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Steel Dynamics to Collaborate with Modumetal on Coating Technology
May 13, 2010 Steel Dynamics, Inc. has signed an agreement with Modumetal, Inc., Seattle, for the application and continued development of Modumetal’s ModuGalv™ coating technology for both long and sheet steel applications.
“We are impressed by the potential for Modumetal’s ModuGalv technology, not only because of the superior performance that it has demonstrated, but also because it could represent a sizeable cost savings for our galvanized steel customers”, said Dick Teets, Executive Vice President for Steelmaking of Steel Dynamics.
Coatings made with ModuGalv, a nano-laminated zinc coating system, have been shown to out-perform the corrosion protection of coatings made with standard hot-dip galvanizing by close to an order of magnitude. ModuGalv also achieves its corrosion and wear protection with a smaller volume of material, allowing the technology to provide superior performance at lower cost.
“With Steel Dynamics, we have a visionary partner that understands our technology and its broad industrial, commercial and military potential, and that has deep knowledge of efficient and cost effective scale-up.” said Modumetal CEO Christina Lomasney. “In addition to the manufacturing scale-up dimension of our collaboration, there is a very strong synergy between the inventive culture at Modumetal and that of Steel Dynamics, which has already proven success in pioneering the use of new technology in the steel industry.”
Modumetal was co-founded in 2007 in Seattle to realize the commercial potential of a patented class of nano-scale, layered materials. By leveraging phenomena that occur uniquely in nano-laminated materials, Modumetal produces cost-competitive products with superior structural, corrosion, electrical and high-temperature performance in an automated electrochemical production process.
Steel Dynamics, one of the largest steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States, was founded in 1993 and began production at its Butler, Ind., flat roll mill in 1996. The company operates five electric furnace minimills, over 70 metals recycling and processing locations, and three steel fabrication facilities, employing about 6000 individuals at the end of 2009.