SSAB partners with McNeilus to make refuse collection vehicle out of green steel

McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, partnered with SSAB in fossil-free steel applications for severe-duty commercial vehicles.

SSAB initiated this partnership with Oshkosh Corporation because of its reputation as a leading innovator of mission-critical vehicles and essential equipment, including McNeilus’ market-leading refuse collection vehicles.

The first use of this fossil-free steel will be to prototype advanced, environmentally sustainable McNeilus® refuse collection vehicles. Oshkosh Corporation and McNeilus are working together on future research and development initiatives across multiple commercial vehicle product lines.

SSAB aims to deliver fossil-free steel to the market on a commercial scale during 2026 and deliver the first steel made of hydrogen-reduced iron in 2021.

SSAB works with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall in Sweden as part of the HYBRIT initiative to develop a value chain for fossil-free iron- and steel production, replacing coking coal with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steel production.

Brad Nelson, President of McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, said “Oshkosh Corporation and McNeilus are proud to partner with SSAB on this global initiative as a next step in delivering high-performance, more sustainable products to our customers.”

Martin Lindqvist, President and CEO at SSAB, said, “We are very happy to welcome Oshkosh Corporation and McNeilus into our partner group to be the first in the United States to prototype fossil-free steel in commercial and industrial vehicles.”