South Korea’s leading steelmaker POSCO said Sunday it is showcasing its automotive steel plate technology for the first time at this year’s North American International Auto Show taking place in Detroit, Michigan, from Jan. 11-24.

Aiming to appeal to global automakers, POSCO is presenting its self-developed advanced automotive steel technology and some 30 types of futuristic car components to be used in next-generation cars at the annual U.S.-based auto show.

The steelmaker will be promoting its self-developed twinning induced plasticity, or TWIP, steel -- an advanced type of steel equipped with upgraded strength and elasticity geared for use in future vehicles -- during the auto show.

TWIP steel is able to withstand up to 100 kilograms per square millimeter and boasts up to five times higher formability, the ability of sheet metal to be formed into a desired shape without necking or cracking, compared to its conventional counterparts, POSCO said.

Boasting heightened applicability, strength and shock absorption capacity, TWIP steel can be applied to the front and back bumpers of vehicles, significantly improving safety, according to the steelmaker.

In particular, POSCO is displaying a special car frame structure equipped with the firm’s cutting-edge automotive steel plates, which is around 26.4 percent lighter than conventional steel frames of mid-sized sedans and certified by the Euro NCAP and IIHS, during the Detroit auto show.

POSCO currently operates 10 automotive steel manufacturing plants and 24 steel fabrication facilities, and supplies automotive steel plates to global automakers including Toyota, Volkswagen and GM as well as auto component manufacturers around the world.

The Korean steelmaker has set plans to drive up its automotive steel production volume from the current 8.6 million tons to 10 million tons by 2018 and offer clients tailored services on steel melting procedures to raise the automotive steel segment’s sales portion to 70 percent.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)