An innovative spring, an enhanced freight wagon, press-hardened components and lightweight logging vehicle are among the finalists for an international steel innovation award.
The Jury for the 2025 Swedish Steel prize has nominated four applications for the award that exemplify cutting edge technology and demonstrate the possibilities that the SSAB premium product range can offer.
The winner will be announced on May 8 at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
"We are delighted to have four impressive finalists for the Swedish Steel Prize. Each of them showcases innovative ways to leverage the unique properties of steel,” says Eva Petursson, Chair of the Swedish Steel Prize Jury and Head of Research and Innovation at SSAB.
The finalists are the Greenbrier companies for a new generation gondola rail car, a tailored steel spring from InfiniSpring, a low ground pressure tracked vehicle from Loglogic and a Volkswagen for its component property optimisation.
US manufacturer Greenbrier has been recognised for rethinking traditional design and contributing to cost efficiency and sustainability. It has developed a new generation gondola rail car that demonstrates enhanced performance throughout the logistics chain, reducing down time and improving cargo handling. Designed and built to meet the high demands of its segment, it achieves reduced weight and increased durability. The jury said that this is testament to how customer understanding and dedication can meet industry demands and shape the future.
Finnish company InfiniSpring has been recognised for an innovative mechanical steel spring design with integrated flexibility, shock absorption, and vibration isolation into steel plates. This solution eliminates the need for separate, externally sourced spring mounts, resulting in a more streamlined and sustainable solution. By tailoring geometry and material characteristics, this innovation presents a promising avenue for advancing durability and efficiency in industrial applications.
UK company Loglogic has developed a small, flexible, and versatile vehicle, with exceptionally low ground pressure, that is customized for efficient and gentle operations where traditional vehicles fall short. The lightweight yet robust tracked vehicle is easy to handle and transport, with low fuel consumption, minimized maintenance, and a long service life. This innovation makes a real difference for a more sustainable world. The vehicle has an ultralight-weight design, making wetlands and other sensitive terrains accessible.
Volkswagen is using innovative hot forming process introducing multi-phase design in press-hardened components. It has developed a manufacturing method that provides unique advantages in the design of car body structures for crash energy absorption and light weight. By processing one steel grade to a range of high strength and high ductility properties new levels of optimization of components can be achieved. This demonstrates a high level of material knowledge, importance of partnership and innovation as well as dedication to sustainability targets.
The Swedish Steel Prize celebrates engineering, cooperation, and steel innovations that lead to a better and more sustainable world. It inspires engineers, designers, and inventors to further explore the unlimited potential of steel.