The Slovenian Steel Group (SIJ) has successfully developed a cutting-edge steel tailored specifically for the space industry. To date, SIJ has supplied over 500 tonnes of this high-performance material to an undisclosed client for use in critical spacecraft components, with total deliveries expected to exceed 1,000 tonnes by June. 

Engineered to endure extreme temperatures and intense mechanical stresses, the new steel will be utilized in key structural areas of spacecraft, including regions adjacent to propulsion engines and central load-bearing parts. This achievement builds on SIJ’s reputation as a leading developer of specialized steels, with its materials already employed in high-profile projects such as the ITER fusion reactor. 

The development of this innovative steel was a collaborative effort involving SIJ Group’s R&D teams at SIJ Metal Ravne and SIJ Acroni, alongside experts from the Institute of Metals and Technology (IMT) and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of Ljubljana.