On Deck: GDIS 2025
April 3, 2025Comments
The 23rd edition of Great Designs in Steel, set for May 21 in Novi, MI, goes big on automotive, with OEM and Tier presentations, body-in-whites, and much, much more.
The world’s longest-running automotive-materials symposium, the American Iron and Steel Institute’s Great Designs in Steel (GDIS), is set to present for the 23rd yr. on the latest steel technology and applications. Slated for May 21 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI, GDIS 2025 promises a full day of presentations across multiple tracks, as well as exhibits by automotive OEMs and other steel-related technology and service providers. Submit a complimentary-registration request.
Auto-OEM Presentations with BiWs
The estimated 1200 attendees can expect a heavy dose of automotive content, including three OEM presentations on vehicle architectures: Volkswagen ID. Buzz—BiW (body-in-white) Vehicle Construction; General Motors 2025 D-Segment Crossover Architecture (Traverse/Acadia/Enclave); and Rivian 2nd-Generation R1 Body Structure Evolution and Repairability. And, each presentation pairs with a BiW onsite amongst the exhibits.
With a finalized agenda coming soon, the expected 24 GDIS technical presentations organize within three tracks: Vehicle Architectures, Manufacturing Materials and Joining. Look for offerings such as Front Giga Casting Comparison to Lightweight Steel Solutions; Optimization of Stellantis Side Structures through Press Hardened Steel; and New All Steel Rocker Assembly. Additional technologies covered will include deep drawing, tubular hydroforming, resistance spot welding, 3rd Gen advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) and stamping of AHSS, and hot stamping.
“This year, despite uncertainty and hesitation in the automotive industry and talk of downturns, the automakers really are engaged,” says Brian Esterberg, AISI senior automotive market strategist, in assessing the planning for GDIS 2025. “Automaker participation at the vehicle-architecture level is the highest we’ve seen in years at this event.”
At three points throughout the day, the hall’s main stage will feature each OEM presentation. Presentation BiWs will be located just outside of the main exhibit hall. Indeed, the BiWs are significant.
“The BiWs on display are the VW ID. Buzz, the current North American utility vehicle of the year; the platform for three of GM’s North American SUVs; and Rivian, with its body-structure making the evolution from aluminum to steel,” Esterberg says. “These OEM presentations will take place at session breaks to allow everyone to attend without missing a track presentation.”
Leading off GDIS 2025, Lourenco Goncalves, Cleveland-Cliffs chair, president and CEO, provides the steel-industry keynote, with Lyndon Lie, executive VP and chief engineering officer, Volkswagen Group of America, as the automotive keynote speaker. The speaker agenda also includes a who’s who of industry professionals from Auto/Steel Partnership, Nissan, Macrodyne, EWI, Stellantis, Schuler and others.
GDIS 2025 Symposium
