.
Take process technology: At our plant in Krefeld we are currently developing the world´s first stainless steel strip caster for industrial use. This technology makes it possible to cast strip straight from molten steel which can thus be directly processed in the cold-rolling mill. The high energy requirements for slab reheating and hot-rolling are removed. As if this weren´t enough, the new technology allows us to produce stainless steel alloys previously impossible to manufacture.
Take application technology: Our own findings on processing and component behavior deliver strong impetus for further research and development projects. In this way we open up new perspectives for modern technologies such as hydroforming, adhesive bonding and clinching.
Take materials: The development of the NIROSTAŽ H-series adds a whole new dimension to automotive construction. After three years of research, high-strength austenitic steels, which are alloyed mainly with chromium and manganese, were developed to market maturity. These materials offer a far better blend of strength and formability than other metallic materials used in automotive construction. Consequently, the NIROSTAŽ H-series is particularly suitable for crash-relevant components and for applications calling for high fatigue strength, corrosion resistance and complex shapes.
However, the further development of products and processes only makes sense in a market context. For this reason we attach great importance to working closely with our customers and suppliers, external research institutes and universities.
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