Metal Industry News

AK Steel Opens R&D Facility

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AK Steel has opened its Research and Innovation Center in Middletown, Ohio. The $36 million, 135,000-square-foot facility was built on 16 acres near the company’s Middletown Works and corporate headquarters.

"We are incredibly proud to open this state-of-the-art facility as part of our focus on driving leading-edge products and processes as an innovator in carbon, stainless and electrical steels," says Roger K. Newport, CEO of AK Steel. "This new Research and Innovation Center is an important part of our strategy to ensure we are well positioned to surpass the needs of our customers today and for the future."
Products being developed at the facility include next-generation advanced high-strength carbon and specialty steels to help automotive customers design lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles; electrical steels to enable the nation's electricity grid to become more energy-efficient and improve performance in motors for hybrid and electric vehicles; and new stainless steels that offer superior corrosion resistance for a wide variety of applications.
 
The Research and Innovation Center's laboratories and pilot steelmaking facilities include 17 prototype laboratories, 17 analytical laboratories and 22 collaborative spaces for employees, customers and suppliers.