Paramount Prestige for Protection-Grade Plate

The Salzgitter Group has attained a significant triumph by earning the official approval of its SECURE 500® steel from the German Military Technical Center 91. This material, developed for armored applications, is now sanctioned for use in vehicles and protective systems by the German Armed Forces. Covering dimensions from 6 to 16 millimeters, the approval affirms the steel's conformity to Technical Delivery Conditions 2350, ensuring its strategic deployment in defense.

Metallurgical Mastery Meets Military Mandate

Salzgitter’s subsidiary, Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH, played a pivotal role in developing and processing SECURE 500®. The steel underwent stringent tests to assess its behavior under extreme military conditions, including ballistic resistance and blast durability. The assessments also focused on weldability, an essential feature for on-field reparability and modular construction. The certification solidifies the material’s standing as a premium choice for protective engineering.

Strategic Steel for Sovereign Security

In response to increasing geopolitical tensions, Salzgitter AG has broadened its defense portfolio. Thorsten Moellmann, Head of Corporate Communications and leader of the company’s defense task force, emphasized Europe’s pressing need for autonomous defense capabilities. He reaffirmed the group’s responsibility to contribute technologically to European security through robust steel innovations tailored for armored defense.

Ballistic Brilliance in Hardened Heat-Treated Heft

SECURE 500® is manufactured using an advanced heat treatment facility in Ilsenburg. According to Thorsten Gintaut, Managing Director of Sales at Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH, the steel’s quenching and tempering process results in an ultra-fine martensitic microstructure. This internal arrangement grants the steel exceptional hardness, dimensional stability, and surface finish, crucial qualities for enduring ballistic threats while maintaining mechanical integrity.

Resplendent Resilience via Rigorous Reinforcement

The steel's capacity to absorb, deflect, and endure impact without fracturing stems from its high strength-to-weight ratio. Its microstructure not only contributes to ballistic resistance but also to improved performance under blast conditions, a key parameter for armored military applications. These material traits enable the German Armed Forces to upgrade both light and heavy defense vehicles with superior protection.

Future-Forward Fabrication for Fortified Frameworks

Salzgitter AG is not resting on this milestone alone. The group has already initiated approval processes for additional steel variants under the SECURE family. These include compositions tailored for lighter structures and higher mobility units, responding to evolving battlefield dynamics and technological upgrades in the European defense doctrine.

Durable Dominance in Defense Deliverables

With the TL 2350 certification now in hand, SECURE 500® becomes an exemplar of German engineering tailored to the rising exigencies of defense procurement. The steel’s formal acceptance signifies a fusion of metallurgical excellence and military readiness. It also places Salzgitter AG in a strategically advantageous position to supply materials amid growing European defense autonomy efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• Salzgitter Group’s SECURE 500® steel is officially approved for military use in 6–16 mm thickness by the German Armed Forces.

• The steel passed extensive tests for weldability, blast resistance & ballistic protection.

• Salzgitter is pursuing approval for more SECURE variants to strengthen its role in defense manufacturing.