POSCO has become the world’s first manufacturer to produce specialized steel for hyperloop systems, supplying it to a European test track. (Image courtesy of POSCO)
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant step towards the future of transportation, POSCO, the South Korean steel giant, has become the world’s first manufacturer to produce specialized steel for hyperloop systems, supplying it to a European test track.
On September 10, POSCO announced its participation in the inauguration ceremony of the European Hyperloop Center (EHC) Phase A test track in Veendam, the Netherlands, hosted by Hardt Hyperloop on September 9.
Hyperloop, often dubbed the “dream transportation method,” is an ultra-high-speed train system that propels magnetically levitated pods through vacuum tubes at speeds exceeding 1,000 kilometers per hour.
This futuristic, eco-friendly mode of transport promises to outpace commercial aircraft, potentially covering the 400-kilometer distance between Seoul and Busan in a mere 20 minutes.
POSCO has become the world’s first manufacturer to produce specialized steel for hyperloop systems, supplying it to a European test track. (Image courtesy of POSCO)
The EHC is a subproject of the Hyperloop Development Program (HDP), a national initiative led by Hardt Hyperloop and the Dutch government.
It aims to standardize hyperloop technology within the European Union and demonstrate its feasibility through test tracks and research facilities.
The newly inaugurated test track, measuring 2.5 meters in diameter and 450 meters in length, will focus on crucial aspects such as test operations, acceleration and deceleration (with instantaneous speeds up to 100 km/h), precise control in junction areas, and passenger safety.
POSCO’s involvement spans from design to manufacturing. The company supplied 352 tons of its PosLoop 355 steel for the Phase A test track, achieving a 27% weight reduction compared to Hardt’s original design.
“This is the world’s first specialized steel for hyperloop tubes,” a POSCO spokesperson stated, highlighting its superior vibration damping properties — 1.7 times more effective than conventional steel — and enhanced seismic performance.
Looking ahead, POSCO anticipates the addition of a 2.7-kilometer Phase B section by 2027, which will enable testing at instantaneous speeds of up to 700 km/h. This development is expected to bring hyperloop technology one step closer to commercialization.
Lim Gyu-hwan, head of POSCO’s hot-rolled wire marketing division, expressed the company’s commitment: “The POSCO Group is preparing to meet the new steel demand for future transportation without any setbacks.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
