Leading the way and investing in the Northland is nothing new to U.S. Steel.  Their most-recent investment will help to increase the long term viability of the steel industry while making their workflow more sustainable and friendly to the environment.

Through investment with two other partners - Norfolk Southern Corporation and The Greenbriar Companies, Inc. - U.S. Steel designed new steel gondola railcars which will eventually replace the existing fleet.  The new railcars provide a variety of helpful improvements.

By using a "high-strength, lighter-weight steel", the railcars are reduced in weight by 15,000 pounds each.  According to our news partners at WDIO-TV, the new railcars provide a multitude of benefits:

  • Extended lifecycle:  The new steel is twice as strong as traditional steel, potentially extending the useful life of each gondola to 50 years.  A stronger external finish also strengthens the railcar body, lowering maintenance costs.
  • Increased sustainability:  The new gondolas will be more energy-efficient - both in production and in general use.  The steel fabrication process requires less time, leading to greater efficiencies.  The lower weight also decreases the fuel needed by locomotives hauling the railcars, reducing energy use and lowering emissions in the process.
  • Greater freight capacity:  Enhancements to the gondola design allow for greater capacities in hauling.  The high-strength steel requires less structural reinforcement, simplifying the manufacturing process, and allowing for more total cargo space in each gondola railcar

While business partnerships are common, this particular one is noteworthy. This project brought together "supplier, builder, and end-user" in a way that not only makes improvements on each's business model but also provides for the general good in sustainability and the environment.

denisgo
denisgo
loading...

10 Places a Duluthian Would Be Ashamed to Admit They've Never Been

LOOK: Famous Historic Homes in Every State

LOOK: Here is the richest town in each state

Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.

LOOK: Here are the best lake towns to live in

Many of the included towns jump out at the casual observer as popular summer-rental spots--the Ozarks' Branson, Missouri, or Arizona's Lake Havasu--it might surprise you to dive deeper into some quality-of-life offerings beyond the beach and vacation homes. You'll likely pick up some knowledge from a wide range of Americana: one of the last remaining 1950s-style drive-ins in the Midwest; a Florida town that started as a Civil War veteran retirement area; an island boasting some of the country's top public schools and wealth-earners right in the middle of a lake between Seattle and Bellevue; and even a California town containing much more than Johnny Cash's prison blues.

More From KOOL 101.7