Swedish specialty steelmaker SSAB and Finnish engineering company JTK Power have jointly developed the world’s first marine engine silencer manufactured using low-emission SSAB Zero™ steel, marking a milestone for decarbonization efforts in the marine industry.
Emissions reduction through recycled, fossil-free steel
For the development of the silencer, SSAB supplied around four metric tons of SSAB Zero™ steel. The material is produced in an electric arc furnace using recycled steel feedstock and fossil-free electricity.
Compared with SSAB’s conventional blast furnace-based hot rolled steel, SSAB Zero™ reduces carbon-equivalent emissions by up to 77 percent. According to JTK Power, the use of SSAB Zero™ allows the overall emissions footprint of the silencer to be reduced by nearly 50 percent compared with a conventional steel silencer.
No changes required to manufacturing processes
SSAB and JTK Power confirmed that SSAB Zero™ behaved identically to conventional steel during production. Cutting, bending and welding processes required no modifications, highlighting the material’s suitability for direct substitution in existing manufacturing lines.
At present, SSAB Zero™ steel is supplied from SSAB’s operations in the United States. However, once SSAB’s new electric arc furnace facility in Oxelösund is completed by the end of 2026, production capacity in Sweden is expected to expand, enabling shorter delivery times and improved logistics for European customers.