WASHINGTON, D.C., August 12, 2015 – The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), today announced Rick Blume, vice president, commercial, Nucor Corporation, will succeed Dan Mull, executive vice president, sales and marketing, ArcelorMittal USA, as chairman of SMDI’s Board of Directors.

“We look forward to working under Rick’s leadership to further strengthen our core programs in automotive, construction, packaging and communications,” said Lawrence W. Kavanagh, president of SMDI. “We appreciate the work Dan did to grow our programs during his tenure. Our industry owes him a large debt of gratitude for the successful strategies we have in place today.”

In the automotive market, automakers received the results of the FutureSteelVehicle (FSV) project by WorldAutoSteel, which included 19 new steel grades and several innovative improvements in manufacturing methods. This led to rapid implementation of the new FSV technology by automakers as demonstrated by several 2015 vehicles such as the Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon, Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and the Acura TLX, among others.

In the construction market, programs addressed the increasing importance of innovation and sustainability in driving today’s building marketplace. The programs developed critical scientific data positioning steel as the sustainable solution in construction. The program's emphasis on innovation and sustainability enhances the market for cold-formed steel framing and provides a platform for future market growth.

The packaging market, through its partnership with the Canned Food Alliance, communicated the benefits of canned food with health and nutrition professionals, consumers and the government after commissioning the analyses of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The survey compared nutrient intake, dietary quality and physiological parameters in adults and children who consumed canned fruits and vegetables with non-consumers resulting in higher intake percentages of protein, fiber, vitamin A, calcium and potassium for the consumers of canned goods. As a result, the program continues to encourage consumers to eat all forms of fruits, vegetables and beans, whether they are canned, fresh, frozen or dried, to meet dietary goals.

“It’s an honor to succeed Dan, whom I have worked with on the SMDI Board for several years,” said Rick Blume. “I look forward to working with the SMDI Board members and team. We have the strongest and most sustainable material and I look forward to taking the fight to the competition in all markets.”

Rick has led Nucor’s commercial efforts for the last five years and comes into this leadership post at a dynamic time for both the domestic steel industry and one of its most valued customer segments—the automotive industry.

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 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.

SMDI increases and defends the use of steel by developing innovative materials, applications and value-added solutions for customers in the automotive, construction and packaging markets. SMDI investors include: AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corporation, SSAB Americas and United States Steel Corporation.