Revolutionizing Train Safety: Green Buffers Wins International Swedish Steel Prize 2023

Stockolm, Sweden 22.05.2023 – Green Buffers from Sweden has won the International Swedish Steel Prize 2023 for their innovative use of energy-absorbing high-strength steel in trains. This technology not only ensures passengers’ safety but also reduces operators’ costs. The Green Buffers system utilizes high-strength steel profiles to control the energy from train collisions in a sophisticated manner. Their new coupling technology allows for advanced custom design solutions that can save lives and cut expenses. Eva Petursson, head of SSAB’s research and innovation and chair of the Swedish Steel Prize jury, praised Green Buffers for their valuable contribution to train safety.

Safety standards are based on technology from the 1960s or 1970s and even minor accidents result in derailments. This is where Roger Danielsson and his colleagues at Green Buffers saw room for improvement. Inspired by the automotive industry, they have developed an energy dissipation system based on high-strength steel that makes train travel safer for passengers and more economical for operators. The system comprises twelve deformable units mounted in the coupling interfaces throughout the entire train set.

In a collision, the Strenx® 700 MC steel profiles in the units fold like an accordion, absorbing the impact of the shock in less than a second. By averting the initial peak force and by minimizing all other peak forces, energy from a collision is distributed in a controlled manner. “Unlike with cars, practically all train collisions are frontal. This gives our system enormous significance,” argues Roger Danielsson. For further improvements in the future the energy-absorbing units can be provided with sensors to provide even more information on energy absorption. With their innovative system and their ambitious goal – zero uncontrolled derailments related to train accidents ­– Green Buffers have the potential to revolutionize train safety.

The runners-up Runners-up DigJim from Norway, Gestamp from Spain, and Levistor from Great Britain and ZOOZ from Israel (shared nomination) were also celebrated at the award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden on May 11.

Rewarding steel innovations The Swedish Steel Prize celebrates engineering, cooperation and steel innovations that lead to a better and more sustainable world. The winner receives a diploma, a statuette by the sculptor Jörg Jeschke and intense media exposure. In conjunction with the Swedish Steel Prize 2023, SSAB will make a SEK 100,000 donation to UNICEF in support of their efforts to provide quality education and learning opportunities to children and adolescents worldwide.

For further information, please contact:
Eva Petursson Chair of the Jury, Swedish Steel Prize Email: eva.petursson@ssab.com
Anna Rutkvist Project Manager, Swedish Steel Prize Email: anna.rutkvist@ssab.com   www.steelprize.com

About SSAB
SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company. SSAB offers value-added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries. SSAB has production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.ssab.com. Join us also on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.