South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group announced that its subsidiary Hyundai Steel has begun mass production of low-carbon steel sheets that cut emissions by about 20 percent compared with conventional blast furnaces, as the company moves to expand its portfolio of low-carbon materials.
According to the group, the milestone was achieved using a hybrid production method that combines molten iron from both electric arc furnace (EAF) and from a blast furnace. The company said this is the first time such a composite process has been deployed on an industrial scale to produce low-carbon steel sheets.
Testing completed and certifications secured
Preparations for the new production route began in April 2023 when Hyundai Steel began testing reduced carbon steel sheets at its Dangjin steel plant using an existing electric arc furnace. Testing focused on process stability, productivity and product quality.
After customer evaluation and grade approval processes, the company received certification for 25 steel grades, including two low-carbon steel grades that are currently in mass production. Hyundai Steel plans to expand the certification to 53 brands, adding 28 more within a year.
Automotive sector will be the first major application
The launch of a mass production system is closely linked to the decarbonization strategies of automakers within the group. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia
