SG to Expand Application of Proprietary 'Eco-Steel Ascon' to Expressways Nationwide

SG, a company specializing in asphalt concrete (Ascon), announced on August 13 that the application market for its 'Eco-Steel Ascon'—the first to be developed and commercialized in Korea—is expected to expand to expressways nationwide.

SG has developed and commercialized Eco-Steel Ascon, which utilizes steel slag generated during the steelmaking process instead of natural aggregates. This product boasts approximately five times more durability than regular asphalt concrete and can extend the lifespan of roads by about 2.3 times. It also offers the added benefits of reducing pothole occurrences and minimizing fine dust emissions.

Recently, Korea Expressway Corporation signed a business agreement with the Korea Iron & Steel Association and the Korea Ascon Industry Cooperative Federation to promote the nationwide application of steel slag asphalt concrete on expressways. The product's performance was confirmed during a pilot project on the Pyeongtaek-Jecheon Expressway in September 2025. In October, the plan is to apply it as a priority to a 10.8-kilometer section, including the Seohaean Expressway.

SG is supplying Eco-Steel Ascon for projects led by Korea Expressway Corporation. Notable examples include sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Anseong-Yongin Expressway construction in 2023, and supply for surface layer pilot paving on the Pyeongtaek-Jecheon Line at the North Chungcheong Headquarters in 2025. In April, SG also supplied the product to Section 1 of the Inju-Yeomchi segment of the Seosan-Asan project team.

An SG representative stated, "The expansion of Korea Expressway Corporation’s adoption of steel slag asphalt concrete will be a key turning point for growing the relevant market into national core road infrastructure such as expressways. The company plans to actively respond to the expansion of the steel slag asphalt concrete market, leveraging its accumulated technology and diverse construction references."

Meanwhile, according to Korea Expressway Corporation, 590,000 tons of natural aggregates are used annually in asphalt concrete paving on domestic expressways. If Eco-Steel Ascon is applied, it can reduce approximately 460 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually from the process of extracting natural aggregates.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.