COLUMBUS, Ohio - Worthington Steel, Inc. (NYSE:WS) has entered into a licensing agreement with ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT) Tailored Blanks to employ a patented ablation technology for producing hot formed tailored blanks. This move, announced today, marks the company's advancement in its North American operations, particularly at its Monroe, Michigan facility.
The technology in question is crucial for the welding of advanced high-strength steel, which is essential for the automotive industry due to its contribution to vehicle strength, crash performance, and weight reduction. The ablation process specifically targets the removal of aluminum silicon coating from the weld edge of a blank, a prerequisite for press hardening applications.
President and CEO of Worthington Steel, Geoff Gilmore, expressed enthusiasm about being one of only two companies in North America to offer this combination of ablation technology and hot formed tailored blanks. He highlighted the growth potential of this segment in the tailored blank market and its importance for automotive safety and efficiency.
TWB Company, a joint venture between Worthington Steel and BAOSteel, will oversee the installation of a fully automated ablation line at the Monroe facility, which spans 300,000 square feet and currently manufactures various types of tailored blanks and coils. The implementation of the new line is expected to take 12-15 months for OEM qualifications before full production commences.
TWB is recognized as a market leader in North America for tailor welded products, operating across multiple locations in the United States, Ontario, and Mexico. The company's expansion into ablation technology is part of its ongoing efforts to support customer needs in evolving market conditions.
This development is based on a press release statement from Worthington Steel, a company with a strong reputation in metals processing and a workforce of 4,600. The company operates 32 facilities across multiple countries, offering a range of value-added processing capabilities and striving for a sustainable future in steel processing.
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