For Immediate ReleaseMay 9, 2006 AISI ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF FIRST ANNUAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP AWARDWashington, DC – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today the recipients of its first Market Development Industry Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in advancing the competitive use of steel in the marketplace as a direct result of AISI Market Development initiatives in the automotive, construction and container markets. The award was presented to two individuals: Paul Geck, senior staff technical specialist at Ford Motor Company; and to Theodorus “Dick” Bus, president of ATAS International Inc., during a ceremony held during AISI’s General Meeting at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, Florida. AISI Senior Vice President of Market Development David C. Jeanes said: “We are pleased to name Paul Geck and Dick Bus as the first recipients of the annual AISI Market Development Industry Leadership Award. During their careers, both of these men have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing the use of steel in their respective industries and to the implementation of new steel technologies within their own companies. “Paul Geck has been instrumental in implementing advanced high-strength steel technologies in the design of current-model Ford cars and light trucks. Dick Bus is being recognized for his outstanding vision and leadership in spearheading the creation and launch of the Metal Roofing Alliance, which is growing the market for steel in the residential roofing market. Their efforts have helped change the face of the marketplace, creating demand for the next generation of steel products. We appreciate their dedication and are honored to recognize them with this award,” Jeanes said. The award for Paul Geck reads: “Presented to Paul E. Geck in recognition of your significant contribution in advancing applications of steel in Automotive market development.” The award for Dick Bus reads: “Presented to Theodorus (Dick) A. Bus in recognition of your significant contribution in advancing applications of steel in Construction market development.” Paul E. Geck For more than 40 years, Paul Geck has worked at Ford Motor Company in the application of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE). The primary benefit of CAE is the elimination of prototypes and the reduction of cycle times for validating cost and weight optimization of automotive structures. As senior staff technical specialist, he has focused his research on the lightweighting of body structures while keeping steel as the primary material. Geck’s work has significantly influenced how Ford designs and builds cars and light trucks. From 1999 to 2003, Geck served as program manager for IMPACT (Improved Materials and Powertrain Architectures for 21st Century Trucks), a joint project between AISI, Ford and the U.S. Army to develop strategies for reduced weight, enhanced performance, improved mobility and increased fuel economy of tactical trucks. The IMPACT program resulted in over 200 technologies for optimizing automotive steel structures and demonstrated a 25% weight reduction using steel technology. It became clear through the program that advanced high-strength steels delivered the durability, weight savings and cost savings that Ford needed for its own fleet of F-series trucks. Today, Ford Motor Company uses 60% of the IMPACT technologies in all Ford vehicles. In addition to his leadership in the IMPACT program, Geck has been instrumental in leading Ford's support of the Auto/Steel Partnership (A/SP), an international association of the largest North American automotive companies and major sheet steel producers that pursues research, validation and education critical to both industries. A/SP projects target optimal design in advanced high-strength steels to ensure continued leadership in the design and manufacture of automotive bodies utilizing sheet steel. “Paul Geck is single-handedly responsible for the new pro-steel agenda at Ford,” said Ron Krupitzer, vice president of automotive applications for AISI. “His understanding of advanced high-strength steel technologies and commitment to steel as the material of choice in automotive design have moved steel from the back of the pack in terms of design solutions to the front of the line in the automotive industry.” Geck has worked as a structural research engineer at Ford for the last 42 years. As a technical leader for the past 15 years, he has led large-scale research projects involving the lightweighting of vehicle structures, focusing on the latest developments in steel-based technology. He is the Ford “point person” for advanced high-strength steels. Theodorus (Dick) A. Bus Dick Bus is president of ATAS International Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of architectural and residential metal roofing and siding. ATAS manufactures profiles in aluminum, steel, copper and zinc for the residential and architectural building envelope markets. Panels are manufactured with high- performance coatings. Bus has more than 30 years of experience in the metal roofing and siding industry. Bus led a team to explore the potential for market growth in the residential roofing market. The team’s efforts resulted in a comprehensive business case that became the foundation for the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), a coalition of customers, suppliers and producers committed to growing this market. The MRA is driving demand for steel roofing by educating consumers on its benefits and by connecting them with a network of reputable contractors that can install these roofs on their homes. Steel shipments in this market have grown by 450,000 tons per year since the program was launched in 1999. Bus is president emeritus of the Metal Roofing Alliance. “Dick’s untiring work in developing the business case for residential roofing that resulted in the creation of the Metal Roofing Alliance has been responsible for significant steel growth in residential roofing, especially in the re-roofing market,” said Delbert F. Boring, vice president of construction market development for AISI. “His commitment to growing the residential roofing market is unparalleled and appreciated by all of us.” Bus is currently president of the Metal Construction Association (MCA) and is a founder of The Metal Initiative, a coalition of manufacturers, individuals and associations that have come together to provide information on the features and benefits of metal in construction. The industry-wide program is designed to educate building owners, architects, and contractors about the use and selection of metal roofs and walls in commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. Bus has chaired the Residential Roofing Council of the Metal Construction Association and the committee that produced the Minimum Guideline for Residential Metal Roofing. AISI’s Market Development program is supported through an investment by the following member companies: AK Steel Corporation AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 33 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent approximately 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org.
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