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Sept. 5, 2012
Fuel Economy Standards to Double by 2025
The Obama administration has released its final ruling on fuel efficiency standards for American automobiles and light trucks through 2025. The new regulations require automobiles to get up to 54.5 miles per gallon by the target date, almost double the miles per gallon required under the current standards. These new regulations will undoubtedly reignite the battle for market share between the manufacturers of steel and aluminum.
The move toward vehicle lightweighting has allowed aluminum to grow its share of automobile production annually. Steel has responded with the development of lighter high-strength steels to protect its position as the dominant material.
“The most recent set of regulations provides aggressive goals that will stretch technology to meet these tough new standards and demand long-term commitment from automotive manufacturers and their suppliers,” says Lawrence K. Kavanagh, president of the Steel Market Development Institute. “The steel industry has continually invested in new technologies for future-generation steels and has developed new advanced steel grades that enable car companies to reduce mass, improve fuel economy, reduce total emissions and continue to provide affordable safe vehicles.”
SMDI’s FutureSteelVehicle program is the most recent addition to the global steel industry’s series of lightweighting initiatives, offering steel solutions to automakers around the world. The program developed steel body structure designs that reduce mass by more than 35 percent and total life cycle emissions by nearly 70 percent, while still meeting a broad list of global crash and durability requirements, the group claims.
SMDI is a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute. The Aluminum Association has a similar group, Aluminum in Automotive, promoting greater use of that lightweight material in production of automobiles, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Aluminum usage currently represents about 8.6 percent of the curb weight in North American vehicles. Various studies project aluminum’s growth will eventually reach 400 pounds per vehicle, doubling its percentage.
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2012 Directory of Master Distributors
Not Published on This Web site
The Metal Center News Directory of Master Distributors—distributors who sell to other distributors—is an invaluable tool for service centers seeking new sources for special or hard-to-find products. Master distributors play an important role in the marketplace, giving service centers an alternative to buying in mill quantities and helping to remove redundant and excess inventories from the distribution channel.
Print copies are available for $85 U.S. for each copy. Download Order Form.
2013 Directory of Toll Processors
Not Published on This Web site
Metal Center News' annual toll processing directory is a simple-to-use resource to help companies locate service providers that can meet their specific processing needs.
Print copies are available for $85 U.S. for each copy. Download Order Form.
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