AK Steel (AKS) celebrated the grand opening of its new world-class Research and Innovation Center in Middletown, Ohio. The event marked the formal opening of the new USD 36M, 135,000 square foot facility, built on 16-acres near AK Steel’s Middletown Works and its West Chester, Ohio corporate headquarters.
The new Research and Innovation Center further expands AK Steel’s capabilities to bring new steel products to the marketplace. These products include advanced high strength carbon and specialty steels to help automotive customers design lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles that maintain superior strength and safety performance; electrical steels that will enable the nation’s electricity grid to become more energy-efficient and improve performance in motors for hybrid and electric vehicles; and new stainless steels that offer superior corrosion resistance for a wide variety of applications. AK Steel is the only steelmaker in North America producing carbon, stainless and electrical steel products, along with carbon and stainless tubular products.
The Research and Innovation Center’s laboratories and pilot steelmaking facilities include 17 prototype laboratories, 17 analytical laboratories and 22 collaborative spaces for employees, customers and suppliers. The new center also features several of AK Steel’s steel products throughout the facility.
