KIRCHHOFF Automotive, based in South Westphalia, Germany, produces steel as the main component of cold-formed car body parts. The manufacturer is intensifying its cooperation with SSAB on the way to a green future of safety-relevant structural components for the international automotive industry. This will enable Kirchhoff Automotive to reduce its CO2 footprint in car body manufacturing by 40%. SSAB Fossil-free SteelTM is a steel developed by SSAB - Kirchhoff Automotive's raw material supplier.
"Kirchhoff Automotive takes the reduction of CO2 emissions very seriously. The partnership with SSAB will enable us to further accelerate our efforts to bring CO2-reduced solutions to our customers and onto the road. In addition, it will help to achieve Kirchhoff Automotive's sustainability goals," explains Michael Rank, Global Executive Vice President Procurement, Kirchhoff Automotive.
Kirchhoff Automotive's crash boxes, beams and end plates are manufactured using the cold forming process, with the individual parts weighing between 300 grams and 1.3 kg. By using SSAB Fossil-free SteelTM, Kirchhoff Automotive saves almost 40% in emissions when producing a front bumper.
"At SSAB, we are striving for a close partnership with Kirchhoff Automotive to jointly take a leading role in the development and use of CO2-reduced or CO2-free steel grades in the automotive sector in the coming years," said Roman Kaiser, Sales Director, SSAB Europe.
SSAB uses direct-reduced iron (DRI) in the production of its Fossil-free SteelTM, which is produced without the use of fossil energy, but with biogas and fossil-free electricity. According to the manufacturer, the quality and properties of this material are as good as its conventionally produced steel. SSAB was named Supplier of the Year 2023 by Kirchhoff Automotive in the raw material category. This is the third time SSAB has received this award.
