International Electric Steel Sheet Summit: E-Mobility in Focus

IESSS 2024

Electrical Steel Sheets - Shape tomorrow today
Event Report

The International Steel Sheet Summit once again took place at the TEMA Pyramid in Aachen, Germany, on 24–25 April 2024. Following its successful debut in 2022, the second edition of IESSS brought together leading experts, researchers, and industry representatives from across the world.

Since the first summit, significant progress had been made in the field of electromobility, with electrical steel sheets remaining a key product for high-performance electric drives. Participants discussed the latest developments and shared insights on how to further enhance efficiency, sustainability, and performance across the entire value chain. Climate change and the continued need to reduce CO₂ emissions were once again central topics of discussion.

A wide range of technical subjects were covered during the conference, reflecting the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of the field:

• Steel Grades: compositions, microstructures, textures, mechanical and magnetic properties, dimensions, and applications. Special attention was given to customized grades for specific motor designs, such as those used in electric vehicles, including design studies.
• Production of Electrical Steel Sheets: processes such as melting, casting, cold rolling, annealing, and coating were presented, along with process-integrated testing methods and innovative routes like TWIN-rolling, belt-casting, and additive manufacturing.
• Processing Technologies: participants explored state-of-the-art cutting methods such as stamping and laser cutting, as well as joining technologies for stack production, including welding, interlocking, bonding, and the use of bonding varnishes like Backlack.
• Modelling, Simulation and Testing: sessions focused on material properties, component and joint behavior, process simulations, and innovative testing methods. Considerations of drive cycles for e-mobility, quality assessment, and parts integrity played a major role.
• Standardization: international standards for materials and testing (ISO, IEC, EN) as well as automotive-specific regulations such as VDA were discussed to promote harmonization and comparability across the industry.

By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, IESSS 2024 enabled participants to jointly address key challenges in electromobility and electrical steel sheet production. The event was regarded as an essential step toward improving the efficiency of e-drive systems and enhancing customer acceptance and awareness of this transformative technology.