Systematic research and development
Successful materials development requires the creativity of materials specialists in combination with highly developed analysis capabilities. It is based on advanced investigation methods and the excellent specialist knowledge of these experts.
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG's Research and Development department unites these disciplines and thus ensures both the continual optimization of existing products and the creation of new steels in line with market needs.
Customer requirements define development goals.
ThyssenKrupp's materials developers are always a step ahead of their time. The aim is to identify future customer needs today and expand the product range in an innovative way. Constant further development is the basis for continued market success.
Development work encompasses all stages of steel manufacture up to surface coating. Computer simulation of material properties with modern laboratory equipment has become an indispensable part of the development of new products.
Specialized materials analysis capabilities support the development of innovative steel materials.
The Research and Development department brings together the expertise of all the scientific and engineering disciplines needed to provide exact material characterization.
This ensures that every phase of the development of innovative steel materials is supported by competent experts with new ideas.
The methods used range from metallurgical characterization to chemical analysis to highly specialized physical measuring methods for the investigation of substrates and coatings.
In-process inspections guarantee consistent quality.
Highly developed process technology is key to the reliable production of top-quality products. One major task of the Center of Materials Excellence is to make available, and continuously advance, the expertise necessary for production technology, numerical process simulation and continuous steel analysis. In-process inspections carried out in highly automated laboratories ensure consistent product quality.
Research networks: Focusing interdisciplinary strengths
Partnerships with universities and external research institutes such as the Fraunhofer and Max Planck Societies are an integral part of ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe's research and development work. The latest example of a long-term strategic partnership is the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Materials Simulation (ICAMS) at the Ruhr University Bochum.
The institute has been set up as a public-private partnership funded by an industrial consortium and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. ThyssenKrupp is the lead industrial partner.
Advanced materials simulation is a new key technology in materials development. ICAMS models and simulates new materials on the computer. All the dimensions relevant for materials – from atomic structure to microstructure to macroscopic properties – are included in the simulation. In cooperation with the ICAMS researchers, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe will be able to bring even better materials to the market even faster in the future and meet customer requirements even more precisely.
Thinking the future of steel – in everything we do.