Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has successfully completed a production trial with a major automotive OEM, demonstrating that its exposed steel parts can be stamped without defects using existing aluminum-forming equipment, according to the company’s press release.
The milestone highlights steel’s potential to replace aluminum in critical automotive applications without costly retooling, offering a reliable alternative amid persistent aluminum supply disruptions, the company said.
The trial, conducted through close collaboration between Cliffs’ technical and application engineering teams and the OEM’s production specialists, enabled a seamless transition from aluminum to steel with no changes to the stamping line.
Following the success, Cleveland-Cliffs has moved into routine production and delivery for the client and has received additional inquiries from other automakers seeking to replace aluminum with steel, the company said.
