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| Press release MoU with POSCO

Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht intensifies cooperation with POSCO in South Korea

Economic lightweight materials for cars or aeroplanes, new technologies for regenerative energy systems – these are great challenges currently faced by industry and science. In order to better combine scientific research activities and practical experience, scientists of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and the South Korean company POSCO Ltd. want to cooperate more closely.

Economic lightweight materials for cars or aeroplanes, new technologies for regenerative energy systems – these are great challenges currently faced by industry and science. In order to better combine scientific research activities and practical experience, scientists of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and the South Korean company POSCO Ltd. want to cooperate more closely.

Scientists at the casting-rolling mill

Research at MagIC: Preparation of head box. Photo: HZG/ Christian Schmid

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and POSCO have formed an alliance to combine the strengths of both parties in the search for solutions to optimise materials and their processing technologies.

The cooperation is based on a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) which was signed recently by Dr. Ohjoon Kwon, Chief Technology Officer of POSCO and Prof. Wolfgang Kaysser, Scientific Director of the Helmholtz-Zentrum at the Campus in Geesthacht. As well as collaboration in the area of lightweight material technology i.e. magnesium, titanium and aluminium, the MoU specifies other possible fields of interaction such as innovative welding methods, membrane technologies and regenerative energy systems.

“Combining our research results with the experience of one of the worldwide biggest steel producers is very important“, says Karl Ulrich Kainer, head of the Magnesium Innovation Centre at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. “The aim of the cooperation is to optimise production processes for magnesium sheet, in order to make them more efficient and universally applicable.”

More research on new components

Dr Ohjoon Kwon and Prof Wolfgang Kaysser

Memorandum of Understanding: Dr. Ohjoon Kwon (Chief Technology Officer of POSCO) and Prof. Wolfgang Kaysser (Scientific Director of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht) at the Campus Geesthacht. Photo: HZG/ Torsten Fischer

Magnesium has been used successfully in many applications in automotive engineering. Normally, such components are produced as castings. In the case of larger components such as doors or seats, it is more beneficial to use rolled magnesium sheets for the production of formed components.

In order to apply magnesium in car bodies or interiors, the scientists for materials research have developed novel alloys which enable them to produce sheets with improved mechanical properties by using a top modern twin-roll casting machine. Research is also focussed on special anti-corrosion coatings to protect the surfaces of the magnesium components in different environments.

 Developing a membrane

Membrane technologies: One of the possible fields of interaction between Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and POSCO. Photo: HZG

The internationally well-known steel producer POSCO is one of the biggest suppliers of magnesium sheet and has many years of experience with their own twin-roll casting facilities. Producers and scientists face great challenges in further developing the twin-roll casting technology and above all in generating new alloys of high quality or in improving the corrosion protection of the sheets.

“Our twin-roll caster serves research purposes and offers flexibility in operation depending on the scope of the work”, explains Karl Ulrich Kainer. “So, combining our knowledge and the production experience of POSCO will provide positive impulses for both scientific research and industrial applications.”

Further information


Magnesium Innovation Centre POSCO Ltd.

Workshop Magnesium Technologies


A workshop with representatives from Germany and Korea will take place on 6th - 9th February, 2012. The workshop will consist of presentations and discussions between scientists and engineers on twin-roll casting technologies, magnesium sheet materials and wrought magnesium alloys.