Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has partnered with global steel producer SSAB to source fossil-free steel for manufacturing damping shims used in vehicle brake pads. This collaboration aligns with the growing demand for sustainable automotive components, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) market, where reducing carbon emissions is a top priority. The use of SSAB’s fossil-free steel will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Trelleborg’s shims, supporting both environmental goals and the company’s market-leading position.
Key Highlights
- Partnership between Trelleborg Sealing Solutions and SSAB for the supply of fossil-free steel.
- Damping shims play a crucial role in reducing brake noise and vibration, which is particularly important in electric vehicles.
- The fossil-free steel avoids the high carbon emissions typically associated with traditional steel production.
- Trelleborg’s commitment to sustainability aligns with automotive manufacturers’ increasing demand for eco-friendly components.
- SSAB’s fossil-free steel options include SSAB Zero® and SSAB Fossil-free™, both designed to minimize carbon dioxide emissions.
- SSAB Fossil-free™ steel uses innovative HYBRIT® technology that replaces carbon with hydrogen, producing water as the by-product instead of CO2.
Sustainable Materials in Automotive Manufacturing
This collaboration enables Trelleborg to use more sustainable materials in their production process. Fossil-free steel is manufactured using carbon-neutral methods, avoiding the heavy emissions associated with traditional blast furnaces. As electric vehicles (EVs) eliminate exhaust emissions, sustainable material sourcing is becoming a key factor in further reducing the overall carbon footprint of EV manufacturing.
The use of fossil-free steel in Trelleborg’s shims aligns with the automotive sector’s shift toward sustainable components. The materials used in EVs contribute significantly to their total emissions, making greener alternatives essential to the industry’s future.
Trelleborg’s Leadership in Noise and Vibration Control
Trelleborg has been a leading supplier of damping and sealing solutions to the automotive industry since 1988, working with the majority of the world’s top manufacturers. Their expertise in noise and vibration control is crucial for the quiet operation of EVs, where traditional sources of noise are absent. The use of fossil-free steel in their components represents a major step forward in reducing both their carbon footprint and that of their automotive partners.
Fossil-Free Steel: A Game Changer for the Industry
SSAB’s innovative steel options, SSAB Zero® and SSAB Fossil-free™, are designed to minimize the environmental impact of steel production. SSAB Zero® uses recycled steel and fossil-free energy sources like biogas, while SSAB Fossil-free™ steel is produced using HYBRIT® technology. This process involves using hydrogen instead of carbon in steelmaking, with water being the only by-product.
Olavi Huhtala, Head of SSAB Europe, emphasizes the importance of this partnership: “We are happy to welcome Trelleborg Sealing Solutions as a fossil-free partner. Together, we will support the automotive industry in delivering the key parts that both producers and consumers are demanding.”
This collaboration promises to be a significant development in creating more sustainable vehicles, meeting both industry and consumer demands for eco-friendly products.of sustainable automotive components but also highlights the potential for reducing emissions in industries traditionally reliant on carbon-intensive materials.
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