Steel Market Development Institute

What Steel Market Development Institute does

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) is a non-profit industry association and business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), headquartered in Washington, DC with regional offices in Southfield, Michigan (Detroit area) and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. SMDI's stated mission is to grow and defend the use of steel by developing innovative materials, applications, and value-added solutions for customers in three target verticals: automotive, construction, and packaging.

SMDI's core offerings consist of technical publications, research studies, standards work, design tools, and educational events rather than commercial products. Core technology assets include the Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) portfolio (more than 200 grades available to automakers, with per-vehicle usage exceeding 254 lbs by 2014), cold-formed steel framing research and standards (referenced in NEHRP seismic guidance and LEED v4 documentation), and peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment studies used to argue that AHSS-intensive vehicles produce lower total greenhouse gas emissions than aluminum-intensive ones. Key products/services include the annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar, LEED v4 for Steel Products guides, Environmental Product Declarations for cold-formed steel studs, joists, and decks, the 2016 Steel Industry Technology Roadmap for Automotive, and eSPAN140 (a web-based short-span steel bridge design tool).

SMDI is funded primarily through a membership/investor model in which major steel producers pay recurring dues. Named automotive investors include AK Steel Corporation, Algoma, ArcelorMittal, and Nucor Corporation; construction-market investors include AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal, Nucor Corporation, and SSAB Americas. Distribution and go-to-market are event-driven and community-led: SMDI sponsors major auto shows (North American International Auto Show, Washington Auto Show), partners with automotive media associations (MAMA, TAWA, AJAC), and runs standards committees with CFSEI, the Steel Joist Institute, the Metal Construction Association, the Steel Deck Institute, and MBMA. End-user adoption signals include more than 65 AHSS-intensive vehicle debuts at major U.S. auto shows in 2018 from OEMs including GM, Ford/FCA, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, and Volkswagen.

Name

Steel Market Development Institute

Legal name

Steel Market Development Institute

Website

https://smdisteel.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) is a non-profit business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute that grows and defends steel demand across the automotive, construction, and packaging verticals via research, standards work, technical publications, and industry events, funded by member steel producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership/Investor Dues: SMDI is funded by automotive investors including AK Steel Corporation, Algoma, ArcelorMittal, and Nucor Corporation. Construction market is funded by AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal, Nucor Corporation, and SSAB Americas.
2. Publications and Resources Sales: Sale of industry guides, standards documents, and research reports such as the LEED v4 guide and other technical publications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SMDI is a non-profit business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) that develops and promotes innovative steel materials, applications, and value-added solutions for customers in the automotive, construction, and packaging markets. Its core offerings consist of technical research and publications (LCA studies, technology roadmaps, EPDs), industry standards and codes work, educational events (Great Designs in Steel seminar), design tools (eSPAN140), and advocacy/media partnerships that defend and grow steel's share against competing materials.

Product overview

SMDI is a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute that operates as a steel industry research and advocacy organization rather than a product company. SMDI's offerings consist primarily of technical publications, research reports, industry guidelines, design tools, and educational events. Key offerings include the Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) annual seminar, the LEED v4 certification guide for steel products, the Steel Industry Technology Roadmap for Automotive, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for various steel construction products, the eSPAN140 bridge design tool, and life cycle assessment studies on automotive lightweighting. These resources serve the automotive, construction, and packaging steel markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) Seminar Annual technical seminar bringing together the automotive and steel industries for engineering, design, and technology presentations on advanced high-strength steels, automotive safety, and manufacturing technologies, targeted at automotive steel engineers, OEMs, and steelmakers.
• LEED v4 for Steel Products Guide Guide for construction professionals on how steel construction products can earn points toward LEED v4 green building certification, including cold-formed steel studs, joists, deck, and metal panels.
• 2016 Steel Industry Technology Roadmap for Automotive Research roadmap detailing advanced high-strength steel material and manufacturing technologies related to design, fuel economy, strength, durability, environmental performance, and value for automotive applications, used by automakers and steelmakers to plan AHSS grade development.
• Steel Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) Industry-wide Environmental Product Declarations quantifying cradle-to-gate life cycle environmental impacts of cold-formed steel studs and track, steel joists, roof/floor deck, roll-formed steel panels, and insulated metal panels for use by architects and engineers in LEED and other green building documentation.
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas and Energy Study of Automotive Lightweighting Peer-reviewed study examining environmental impact of vehicle lightweighting using advanced high-strength steel compared with aluminum, assessing life cycle emissions across vehicle classes to support automaker material selection and SMDI policy advocacy.
• eSPAN140 Web-based design tool providing optimized steel solutions for short span steel bridges, assisting bridge owners, designers, and engineers with project design and standardization.

Quantifiable outcome

• AHSS-intensive vehicles had lower or equivalent total life cycle GHG emissions than aluminum-intensive vehicles for every class tested
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMDI is a business unit of AISI, which serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in public policy and advances steel in the marketplace.
• Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSEI develops and evolves industry standards and design methods, produces technical bulletins, and provides seminars and online training for cold-formed steel.
• Steel Joist InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSets standards for steel joist industry, develops code regulations, invests in research, and offers publications and training.
• Metal Construction AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCA develops Environmental Product Declarations for roll-formed steel panels and insulated metal panels, and hosts the MetalCon championship games.
• Canadian Sheet Steel Building InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in AISI standards development for cold-formed steel design.
• Steel Deck InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes to diaphragm design methods and standards development.
• Metal Building Manufacturers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBMA provides standards development for primary and secondary structural steel frame components.
• Automobile Journalist Association of Canada (AJAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAJAC brings journalists to test drive vehicles for Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards; SMDI participates in TestFest events.
• Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSMDI partners with MAMA for annual Fall Rally and other driving events; sponsors MAMA Family Vehicle of the Year award.
• Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSMDI is title sponsor of TAWA Texas Truck Rodeo for fourth consecutive year; event selects Truck of Texas award winner.
• Canned Food AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of steelmakers, can manufacturers, and food processors promoting canned food nutrition and sustainability; manages Mealtime.org website.
• Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks (SASFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Steel Network focused on steel fuel tank applications.
• Auto/Steel PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration focused on automotive steel applications and research.
• Steel Recycling Institute (SRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness unit of SMDI focused on steel recycling advocacy and life cycle assessment studies.
• Department of Energy Office of Vehicle TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE supports research on efficient and sustainable highway transportation technologies including lightweight materials.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF): Japanese steel industry federation representing major Japanese mills (Nippon Steel, JFE) with similar advocacy and R&D coordination functions. Comparable as a regional industry association peer.
• European Steel Association (Eurofer): European steel industry association performing analogous advocacy, market development, and standards work for European steel producers. Comparable as a regional peer focused on a different geography than SMDI's North American remit.

Direct peers

• Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA): Trade association for electric arc furnace steelmakers in North America, representing a subset of SMDI's investor base. Comparable as a directly adjacent steel-industry advocacy organization.
• Auto/Steel Partnership: SMDI-affiliated consortium focused specifically on automotive steel applications and R&D; closely aligned peer organization operating under SMDI/AISI umbrella with shared automotive OEM relationships.
• World Steel Association (worldsteel): Global steel industry association promoting steel use, coordinating life-cycle and sustainability research, and representing major producers worldwide. Comparable as a higher-geography peer performing analogous market-development and standards advocacy for the steel industry.
• The Aluminum Association: Trade association representing aluminum producers and competing directly with SMDI's value proposition in automotive lightweighting, packaging, and construction. The closest materials-substitute peer given the head-to-head LCA and lightweighting narrative.
• American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI): SMDI's parent organization, AISI is the trade association for the North American steel industry and shares the same investor base, advocacy focus, and standards development activities. Most comparable organization given SMDI is a business unit of AISI.
• Canned Food Alliance: SMDI-affiliated consortium of steelmakers, can manufacturers, and food processors promoting canned-food nutrition and steel packaging. Comparable as a directly affiliated industry advocacy partner within the steel ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): Broad US manufacturing trade association representing the wider manufacturing sector in policy and advocacy. Comparable as a parent-category industry association peer but at a broader level than steel.
• American Chemistry Council (ACC): Trade association for the US chemical industry that runs analogous market-development, LCA, and advocacy programs for plastics/composites competing with steel in automotive and packaging. Comparable as a competing-materials industry association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SMDISteel
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMDISteel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smdisteel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Steel Market Development Institute