SSAB has partnered with US railcar manufacturer Greenbrier and metal recycler Alter Trading to complete a batch of 50 gondola railcars using SSAB Zero steel as part of a closed-loop recycling initiative.
The railcars were manufactured using SSAB Zero, produced from recycled steel with fossil-free electricity and designed to achieve near-zero fossil carbon emissions. Greenbrier also used high-strength steel to reduce car weight while maintaining structural integrity and durability.
The lighter design increases payload capacity and transport efficiency while potentially reducing lifecycle emissions.
The railcars will be delivered to Alter Trading and used to transport recycled metals, including end-of-life steel, to SSAB’s steelmaking facility in Iowa. The scrap will then be melted and converted into new steel products, creating a closed-loop recycling process and reducing reliance on virgin raw materials.
The project combines lower-emission steel, lightweight railcar design and steel recycling to reduce environmental impact across the supply chain, the companies said. SSAB is a Nordic and North American steel producer specializing in high-strength steels, quenched and tempered steels, strip, plate and tubular products.
