Cleveland-Cliffs breakthrough stamped steel replaces aluminum in car production

Cleveland, OH – Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has successfully completed a production trial in collaboration with a major automotive OEM, in which Cleveland-Cliffs’ exposed steel parts were stamped with no defects using the OEM’s existing aluminum-forming equipment. The trial marks a significant milestone in demonstrating that Cliffs steel can effectively replace aluminum in critical automotive applications without the need for costly retooling. This accomplishment is a major breakthrough in the wake of recent major disruptions, presumably long-lasting, in the aluminum supply chain.

This achievement was made possible through Cliffs’ industry-leading technical service and application engineering teams, who worked directly with the OEM’s production and tooling specialists to fine-tune the material design and forming parameters. The result was a smooth transition from aluminum to steel, with no changes required to the stamping line.

As of now, Cleveland-Cliffs has already moved from the trial phase to routine production and delivery of regular orders to the client. Cliffs has also received inquiries from other clients for programs that will replace aluminum with Cliffs steel, underscoring the growing confidence among automotive OEM’s in domestic steel and Cliffs’ supply reliability.