AISI Launches Redesigned Website Featuring Its Steel Network of Websites

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has launched a new network of websites that includes a redesign of its flagship steel.org, launch of the brand new smdisteel.org dedicated to the steel markets and a totally new face for North American steel recycling at recycle-steel.org.   The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), which is a business unit of AISI created in 2008, has unveiled its new website as part of the launch, while the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), also a business unit of AISI, features a redesign of its website, including expanded content on sustainability and life-cycle analysis.

"The network of sites offers visitors access to anything they might need to find out about the North American steel industry, its market applications, general statistics or the industry's commitment to sustainability," AISI President and CEO Thomas J. Gibson said.  "It also features content important to our major advocacy issues, tools to enable our members to take action on relevant legislation and information about the industry's major thrust in the area of research and development, which will translate into new technologies to advance the future of the North American steel industry."

The Public Policy section of the redesigned website features content dedicated to AISI's policy priorities, including positions on pro-manufacturing, energy and climate, environment, transportation and infrastructure, and health and safety.  A Resources page features materials that include white papers (policy analysis), fact sheets, AISI testimony, Steelgrams on legislation, AISI comments and the AISI 2011 Public Policy Agenda, among other tools.

A unique element of the network is a global navigation bar at the top of each page that enables visitors to move effortlessly among the network of websites.  For example, if someone is on the steel.org site learning about how steel is made, and then wants to learn all about steel recycling, he or she can do so by moving the cursor to point to "The Steel Network" drop down menu, and click on Steel Recycling Institute.  The Steel Network is also expandable, enabling future websites that are part of the AISI family to become accessible through this global navigation.  

"The site is designed to make it as easy as possible for people to find anything about steel and the steel industry," Gibson said.  

The global navigation also features a media center, information on events, access to the online store, contact information for AISI and its business units, SMDI and SRI, and a place for members to login to password protected content reserved for members.

The steel.org site continues its popular "Steel Comment of the Week," which features current commentary by Members of Congress about the domestic steel industry.  It also includes the Steelworks Blog, and a North American map that shows the various geographic locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico where steel is produced.  

The menu tab on sustainability describes the steel industry's performance in terms of energy efficiency, reducing its carbon footprint, use of life cycle analysis and new technologies being developed to further advance the industry's environmental achievements.  For example, between 1990 and 2009, the North American steel industry reduced the CO2 intensity per ton of steel produced by 35 percent and energy intensity 30 percent as a result of the industry's voluntary efforts to improve its efficiency.

The smdisteel.org website offers profiles of major steel applications, including automotive,

construction and container.   Because the construction market is highly segmented, visitors will find that the construction section of the SMDI website offers a variety of market segments within that part of the website.  These include bridges, cold-formed steel design, codes & standards, utility poles, framing, roofing, corrugated steel pipe, steel pipes and tanks, reinforced pavement and green building.  

The recycle-steel.org website contains a tremendous range of information related to recycling, including overall recycling rates as well as the rates for each market segment, information about LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification, a searchable online database to locate the nearest steel recycling option by filling in a state and zip code, and access to educational tools for teachers and students who want to learn more about how to recycle their steel-containing products.

For more information, go to www.steel.org.  To learn more about the Steel Market Development Institute and the Steel Recycling Institute, go to The Steel Network at the top of the website's global navigation, and click on the organization's name.  You can also access SMDI directly at www.smdisteel.org and SRI at www.recycle-steel.org.

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 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 140 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.  AISI's member companies represent approximately 80 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.  For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI's Web site at www.steel.org.

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction and container markets, as well as for new-growth opportunities in emerging steel markets.  For more news or information, visit www.smdisteel.org.  

The Steel Recycling Institute, a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, serves as an informational and technical resource for the recycling, life cycle impact and ultimate sustainability of steel.  For more news or information, visit www.recycle-steel.org.  

SOURCE American Iron and Steel Institute