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Cover: ENDRESS + HAUSER
Editorial
Editor / Programme Director
Matthew Moggridge +44 1737 855151 matthewmoggridge@quartzltd.com
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Danieli Automation has developed Q-HEAT, induction heating system for long and flat products. The induction heating furnace is the most environmentally friendly solution for reaching required steel temperature without using gas and without CO2 emissions.
Welcome by Matthew Moggridge
Welcome to the seventh sensational Future Steel Forum conference.
This year you will hear from steel companies pushing the boundaries of green steelmaking, companies like CELSA Group, Hydnum Steel, GravitHY, BLASTR Green Steel, and Swiss Steel Group, Dillinger and Saarstahl and JFE Steel all of whom will focus on sustainability, decarbonization and green futures. You will be treated to presentations from the University of Oxford on the subject of producing green steel in Ukraine, and from the University of Oregon on new perspectives on electrified ironmaking, and let’s not forget three interesting panel discussions covering decarbonization and digital manufacturing.
The plant builders are here too: Fives Stein, SMS group, Tenova HYL and Primetals Technologies will be exploring the green future of steelmaking through the prism of digitalisation.
There’s more, of course, but this is a very special event and I am glad you are here to enjoy it with me and, of course, learn from it.
Matthew Moggridge, programme director, Future Steel Forum
Day One:
Thursday 26th June
0900:
Welcome to the Future Steel Forum by Matthew Moggridge, programme director and editor of Steel Times International
0910:
Navigating the Future: Challenges, Risks and Opportunities for the Spanish Steel Industry by Carola Hermoso, general director of UNISED.
Decarbonization and Green Steelmaking. Session chair: Rutger Gyllenram, founder and CEO, Kobolde & Partners.
0940:
Driving Competitiveness through Industrial Sustainability by Maria Salamero Sansalvado, head of sustainability at CELSA Group
1010: Hydnum Steel – a Digitally Native Plant by Juan de la Peña, vice-president, Siemens Advanta, and Daniel Sánchez, chief operating officer, Hydnum Steel
1040: Fast forwarding steel decarbonization: The GravitHy effect, by José Noldin, chief executive officer, GravitHY
1110-1140: Tea & Coffee Break
Decarbonization and Green Steelmaking continued. Session chair: Rutger Gyllenram, founder and CEO, Kobolde & Partners.
1140:
Striking the Right Balance, by Mark Bula, chief executive officer, BLASTR Green Steel.
1210:
Steelmaking in motion – Green Steel strategies, decarbonization activities and challenges of Europe’s steel industry by Bernhard Rischka, senior manager, corporate technology, Swiss Steel Group.
1240:
Steel & hydrogen: the other chicken and egg story, by Harmen Oterdoom, co-founder, Butter Bridge.
1310-1415: Lunch & Networking Break
Decarbonization and Green Steelmaking continued. Session chair: Klaus Peters, secretary-general, European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP).
1415:
Building Back Better: The Clean Energy Transformation of Ukraine’s Steel Industry by Dr. Alexandra Devlin, senior decarbonization advisor, Responsible Steel and Vladimir Mykhenko, professor of geography and political economy, University of Oxford and fellow of St. Peter’s College, Oxford.
1445:
New Perspectives on Electrified Ironmaking by Paul Kempler, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon and director of the electrochemistry Master’s Internship Programme (EMIP).
1515:
Low Risk, High Reward Decarbonization Scenarios for Integrated Steel Production, by Reinaud van Laar, senior technology manager, Danieli-Corus.
1545-1615: Tea & Coffee Break
1615:
Discussion Panel: Decarbonization – Evolution or Revolution? Chair: Rutger Gyllenram, CEO & Founder, Kobolde & Partners.
Panelist 1: Reinaud van Laar, senior technology manager, Danieli-Corus.
Panelist 2: Jan Friedemann-Plaul, head of ironmaking, Primetals Technologies.
Panelist 4: Vincent Chevrier, general manager – technical sales and marketing, Midrex Technologies Inc.
Decarbonization and Green Steelmaking continued. Session chair: Klaus Peters, secretary-general, European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP).
1700:
A Win-Win Partnership Between Brazil and Europe for Green Steel by Bart Biebuyck, CEO of Green Energy Park
1730:
Hydrogen as fuel in heating equipment to enable CO2-neutral steelmaking by Itsaso Auzmendi-Murua, hydrogen business line manager, Sarralle
1800: Closing remarks
1810 Conference closes.
Day Two: Friday
0900:
27th June
Welcome to the Future Steel Forum by Matthew Moggridge, programme director and editor of Steel Times International
Digitalisation and Steel’s Twin Transition: Session chair: Rutger Gyllenram, founder and CEO, Kobolde & Partners.
0910: The Digital Edge of Green Steel by Anna Doménech, head of innovation, CELSA Group
0940:
Discussion Panel: Steel’s Twin Transition: Where we stand and where we’re headed. Moderator: Dr. Alex Fleischanderl, global chief technology officer, Primetals Technologies.
Panelist 1: Mark Bula, CEO, Blastr Green Steel.
Panelist 2: Dr. José Noldin, CEO, GravitHY.
Panelist 3: Dr. Rizwan Janjua, head of technology, World Steel Association.
Panelist 4: Jonathan Weber, Member of the Board of Management (COO) of Dillinger and Saarstahl, member of the executive management of SHS – Stahl Holding Saar.
1025:
Moving Digitally Towards a Green Future by Jonathan Weber, Member of the Board of Management (COO) of Dillinger and Saarstahl, member of the executive management of SHS – Stahl Holding Saar.
1055-1125: Tea & Coffee Break
1125: Development of Digital Technology at JFE Steel and prospects of its application after process reform for decarbonization by Dr. Noriko Kubo, assistant general manager, JFE Steel Corp.
Sustainability and Steelmaking. Session chair: Bart Goffin, project manager, OMP.
1155:
Design, deconstruction and recycling for preserved metal value by Rutger Gyllenram, CEO and founder of Kobolde & Partners.
1225:
The Role of Efficiency and Best Practices in Emissions Reduction by Dr. Rizwan Janjua, head of technology, World Steel Association.
1255 -1400: Lunch
1400:
AID4GREENEST: Pioneering Digital Solutions for Sustainable Steel Manufacturing by Dr. Ilchat Sabirov, senior scientist and programme leader in advanced manufacturing, IMDEA Materials
1430:
Hydrogen and ammonia: Pioneering Fuels for Tomorrow’s Steel Industry. Raquel Torruélla Martinez, innovation manager/TWINGHY co-ordinator, Celsa Barcelona, and Sébastian Caillat, R&D combustion expert, Fives Stein, Fives Group
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Manufacturing. Session chair: Bertrand Orsal-Reams, independent consultant for the steel industry.
1500:
AI to Optimize Gas Balance and Enhance Decision-making for integrated steel manufacturing. By Dr.Thiago Maia, executive vice-president, automation, digital and service solutions, SMS group.
1530:
Digitalization of Direct Reduction Plants: The Optimized Technological Pathway for Decarbonizing the Steel Industry, by Stefano Maggiolino, president and CEO at Tenova HYL.
1600-1630 Tea break
1630:
Panel Discussion: The Digital Edge of Green Steel:
Panelist 1: Joan Ral Gené, chief information officer, CELSA Group.
Panel Chair: Bertrand Orsal-Reams, independent consultant for the steel industry.
1715:
Transforming Steel: The Triple Transition and the Power of the Central Operation Cockpit by Kurt Herzog, head of Industry 4.0, Primetals Technologies, and Dr.Alexander Thekale, chief technology officer for business unit electrics & automation, Primetals Technologies
1745:
Automating Caster and Hot Mill Scheduling by Dr. Falk-Florian Henrich, founder and CEO, Smart Steel Technology.
1815: Closing remarks
1830: Conference closes.
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EXHIBITOR LIST
1. Dassault Systèmes - (Table16)
2. Endress + Hauser Group (Table 17)
3. Howden (Table 10)
4. Köppern (Table 12)
5. Meva Energy (Table 1)
6. New India Electricals (Table 11)
7. OMP (Table 13)
8. Pesmel (Table 8)
9. Polytec Gmbh (Table 7)
10. Resonac(Table 15)
11. SAP (Table 19)
12. Sarclad (Table 9)
13. Smarktec (Table 5)
14. Smart Steel Technologies (Table 18)
15. SMS group (Table 14)
16. Tebulo Robotics (Table 20)
17. TMEIC (Table 2)
18. Tvarit GmbH (Table 6)
Automate your CO2 emissions tracking with PSImetals
Transparent calculation and tracking of emissions on piece and product level
Real time PCF-Tracking (Product Carbon Footprint) from „Cradle-to-Gate“ along the Material Genealogy
CO2 emissions and Energy Demands as Green KPIs for Optimized Planning, Scheduling and Execution
Business and Intelligence readiness – statistical evaluations and hence transparency on decarbonization progress
Reliable PCF-calculations and certificates for various metals products
PRODUCT CARBON FOOTPRINT TRACKING:
PRODUCT ID: CL CAL 1434
EMISSION VALUES:
Material: Coil
1,2 mm x 1633 mm x 1642,4 m, 25110 kg
Aggregated Gross CO e Emissions: 2517 kg
Aggregated Net CO Emissions: 2516 kg
SPEAKER PROFILES
MATTHEW MOGGRIDGE
EDITOR
STEEL TIMES INTERNATIONAL
Matthew Moggridge has been editor of Steel Times International since January 2014, having previously edited Aluminium International Today, both published by the UK-based Quartz Business Media. During his time on both titles he has travelled extensively around the world interviewing and writing about leading figures in the metals industry and covering international steel and aluminium conferences. In addition to working as a journalist in many different industrial sectors, he is also the creator and driving force behind the development of the Future Steel Forum, now in its seventh successful year. Matthew’s career as a business journalist has spanned many industrial sectors including food processing, foodservice (writing about hotels, pubs, clubs and independent coffee retailers) foreign direct investment, bulk handling and transportation and, while working as a consumer journalist, personal computers.
CAROLA HERMOSO
GENERAL DIRECTOR, UNESID
Carola Hermoso has been general director with UNESID, a Spanish steel association, for roughly one year having replaced Andrés Barceló who remains with UNESID as an advisor until June 2025. Hermoso comes from the Spanish Galvanizers Association ATEG where she was executive chief and president of the European Galvanizers Association’s environment and safety committee. She had previously worked at Unesid between September 2008 and October 2019 where she was focused on the environment, institutional relations, sustainability and corporate matters.
RUTGER GYLLENRAM
CEO AND FOUNDER KOBOLDE & PARTNERS
Rutger Gyllenram is a Swedish metallurgist and entrepreneur. He has an MSc in process metallurgy and materials science and a licentiate degree (Dr-ing) in metal production technology from the Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, in Stockholm. Rutger is the founder and CEO of Kobolde & Partners AB, working with raw material and process assessment, which is crucial for decarbonization in the steel industry.
MARIA SALAMERO SANSALVADO
HEAD OF
SUSTAINABILITY
CELSA GROUP
Maria Salamero Sansalvadó is the head of sustainability at CELSA Group, a role she has held since September 2022. With a background as an industrial engineer, Maria is passionate about sustainability and innovation to drive meaningful change in the industry. For 25 years she has held a number of roles within the Agbar Group (water utility), exercising different functions and positions in the field of operations, technology, research and innovation and communication in the water sector. Since June 2022, Maria has served as the president of the Industrial Engineering Association of Catalunya, contributing to a programme called ‘Let’s evolve’, which foregrounds the role of engineering as part of sustainable progress.
JUAN DE LA PEÑA GAYO
VICE PRESIDENT
INNOVATION
STRATEGIES SIEMENS ADVANTA IBERIA
Juan de la Peña is a senior computer engineer with an MBA, specializing in industrial automation and Industry X.0. He began his professional career at Siemens, where he worked for more than 10 years in the field of industrial automation and sector digitalization, being a member of the initial Industry 4.0 team.
Later, Juan worked at Microsoft for eight years, where he was responsible for selling projects related to IoT, data, and AI. He also managed large strategic accounts, helping define their technological strategy.
Currently, he has returned to Siemens in the new consulting division as vice president of the industrial and artificial intelligence division. He is a member of the ISA Connected Industry team and regularly collaborates with various organizations to promote knowledge related to technology and innovation.
DANIEL SÁNCHEZ
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO)
HYDNUM STEEL
Before assuming his current role as chief operating officer, Daniel Sánchez held various executive positions within the Russula Group. Previously, he served as sales director, leading the company’s marketing and sales strategy for eight years. With over 20 years of experience in the steel industry, he has also taken on technical roles, developing projects for major steel producers such as Nucor, ArcelorMittal, US Steel, Gerdau, and CELSA Group. Daniel has been involved in key projects for a number of steelmakers including Big River Steel, CELSA France, Sidenor Dojran, and Gerdau Caucaia.
JOSÉ NOLDIN
GRAVITHY
José Noldin is the CEO of GravitHy, a company launched by a world-class and international industrial consortium that aims to accelerate the decarbonization of the global steel industry by producing direct reduced iron (DRI) from low-carbon hydrogen. He oversees the development of the company, including its first project in Fos-sur-Mer (south of France), which will require around €2 billion of investment and is expected to create over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
For over 20 years, José has impacted the iron and steel industry by leading successful and innovative industrial ventures, with special focus on business impact and decarbonization.
José is an engineer and holds a PhD in metallurgical engineering from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil. He has received several industry awards, including the Thomas medal (UK’s Iron and Steel Society), the Ironmaking prize (ABM in Brazil), an AIST Presidential Citation, besides multiple recognitions for his contributions to the iron ore, steel, and sustainable development sectors.
MARK BULA
CEO BLASTR GREEN STEEL
Mark has C-level experience working for and raising funds within private equity-backed multi-billion-euro start-up companies for the last 20 years. As a 35-year steel industry veteran, he has played pivotal roles in six steel start-up projects on three continents. He was instrumental in the go-tomarket strategy and commercial negotiations as the chief commercial officer for Swedish-based Stegra, formerly H2 Green Steel, helping raise €7 billion to build the world’s first green steel production plant.
While most of Mark’s career was in heavy industry, he spent three years as the managing director of a boutique strategic consulting company and a corporate director of marketing for a building products company. He has an MBA from the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA. He splits his time between Helsinki and London, as he leads Blastr in its quest to put Finland at the forefront of the green transition globally.
BERNHARD
RISCHKA CEO
SENIOR MANAGER CORPORATE
TECHNOLOGY
SWISS STEEL GROUP
Bernhard Rischka obtained his master’s degree in metallurgy from the University of Leoben in Austria. He has been working for Swiss Steel Group as senior manager of the corporate technology department since 2017 and oversees major investments, best practice projects and – more recently – the group-wide decarburization roadmap. Prior to joining Swiss Steel Group, Bernhard held management positions in the US, Asia and in the Middle East.
HARMEN
OTERDOOM
CO-FOUNDER BUTTER BRIDGE
Harmen Oterdoom graduated from Delft University Netherlands in extractive metallurgy in 2002 and then moved to Germany to work for then SMS Demag, now SMS group, until 2020. Since 2002 he has worked with electrical furnaces in a wide range of metals and furnace configurations, from the design phase to commissioning, troubleshooting, and (long distance) support. He currently holds the position of cofounder at Butter Bridge, a technology consultancy with deep experience in extractive metallurgical processes.
DR. KLAUS PETERS
SECRETARY-GENERAL ESTEP
Dr Klaus Peters qualified as a Doctor of Engineering in 1993 and gained a state doctorate (Habilitation) in 1998 (RWTH Aachen), starting his industrial career with thyssenkrupp Steel Europe (tkSE). His senior experiences include production, sales, quality and R&D both on a national and international level. From 2011, Dr. Peters joined several working groups and committees of the European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP) and was in charge of international research projects and European funding of tkSE. He was appointed secretary-general of ESTEP in 2015. Among others, he is a member of the Steel Advisory Group (SAG) of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and board member of the public-private partnership Processes4Planet. He is the executive director of the Horizon Europe Clean Steel Partnership. In 2021, ESTEP was again appointed as a member of the High-Level Group on Energy Intensive Industries.
VLAD MYKHNENKO
PROFESSOR OF GEOGRAPHY AND POLITICAL ECONOMY
FELLOW
ST. PETER’S COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Vlad Mykhnenko is a professor of geography and political economy at the University of Oxford and a fellow of St. Peter’s College, Oxford. He is an economic geographer, specialising in geographical and political economy. Since the early 2000s, Mykhnenko’s academic focus on challenging the conventional wisdom of urban and regional development has expanded from transitioning economies of eastern Europe (especially, Polish Upper Silesia and the Ukrainian Donbas) to encompass the development phenomena observed across the world. So far, Vlad has produced over 140 research outputs, with his research attracting £15.6 million ($20m) in external funding.
SPEAKER PROFILES
DR. PAUL KEMPLER
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
Professor Paul Kempler is an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon and director of the Electrochemistry Master’s Internship Programme (EMIP). His current research efforts include studying interfacial ion-transport processes and developing electrochemical technologies to assist global efforts toward deep decarbonization. In particular, his group is interested in electrochemical methods for producing iron for emissions-free steelmaking. Kempler has a PhD in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (2020) where he studied the optical properties and gas evolution characteristics of microstructured semiconductors used to convert sunlight and water into hydrogen. He received a UO Sustainability Award for Research and Scholarship in 2023.
REINAUD VAN LAAR
SENIOR TECHNOLOGY MANAGER AND PROGRAMME MANAGER FOR STEEL INDUSTRY DECARBONIZATION AT DANIELI CORUS
Reinaud van Laar holds the roles of senior technology manager and programme manager for steel industry decarbonization at Danieli Corus. He has been with the company since obtaining his master’s degree in physics from Delft University of Technology in 1996 and has worked in various roles, such as engineering, project management and product development. Much of his experience was accumulated in blast furnace ironmaking projects for clients on all continents and his current focus is primarily on redeveloping BF/BOF-based steel production and reducing its carbon footprint to acceptable levels with respect to mitigating climate change. He lives on the North Sea coast in The Netherlands and loves to spend his free time running and eating seafood.
DR. VINCENT CHEVRIER
GENERAL MANAGER
TECHNICAL SALES AND MARKETING MIDREX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Dr. Chevrier’s role at Midrex consists of studying long-term market trends and evolution, which include the transition from carbon-based to fossil-free steelmaking. Vincent earned a B.S. in chemical engineering at the Université de Technologie de Compiègne (France), a M.S. in mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech (USA) and a PhD in materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (USA). His career in the steel industry started at IRSID in France (now part of Arcelor-Mittal R&D) in 1992. After obtaining his doctorate, he worked in the melt-shop and scrapyard for J&L Specialty Steel in various positions. Subsequently, he held management positions at Keywell LLC, a recycler of high-performance metals, prior to joining Midrex in 2011 where he was responsible for all innovation, R&D, and technology improvement programmes. Dr. Chevrier joined Form Energy in 2021 to develop and scale the iron anode of a novel long duration storage battery. He re-joined Midrex in April 2023
DR. JAN FRIEDEMANN PLAUL
HEAD OF IRONMAKING PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES
Jan Friedemann Plaul is currently senior vice president at Primetals Technologies, responsible for the global business segment of iron and steelmaking and eco solutions. The I&S business segment provides technical solutions along the value chain of steelmaking. Key technologies within the portfolio are sinter and pelletizing plants, blast furnace technology, direct reduction plants, converter steelmaking, electric steelmaking (including secondary steelmaking) and eco solutions like dedusting and heat recovery systems. He has been working in the business of metallurgical plant building since 2005, covering different management positions at Primetals Technologies, not only in Austria but also in South Korea and India. He holds a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering, gained at the University RWTH Aachen (Germany) as well a PhD and MBA from the Montan University of Leoben (Austria). His business segments are currently executing large green steel transition projects like the electric arc furnace for the SALCOS project at Salzgitter Flachstahl, the electric arc furnace for the greentec steel programme of voestalpine Linz, as well the direct reduction plant and electric arc furnace for the Power4Steel programme at Dillinger.
BART BIEBUYCK
CEO GREEN ENERGY PARK
Bart Biebuyck is CEO and a founding member of Green Energy Park Global, a vertically integrated, renewable energy franchise dedicated to developing, financing, constructing, and operating renewable energy facilities under a unified brand. Before that, he worked at the fuel cell department of Toyota Motor Europe where he held the position of technical senior manager. His expertise in the automotive industry includes extensive knowledge related to the deployment of new technologies in the European market. He also held a role within the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) programme, reinforcing European trials for the Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle. Bart also had the opportunity to develop and expand his expertise in Japan, where he worked for two years. In addition to his industrial experience, Bart has been politically active in his local town since 2006. In 2013 he became the vice president of the City Council, responsible, among other things, for the local economy and education.
DR. ITSASO AUZMENDI-MURUA
HYDROGEN BUSINESS LINE MANAGER, SARRALLE
Itsaso Auzmendi-Murua is currently the hydrogen business line manager at Sarralle, based in Spain, leveraging her expertise in the integration of hydrogen-based decarbonization solutions in the steel sector. She studied chemical engineering at the University of the Basque Country in Spain and earned her PhD in combustion thermochemistry and kinetics from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the USA. With professional experience across the USA, Germany and Spain, she is passionate about the integration of innovative solutions into industrial plants and driving decarbonization efforts in the energy sector.
ANNA DOMÈNECH
HEAD OF INNOVATION CELSA GROUP
SPEAKER PROFILES
Anna Domènech is an industrial engineer with an MBA in International Business Management, bringing 13 years of expertise in funding and innovation management to the table. Since 2020, she has served as the head of innovation at CELSA Group, spearheading the co-ordination of innovation initiatives aimed at realizing the group’s net-positive objectives across its business units in Spain, France, the UK, Poland, and the Nordic countries.
Anna’s foray into innovation commenced during her six-year consultancy tenure in Brussels, where she specialized in guiding clients through the intricacies of the European innovation landscape and securing vital grants. In her preceding role, spanning the four years leading up to her current position at CELSA, Anna managed Nissan Europe’s participation in collaborative projects funded by both national and European agencies. Her efforts played a pivotal role in driving innovation within Nissan’s European factories, research centres, and business units.
DR. ALEXANDER FLEISCHANDERL
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES
Since April 2024 Dr. Fleischanderl has held the role of global chief technology officer. In this position, he oversees Primetals’ entire solution portfolio, including intellectual property (IP), information technology (IT) and innovation management. Alexander is a recognized expert in the field of sustainable iron and steel production and is also heading the green steel platform at Primetals Technologies.
He holds more than 100 single patents in his name and was honoured as Siemens’ Inventor of the year in 2013. In 2019 he received the Best Innovation Award from MHI (Mitsubishi Heavy Industry). Alexander holds a PhD in process engineering.
Dr. Fleischanderl is based in Linz, Austria and is a member of the executive management team at Primetals Technologies.
DR. RIZWAN
JANJUA
HEAD
OF TECHNOLOGY WORLD STEEL ASSOCIATION
Dr. Rizwan Janjua joined the steel industry in 2002 and has been involved in process technology, energy efficiency, process yield and asset reliability. He is responsible for leading worldsteel’s activities in the field of technology, energy efficiency, and CO2 breakthrough. He is secretary to the worldsteel Technology Committee (TECO), CO2 Breakthrough Programme and leads the ‘StepUp’ programme which is aimed at improvements in mill operations to efficiency levels commensurate with the steel industry’s top performers for emissions and energy intensity. Rizwan led the Premature Wear of Copper Staves in Blast Furnaces project and has represented the steel industry in technical discussions at the IEA, IRENA and OECD.
JONATHAN WEBER
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT (COO) DILLINGER AND SAARSTAHL, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT, SHS – STAHL-
HOLDING-SAAR
Jonathan Weber is a member of the board of management (COO) at Dillinger and Saarstahl, and a member of the executive management at SHS-Stahl-Holding-Saar. He has an MBA in business administration from the University of Mannheim. Prior to his current position, he spent almost a decade at thyssenkrupp, holding roles such as chief financial officer at thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel, head of strategy, markets, and development at thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, and manager of corporate development at thyssenkrupp AG. From 2007 to 2012, he worked at Salzgitter AG as deputy head of strategy.
DR.
NORIKO KUBO
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
JFE STEEL CORP
Noriko Kubo has worked at JFE Steel Corporation’s research laboratory since 1994. She has mainly been involved in the development of steel processes using fluid engineering and particle engineering. Currently, she is the assistant general manager of the Cyber-Physical-System R&D department and is promoting digital transformations such as process control, sensing and robotics.
DR. ILCHAT SABIROV
SENIOR RESEARCHER AND PROGRAMME LEADER IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, IMDEA MATERIALS INSTITUTE
Dr. Ilchat Sabirov is a senior researcher and programme leader in advanced manufacturing at IMDEA Materials Institute (Madrid, Spain). He gained his PhD in metallurgy at the University of Leoben in 2004. His research focuses on the advanced manufacturing of metallic materials, particularly steel, as well as their deformation behaviour, the chemistry-processing-microstructure-property relationship, and product development. He has participated in 12 EU collaborative projects, including co-ordinating five of them. Dr. Sabirov has co-authored over 120 articles in international journals, along with a book and an international patent.
SPEAKER PROFILES
CHIEF COMBUSTION EXPERT FIVES STEIN, FIVES GROUP
Sébastien Caillat is chief combustion expert at Fives Stein, Fives Group. He develops combustion systems for reheating furnaces and continuous annealing lines for the steel industry. Previously, from 1999 to 2014, he was an assistant professor at the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Douai. He holds a master’s degree in aerothermochemistry and a PhD in combustion from the CNRS CORIA laboratory, University of Rouen in Normandy, France, and has been involved in research, development and teaching in industrial combustion and air pollution control. Since 2017, Sébastien has held the position of vice-president of the International Flame Research Foundation (IFRF) and participates in CEN and ISO standardisation groups.
RAQUEL TORRUÉLLA
INNOVATION MANAGER CELSA GROUP
DR. THIAGO TURCHETTI MAIA, DR. SÉBASTIEN CAILLAT
Raquel Torruella is an innovation manager at CELSA Group, a European producer of circular and low-emission steel. With a strong background in corporate innovation and European project management, she has led initiatives in water management, zero-waste programmes, and industrial sustainability. At CELSA, she co-ordinates the Twinghy project, an RFCS-funded initiative pioneering the use of digital twins and hydrogen combustion in reheating furnaces, a transformative step toward decarbonizing steel production. A firm believer in industry-wide co-operation, she advocates for the integration of economic profitability and environmental responsibility, ensuring that the steel industry evolves toward a more sustainable and competitive future.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE, SMS DIGITAL
Dr. Thiago Turchetti Maia is the executive vice president for SMS digital’s Centre of Excellence. He has over 20 years of experience in leading technology companies focused on industrial digitalization. He founded Vetta and Viridis, two companies later incorporated by the SMS group. He has led software industry associations and served on different supervisory boards. Thiago holds a PhD and an MSc in Electrical Engineering, a BSc in computer science, and an MBA in finance.
STEFANO MAGGIOLINO
PRESIDENT AND CEO, TENOVA
HYL
Stefano Maggiolino is president and CEO at Tenova HYL. Stefano began his career at the Techint Group in 1996, when he first joined the programme of Junior Professionals at Tenaris Tamsa in Veracruz, Mexico. In 1998, he moved to Italy as project manager at Techint SpA (now Tenova), working across a number of worldwide steelmaking projects. In 2005, Stefano moved back to Mexico as project director and COO at Tenova HYL, in Monterrey, where he led direct reduction plant projects. Since July 2015, he has been president and CEO of Tenova HYL. Stefano trained as a mechanical engineer, graduating from the Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy. He holds an MBA from EGADE Business School Tecnológico de Monterrey and an MBA from the University of North Carolina Charlotte with a specialization in global business and strategy and executive management from IPADE Business School in Ciudad de Mexico.
BERTRAND ORSAL -REAMS
INDEPENDENT
CONSULTANT FOR THE STEEL INDUSTRY
Bertrand Orsal-Reams is an independent consultant for the steel industry, advising companies on digital transformation, decarbonization, and next-generation process innovation. His recent engagements include serving as head of digitalization for GravitHy, where he defined the digital roadmap for one of Europe’s first hydrogen-based direct iron reduction plants. With over 18 years of leadership in the steel sector, Bertrand has a proven ability to merge operational expertise with digital innovation. As Dassault Systèmes’ principal steel expert, he shaped the company’s metals industry strategy, while at Fives Group, he led the development of an award-winning AI system for real-time galvanizing line optimization. His career began at ArcelorMittal, where he spent 13 years developing patented processes for global galvanizing lines, followed by a role managing Seveso-classified installations at Chemours. Today, he leverages this unique blend of plant-floor experience and digital mastery to help steel producers navigate their energy transition and Industry 5.0 challenges.
VIKAS GOEL
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LEAD, TVARIT
Vikas Goel leads global AI-driven transformation for metal manufacturers at Tvarit, a German VC backed industrial AI startup. As Head of Customer Success and Business Development, he helps large manufacturers improve efficiency and performance using AI. With a background in private equity, oil & gas, and entrepreneurship, Vikas has managed international projects creating over €1 billion in value. He holds a B.Tech from IIT Delhi and is a CFA charter holder.
KURT HERZOG
HEAD OF INDUSTRY
4.0
PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES
Kurt Herzog completed his master’s degree in industrial automation at the Technical University of Vienna and his MBA at the Linz Management Academy.
In 1997, Kurt began working for VAI, a predecessor company of Primetals Technologies, in the area of process automation, and held several management functions in electronics and automation as well as in engineering. Since 2016, he has been responsible for the Industry 4.0 portfolio of Primetals Technologies.
ENRICO PLAZZOGNA
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT (SALES) DANIELI AUTOMATION
Born in Udine and living there today, Enrico Plazzogna graduated in electronic engineering, specialising in industrial controls at Padova University, winning a scholarship from Consorzio Padova Ricerche for a graduation thesis focused on robotic applications. He joined Danieli as a proposal engineer in 1994 and then became area manager for Europe, then for the Middle East and for Eastern Europe and Russia. He was then appointed executive manager (sales) for minimills and turnkey plants. Today he is executive vice president of sales, and a member of the board of Danieli Automation.
JOAN RAL GENÉ,
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER CELSA GROUP
In a career spanning 20 years within different roles, Joan Ral Gené has always been passionate about analyzing customer business problematic, quickly approaching their matters with remarkable pragmatism and common sense and proposing creative solutions. Over the years, he has been fortunate to have worked with high-profile organizations such as IBM, Generali Insurance Company, La Caixa, Abertis, CELSA Group, among many others.
In his current role as chief information officer at CELSA Group, Joan is leading the digital transformation of the company by defining the digital roadmap, with a special emphasis around Industry 4.0, circularity, sustainability, and green steel.
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
ELECTRICS AND AUTOMATION PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES
Alexander Thekale is the technology officer, electrics and automation, at Primetals Technologies. He previously held the position of innovation manager, electrics and automation, and head of digital solutions for downstream technology at Primetals. He holds a PhD in mathematics, and a diploma in applied mathematics, both from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
DR. FALK-FLORIAN HENRICH, ALEXANDER THEKALE
FOUNDER AND CEO
SMART
STEEL TECHNOLOGIES
Dr. Falk-Florian Henrich is the founder and CEO of Smart Steel Technologies, a tech company specialising in production planning software for the steel industry which optimizes production workflows and improves efficiency in steel manufacturing. Prior to founding Smart Steel Technologies, he established CeleraOne, which became a market leader in the paid content sector before being acquired by Axel Springer SE in 2018. Dr. Falk-Florian Henrich holds a PhD in mathematics, with research at the intersection of infinite-dimensional loop spaces of manifolds and artificial intelligence.
BART GOFFIN
PROJECTS MANAGER
Bart Goffin brings over 20 years of experience at OMP, where he has held various roles in project management, solution architecture, and business development. Currently, he focuses on customer implementations and strategic growth within the metals industry. With deep expertise in supply chain planning, Bart combines industry knowledge with a practical, results-driven approach to delivering impactful solutions for customers.
Continued on page 29
Dassault Systèmes Stand 16
Website: https://www.3ds.com/
Email: DELMIA.Events@3ds.com
Phone: +33 1 6162 6162
Dassault Systèmes empowers steel manufacturers with advanced virtual tools to drive sustainable innovation. Through DELMIA’s integrated solutions, businesses can collaborate, model, optimize, and execute operations seamlessly across supply chains, manufacturing, logistics, and workforce management—bridging the virtual and physical worlds.
DELMIA’s suite includes Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), Master Production Scheduling (MPS), Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM), Virtual Twin, and Scheduling. By incorporating technologies like AI, machine learning, AR, and IIoT, manufacturers gain precise digital representations of their processes, combining planner expertise with KPI-driven optimization to enhance decisionmaking and operational efficiency.
The executable virtual twin experience enables steel manufacturers to simulate, plan, and optimize workflows before real-world implementation. With the ability to create “what-if” scenarios, businesses can mitigate disruptions, improve production planning, maximize asset utilization, and streamline delivery—ensuring greater resilience and efficiency in steel manufacturing.
Endress+Hauser Stand 17
Website: www.endress.com
Email: info@endress.com
Phone: +41 61 715 7700
Endress+Hauser is a global leader in measurement and automation technology for process and laboratory applications.
The family company, headquartered in Reinach, Switzerland, achieved net sales of approximately €3.7 billion in 2023
with a total workforce of more than 16,500. Endress+Hauser devices, solutions and services are at home in many industries. Customers thus use them to gain valuable knowledge from their applications.
Endress+Hauser is a reliable partner worldwide. Its own sales companies in more than 50 countries as well as representatives in another 70 countries ensure competent support. Production facilities on four continents manufacture quickly and flexibly to the highest quality standards. Endress+Hauser was founded in1953 by Georg H Endress and Ludwig Hauser. Ever since, the company has been pushing ahead with the development and use of innovative technologies, now helping to shape the industry’s digital transformation. 8,900 patents and applications protect the Group’s intellectual property.
Howden Stand 10
Website: www.chartindustries.com/products/metals
Email: Olivier.charmasson@chartindustries.com
Phone: +33 385417321
Howden, is a leading supplier of air and gas handling equipment and part of Chart Industries, a leader in cryogenic systems used in every phase of the liquid gas supply chain. The company actively supports the decarbonization of the metals industry, with pioneers of green steel already relying on Howden compressors and fans as well as wider hydrogen solutions to bring their designs into reality.
Howden products remain integral to traditional processes such as coking and sintering, furnaces, pelletization and steelmaking as well as non-ferrous metals processing. If air and gas need to be moved, or compressed, at any process location within a metals plant Howden has the solution, ranging from fans, turbo-blowers and compressors to rotary heat exchangers. Our products deliver reliable performance for continuous operation, enhanced plant efficiency and emissions reductions.
Maschinenfabrik Köppern GmbH & Co. KG -
Stand 12
Website: www.koeppern.com
Email: s.bremer@koeppern.com
Phone: +49 2324 207-312
Maschinenfabrik Köppern specializes in the development and fabrication of roller presses as well as engineering services for complete roller press-containing plants.
There is a wide range of applications for presses by Köppern in the metallurgical industry. They are used for briquetting the fine fractions of, for example, caustic lime, coke/coal, ores, metallurgical residues, feed materials in reduction processes, cold application of direct reduced iron with binders or hot applications at approximately 700°C (HBI). High-pressure ore and minerals sizing technology has been a new field of application for roller presses for about 25 years.
Meva Energy Stand 1
Website: https://mevaenergy.com/
Email: Elsa Kayser, public relations; elsa.kayser@mevaenergy.com
Phone: +46 730 98 75 41
Meva Energy is a leading provider of gasification technology for renewable energy production based on small fraction fuels. Its system enables power and heat providers to utilize biomass in a uniquely efficient and profitable way. The company was founded in 2008 in Sweden as a result of biomass gasification research at Luleå University of Technology and at the Energitekniskt Centrum – ETC –gasification centre. Since then Meva Energy has built world class technology within thermochemical process engineering, gasification and syngas cleaning. Recently, Meva Energy secured its first contract within the metals industry, enabling fossil-free metals production.
New
India Electricals Stand 11
Website: https://newindiaelectricals.com
Email: hdesai@newindiaelectricals.com
Phone: +91 9845040809
Our service? ONE STOP SHOP for all power engineering needs. Motors/ Pumps / Panels / Switchgear / Transformers.
Happy consumers? We have been trusted by 46+ countries across the world.
Technology? We observe it fully to offer solutions with ease. Certifications? We gather them as trophies. Industry standards? We rewrite them very often.. What is our purpose? To help our customers to achieve their full potential with zero break down.
Our ambition is to enable continuous growth in our customers operation. Are you in? Join the revolution and discover the future of industrial power.
OMP Stand 13
Website: www.omp.com
Email: info@omp.com
Phone: +32 3 650 22 11
OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow, and thrive by offering the best digitized supply chain planning solution on the market.
Its Unison PlanningTM solution has a unique approach. It handles all supply chain planning challenges in a unified way, synchronizing all planning stages, horizons, functions and roles. From source to delivery, from strategic to operational planning, from leadership teams to schedulers.
Hundreds of customers run OMP’s cloud-based solution to generate more value by making informed decisions. Valued as a thought leader by experts such as Gartner, OMP invests one out of every three dollars earned into innovation.
Pesmel is a global supplier of highly automated material handling solutions. The Material Flow How® concept is a unique combination of material flow simulation, in-mill logistics, packing and high-bay warehousing technology, and in-house software capabilities. The company has more than 45 years of experience in delivering solutions that improve material flows and logistics at steel mills.
Pesmel provides customers with new perspectives and helps to develop in-mill logistics operations. This offers great potential on the journey towards smooth and efficient production. By optimizing in-mill logistics, traditional storage areas can be turned into an automated distribution centre that will serve production processes and streamline deliveries to customers.
Pesmel focuses on bringing customers benefits that materialize through improved space efficiency and material flows between processes and shipping, work safety, enhanced loading and shorter turnaround times, as well as quality and accuracy of deliveries. It is the Material Flow How® company.
Polytec GmbH Stand 7
Website: www.polytec.com
Email: info@polytec.de
Phone: +49 (0) 7243 604-0
For over 50 years Polytec has provided high-technology, optical measurement solutions to researchers and engineers. Its commitment is to provide the most precise and reliable optical instruments and sensors available for non-contact measurement of vibration, length, speed and surface topography. Polytec instruments help to solve pressing application challenges in R&D, engineering and
manufacturing quality, and process control. The applications range from micro system technology to large-scale mechanical engineering for the automotive sector, aerospace and steel industry, medical technology, and biomedical sciences.
Resonac Graphite Business Unit
Stand 15
Website url: www.graphite.resonac.com
Email address: marketing.graphite@resonac.com
Phone number: +49 821 20715 0
Resonac Graphite Business Unit specializes in the development and production of synthetic graphite and is a global leader in graphite electrodes for electric steelmaking. With production facilities strategically located worldwide, the company offers a complete range of products and proudly delivers value-based technical services. RGBU is committed to sustainability – both environmentally and economically, and it is uniquely prepared to meet today’s evolving market needs. By partnering with AMI Automation, RGBU aims to become supplier of choice through a focus on safety, sustainability, digital transformation; and by providing innovative solutions to achieve exceptional steelmaking performance.
SAP is a global leader in enterprise software, trusted by midmarket and growth companies worldwide to fuel innovation and drive success. Its cloud solutions, such as SAP S/4HANA and SAP Business Technology Platform, are tailored to meet the unique needs of dynamic organizations, enabling them to transform operations with agility and real-time insights. By focusing on intelligent enterprise solutions, SAP empowers businesses to seamlessly integrate advanced technologies, such as AI and IoT, to enhance efficiency and uncover new growth opportunities. Committed to supporting the ambitions of tomorrow’s leaders, SAP helps companies increase resilience, optimize strategies, and succeed in a fast-evolving digital landscape.
Sarclad Stand 9
Website: www.sarclad.com
Email: grant.mcbain@sarclad.com
Phone: +44 (0)1142 939 300
Sarclad is a global supplier of EDT roll texturing equipment (Rolltex), roll inspection equipment (Rollscan) and continuous caster strand monitoring equipment (SCM). Sarclad will be promoting its latest product specifically designed for processing lines; the contamination monitoring system (CMS) which is the first continuous monitor of strip cleanliness providing real time data with unprecedented precision that distinguishes between oil and iron fines contamination. Sarclad will also be showcasing its Rolltex EDT Multi Servo Array (MSA), targeted at roll applications requiring the highest possible texture quality and consistency, along with its Rollscan range which identifies defects, no matter where they are on the roll.
Sarclad is a global company headquartered in the United Kingdom with a sales and technical support base in the USA, China and India, as well as representatives around the world. Sarclad has been supplying equipment to the steel and nonferrous industries for over 45 years.
SMARKTEC
Stand 5
Website: www.smarktec.com
Email address: info@smarktec.com
Phone number: +34 943 631 577
SMARKTEC is a company with over 50 years’ experience in the development of automated marking, coding and tracking solutions.
SMARKTEC engineering department, makes it possible to supply custom-made marking solutions for each individual customer. SMARKTEC’s highly qualified team, collaborates with the most advanced companies in the fields of automation, robotics and machine vision systems in order to guarantee reliable, competitive, modular and robust marking and tracking solutions.
SMARKTEC products are supplied worldwide. The company has helped the most representative players in the industry in America, Asia and Europe to enhance their products’ quality and reliability with its marking and tracking solutions.
PRODUCT RANGE: Billet and slab marking machines – coil marking machines - plate marking machines - tube & pipe marking solutions - marking and labeling machines for rolled products - Machine vision systems for automatic data capture and product tracing.
Smart Steel Technologies (SST) is a Berlin-based company and provider of advanced production planning software for the steel industry. SST supports the entire planning process, from strategic supply chain to short-term scheduling, maximizing productivity and integrating business operations seamlessly.
Additional SST solutions cover quality and temperature control, logistics, yard optimization, and surface quality inspection.
Founded by AI experts, mathematicians, and steel professionals, SST’s software utilizes mathematical optimization, machine learning, AI, and steel industry expertise. With over a decade of experience, SST enhances efficiency for steel manufacturers.
SST’s software enables real-time scheduling, improving supply chain planning and ensuring high-quality, on-time delivery at the lowest cost. By leveraging AI and mathematical optimization and steel production expertise, SST creates flexible production schedules in real-time, that improve operational stability and energy efficiency. The solutions support order fulfilment, inventory management, scenario planning, and KPI tracking, improving decision-making and operational performance.
SMS group Stand 14
Website: www.sms-group.com
Email: communications@sms-group.com
Phone: +49 2161 350-0
SMS group is renowned worldwide for its future-oriented technologies and outstanding service for the metals industry. The company applies its 150 years of experience and its digital know-how to provide the industry continuously with innovative products and processes – even beyond its core business – and generates worldwide sales of around €3.1 billion. SMS is the right partner for challenging projects and supports its customers throughout the lifecycle of their plants, enabling profitable and resource-efficient value creation chains. Paving the way for a carbon-neutral and sustainable metals industry is the company’s stated goal. As a global player with German roots, SMS takes responsibility for its more than 14,000 employees.
TMEIC EUROPE ITALIA SRL Stand 2
Website: www.tmeic.com
Email: metals@tmeic.eu
Phone: +39 346 381 4991
TMEIC’s Industrial Systems engineers are the leading force in ferrous and non-ferrous metals production around the world and have been for more than 50 years. From outfitting new steel rolling mills to identifying targeted upgrades within existing facilities, TMEIC rolling mill technology and metal strip processing applications increase efficiency, reduce downtime, and provide significant production savings. Solutions are available for Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, and process models scenarios.
Modernization projects in the steel industry and beyond provide significant process upgrades with minimal production interruptions. TMEIC is the preferred industrial drive and automation systems provider worldwide for rolling mill machinery. TMEIC solutions are unmatched in the industry and our engineers look forward to finding creative solutions to meet your specific challenges.
Tebulo Robotics Stand 20
Phone: +31 72 20 05 500
Email: info@tebulorobotics.com
Website: https://www.tebulorobotics.com/
Tebulo Robotics specialises in high-tech robot integration. It works closely with major players in the steel, aluminium and other heavy industries.
With specific expertise in R&D, engineering, assembly, and commissioning, the company builds and maintains highquality integrated robot applications. Taking responsibility and constantly improving is in Tebulo Robotic’s DNA.
Tvarit GmbH is revolutionizing the steel industry with the world’s first Metal AI Platform, driving sustainable and zerowaste manufacturing. Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, its deep-tech solutions leverage 160+ AI modules to reduce scrap by 50%, optimize production planning, and improve machine uptime by 20%, delivering a higher return on investment within a year.
By achieving 8% energy savings, minimizing quality defects, and reducing maintenance downtime, TVARIT makes steel production smarter and more efficient. With a presence in eight countries across four continents, it has earned recognition as the ‘Best Industrial AI startup in Europe’ by the European Data Incubator.
Backed by prestigious awards like the EU Horizon 2020 AI Prize, a strong portfolio of renowned customers, and a toptier research team, TVARIT is recognized as one of the most innovative AI companies in Germany and Europe, driving industrial transformation with cutting-edge AI intelligence.
Continued from page 23
ALLI DEVLIN2
SENIOR
DECARBONISATION
ADVISOR, RESPONSIBLE
STEEL
Alli is the Senior Decarbonisation Advisor at ResponsibleSteel, working towards achieving a net zero steel industry. Last year she completed a PhD in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford as a John Monash Scholar. Her thesis was titled, “The New Steel Map: Reconfiguring Supply Chains Around Renewable Resources.” Before the PhD, Alli worked on the steel buyer side in the construction industry. She spent over 5 years with Lendlease as a Site Engineer, working on significant Australian transport infrastructure projects (highways, railways, and wharfs). Alli’s passion for sustainability was founded during her studies in completion of the Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Development of digital technology at JFE Steel
In 2021, Japanese steelmaker JFE Steel announced its “DX Strategy,” with the aim of shifting from “quantity to quality.” The company is transforming its business structure into a lean and powerful one by actively utilizing the vast amount of data it has accumulated. In order to achieve innovative productivity improvements, the use of a cyber-physical-system (CPS), remoteness and automation and the use of robots are being promoted in all manufacturing processes.
By Noriko Kubo*
In 2023, the company also announced its carbon neutral strategy. The period up to 2030 is defined as the transition period, and the subsequent period up to 2050 is defined as the innovation period. In the transition period, efforts are being made to conserve energy and improve the efficiency of existing processes, and to utilize electric arc furnace technology. Our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% or more in fiscal 2030 compared to fiscal 2013. In the lead-up to the innovation period, we are taking on the challenge of researching and developing ultra-innovative technologies, such as carbon recycling blast furnaces that recycle large amounts of CO2 generated when reducing iron ore, and hydrogen direct reduction ironmaking that uses hydrogen as a reducing agent to directly reduce iron ore to produce iron, with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The developed digital technologies can contribute even after the process reform toward decarbonization, and we will continue to develop digital technologies for the future as Digital GX. This article explains the concept of CPS, which is important for realizing DX, and then introduces recent digital technologies developed in-house.
Concept of cyber-physical-system
CPS (Fig 1) is a system that transfers operating conditions and sensor data collected from actual manufacturing processes (physical
space) to a computer (cyber space), creates a model (digital twin) in cyber space equivalent to that in physical space, and feeds back the amount of operation that improves actual manufacturing processes from analysis and prediction.
Digital twin in cyber space is a core technology of CPS that enables us to understand the internal state of a facility that cannot actually be seen and predict its future state.
By performing appropriate operations in physical space based on predictions, it is possible to stabilize operations and improve production efficiency, which were previously impossible.
* Assistant general manager, JFE Steel Corp.
CPS for blast furnaces
High efficiency and stable operation of blast furnaces in the steel industry is extremely important to reduce CO2 emissions. Blast furnaces are a thermally efficient reaction process, and are used all over the world. However, there are disadvantages that the internal state cannot be directly observed or measured, and the condition of the blast furnace changes due to variations in the properties of raw materials. Conventionally, blast furnaces have been operated based on the knowledge and understanding of experienced operators. In recent years, further reductions in CO2 emissions are required in blast furnace operations, and more advanced
Fig 1. Concept of CPS
FUTURE STEEL FORUM 2025
control technologies are required.
In response to this, a CPS has been constructed that uses sensor data collected from actual blast furnaces to grasp furnace conditions and predict the future in real time using an in-house model. Optimal operation actions are automatically executed related to the control of hot metal temperature and air permeability, which are important in blast furnace operation. With this system, the hot metal temperature up to 12 hours into the future can be predicted in real time using a physical model that represents the reaction and heat transfer phenomena in the furnace. An air permeability control method is also established using anomaly prediction technology by applying a statistical method to pressure measurement data in the blast furnace. (Fig 2)
This system has been put into practical use at actual blast furnace operation sites, contributing to improvements in labour productivity and reductions in CO2 emissions. The concept of constructing CPS can be applied and expanded to the carbon recycling blast furnace, which is under research and development for the innovation period.
CPS for fuel, electric power and steam operation
Since the steelmaking process requires a large amount of energy, it is important to optimize the operation of fuel, electric power and steam to save energy, reduce CO2 emissions, and improve cost competitiveness.
Conventionally, operators have decided various factors such as the allocation of by-product gas to each process, the amount of fuel (heavy oil, city gas, etc.) purchased,
the amount of electricity purchased, and the amount of stored by-product gas so as to minimize costs and energy losses based on data such as supply and demand conditions, operating conditions of power generation facilities, and contract information with electricity and gas companies. However, there have been problems such as the difficulty in accurately predicting fluctuations in energy supply and demand.
Based on the concept of CPS, the newly developed guidance system (Fig 3) uses a huge amount of measurement data obtained in real time and detailed production plans of each plant (step 1) and predicts the supplydemand situation from the present to the future with high accuracy by modeling the physical phenomena necessary for forecast (step 2). Then, the optimum operating conditions that minimize external purchases are determined by fuel, electric power and steam simulation, taking into account operational constraints, characteristics and contract information of various power generation facilities in steelworks, (step 3), and the results are given
to the operator as a guidance (step 4). This guidance enables appropriate supply-demand adjustment of by-product gas storage and discharge based on accurate fuel, electric power and steam supply-demand forecasts using real-time measurement data and production plans. Compared to conventional operation based on the experience and capabilities of the operator, this system enables more efficient operation, resulting in energy conservation, CO2 reduction, and fuel and power cost reduction.
In addition, in anticipation of the operation of a large EAF planned for construction during the transition period, construction of a guidance system that includes EAF operation is considered.
Optimization of combustion of coke oven by facility design using digital twin
Since coke ovens use a large amount of energy and emit a large amount of CO2, combustion improvement of the coke oven at JFE’s West Japan Works was carried out by facility design using digital twin technology. From the information of the digital twin in cyber space that reflects the specific structure of the target coke oven, it was found that unburned fuel occurred due to a partial lack of combustion air, which affected the fuel consumption rate.
In the past, the amount of air in the furnace was adjusted for the entire coke oven. However, verification using the digital twin confirmed that the method of partially controlling the air supply is effective for highly efficient operation, and the calculation of auxiliary air quantity for combustion
Fig 3. Guidance system for supply and demand of fuel, electric power, and steam. Reproduced from Suzuki et al.2) with permission from JIE.
Fig 2. Automation of blast furnace operation by CPS1)
optimization was successful (Fig 4).
Based on this knowledge, an auxiliary air supply system utilizing existing facilities was constructed and put into practical use. By optimizing combustion, a reduction in fuel use of approximately 5% and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 6,600 tons per year were achieved.
Although coke ovens use large amounts of energy and emit large amounts of CO2, they are expected to operate in the innovation period for the time being. Operation studies using digital twins, which faithfully reproduce actual facilities, contribute to highefficiency operation and the production of homogeneous, high-quality coke, and play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions.
Short-term development of long-life, low-NOx, high-efficiency radiant tube burner using digital twin Radiant tube burners are used to heat steel plates in continuous hot-dip galvanizing lines and continuous annealing lines to adjust mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation. Unlike ordinary burners, this one has a mechanism in which fuel and air react in a metal tube, and the steel plate is heated by the radiant heat of the tube heated by the combustion heat. Since this burner can maintain the high quality of the steel plate surface, it is used in many annealing furnaces. Alternatively, radiant tube burners are prone to high temperatures due to combustion reactions in the relatively small space of the tube. Therefore, it has been required to suppress tube deformation due to exposure to high temperatures and to achieve both low NOx and high thermal efficiency.
Based on test data obtained from the combustion experiments of the test furnace and the physical model, a digital twin that
faithfully reproduces the test furnace in cyber space was constructed (Fig 5). The support structure of the radiant tube inside the furnace, tube shape, structure around the burner, heat transfer accelerator, and heat exchanger were developed independently. As a result of the long-term operation of this radiant tube burner at the cold rolling plant of JFE’s East Japan Works, long life (deformation speed 1/6), low NOx (NOx generation 30% reduction) and high efficiency (energy saving 3%) were achieved compared with conventional radiant tube burners. The development period using the digital twin is about half that of the conventional one, and quick application to the actual operation becomes possible.
Summary
By applying the information obtained from the digital twin to the control system in CPS, it is possible to operate with high efficiency equal to or higher than that of some experienced operators. Furthermore, by incorporating digital twins into the facility design process
and visualizing the internal state of the facility in a virtual space that cannot be grasped in the real world, a large number of prototypes and tests can be carried out, contributing to a significant shortening of the development period and bringing about an innovative effect on the efficient development and operation of the production process.
Amid the recent remarkable development of digital technology and the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the steel industry is facing a period of change. JFE Steel views this period as an opportunity for growth and is working to develop innovative processes that utilize digital technology. At the same time, in order to gain a competitive advantage, we will actively utilize data in all business areas, including the transformation of existing businesses and the creation of new businesses.
In particular, CPS and its core technology, digital twin, are highly compatible with the development of combustion and heating technologies that do not use fossil fuels to achieve carbon neutrality, as well as with applications to steel processes and are expected to play a major role in not only DX but also GX. �
4) T. Kawashima, A. Kobayashi, K. Asakawa: J. HTSJ, 63(2024),8.
Fig 5. Developed radiant tube burner. Reproduced from Kawashima et al.4) with permission from HTSJ.
Fig 4. Concept of combustion improvement by auxiliary air supply3)
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Take back control with solutions forged in steel.
As a global leader in system solutions, TMEIC serves industry and social infrastructure worldwide. With almost 100 years of experience in the metals industry, we offer:
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• Controls hardware and software for Level 1, Level 2 and mathematical models
Carbon capture –driving systemic change?
Finnish steelmaker Outokumpu is actively exploring the use of carbon capture and storage as part of its broader decarbonization strategy, says Stefan Erdmann*
Last year was the planet’s warmest year on record. Global average temperatures reached 1.46°C above pre-industrial levels. Scientists warn that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at current levels, we could see temperature increases of up to 5°C in the coming decades.
Steel production accounts for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. On average, for every ton produced, 1.89 tons of CO2 are released. In 2023, the steel industry reached a market value of $928 billion, producing nearly two billion tons of steel. By 2050, we need to cut emissions by
*Chief technology officer, Outokumpu
90% compared to 2022 levels to meet global decarbonization targets.
Innovation, then, is imperative—but where should the focus be? One of the critical debates today is the role of carbon capture and storage. Is it an essential tool in the fight against industrial carbon emissions? Or could
FUTURE STEEL FORUM 2025
it be a distraction that diverts attention from deeper systemic change?
Reduction versus removal: getting the balance right
At Outokumpu, despite the high alloying content of our stainless steel, we have managed to lower our emissions to 1.52 tons of CO2 per ton of crude steel (2023). This progress highlights the importance of tackling carbon reduction at every stage of production.
Direct emissions are primarily from fossil fuels used in ferrochrome production. Switching to bio-based alternatives or moving towards a carbon-free reduction process could dramatically cut emissions.
Buying in carbon-free electricity sources –wind, solar, nuclear and hydro – can address indirect emissions. That shift is speeding up thanks to regulatory pressures like the European Union’s Emissions Trading System.
But what of value chain emissions? Lowcarbon raw materials might not yet be viable at scale – but we can’t afford to wait for the perfect solution. So that’s an area where carbon capture can come into play.
In my view, we should always prioritize carbon reduction where it’s feasible and economically viable. Carbon capture can play a part only where deep reductions are currently unachievable. Economic realities, advances in technology and industrial collaborations will ultimately dictate the optimal balance between the two.
Repurposing captured carbon presents a strategic opportunity
Critics argue that carbon capture risks becoming a costly excuse for maintaining business-as-usual operations, rather than driving necessary systemic change. Others see it as a vital technology that complements other decarbonization efforts.
For instance, in sustainable fuels and green chemicals manufacturing, captured CO2 and CO can serve as essential feedstocks –helping other industries to decarbonize in the process.
At Outokumpu, we are actively exploring carbon capture for both utilization and storage as part of our broader decarbonization roadmap. As we increase our use of biocoke, these carbon gases will transition from grey to green – creating
So why isn’t carbon capture scaling up faster?
It’s a sizeable upfront investment to build the infrastructure for storing or utilizing captured carbon. Businesses will hesitate to make large-scale commitments without strong economic incentives. And dedicated infrastructure for CO2 transportation and storage is not yet widely available in many key steel-producing regions.
Captured carbon must also have viable market applications, for which we need more cross-industry collaboration. Industrial symbiosis, where companies share resources and infrastructure, is still in its infancy.
Expanding global carbon pricing mechanisms and trade policies to encourage decarbonization could also make capture and storage more viable; while regulatory
support and green procurement policies –along with private investment – can drive stable demand for low-emission steel.
We need a co-ordinated policy framework for carbon capture
We can make carbon capture a meaningful part of the decarbonization toolkit. To do that, we need:
� regulatory frameworks to encourage industries to share CO₂ resources and infrastructure, creating viable carbon markets
� government investment in zero-emission energy, prioritizing grid decarbonization and energy storage solutions
� expanded emissions trading systems and harmonized carbon border adjustment mechanisms to drive investment in low-carbon steel production
� regulatory alignment with clear, long-term incentives for decarbonization technology investments, rather than short-term subsidies.
Let’s embrace carbon capture as a tool, not a support
At Outokumpu, we are driving the next generation of low-emission stainless steel by investing in both direct reductions and smart carbon capture applications. As the transition speeds up, steelmakers cannot wait for regulations to force change – we must create scalable, economically viable solutions now.
The green transition is not just a necessity – it is an opportunity. But to seize it, industry players must act decisively and collaboratively. The time for debate is over; the time for large-scale implementation is now. �
new industrial opportunities while reducing emissions.
Stefan Erdmann
Quality.
Advanced warehouse automation ensure full control of material flows with zero product damages, errors in deliveries or lost products
Pesmel - The Material Flow How® company
By Rutger Gyllenram*
Design, deconstruction and recycling for scrap
Since today’s environmental product declarations, EPDs, not only consider the environmental impact of a product’s production and use, but also the recycling rate of scrap that occurs during production and at end-of-life, recycling is a central issue for designers in all companies where environmental performance is part of the product profile.
Today, recycling is mainly measured based on weight, which does not reflect how much of the environmental and economic value of the materials involved can be transferred to the next product life cycle. For steel alloys, this means that a number of important issues are not taken into account: alloying elements are more expensive than iron, require more resources to produce than iron and, therefore, have a higher climate
footprint, and the same alloying element in some steel types can be important for the properties of the steel and in other steel types constitute a contaminant that impairs the properties. Crucial to preserving the value of alloys is the ability to separate steels with different alloy contents throughout the product life cycle, an ability that requires forwardlooking product design and purposedeveloped logistics and process technology in both recycling companies and steel companies.
The product life cycle for steel in a complex product is shown in Fig 1. Already at the production stage, a large amount of scrap falls which one might think should be easy to separate since the analysis is known. Unfortunately, this is not the case as production systems are not designed to take
*Rutger
into account the value of scrap. Important elements in the automotive industry where increased separation would be valuable are phosphorus and manganese for sheet metal and chromium and copper for cast iron. Sheet metal scrap is returned to the steel industry as auto bundles and residues from processed castings as turnings where the analyses in both cases can vary greatly.
At the end of life, complex products such as vehicles and household appliances are fragmented, after which the metals are divided into a magnetic and a non-magnetic flow. In the magnetic flow, not only unalloyed steels, ferritic stainless steels, alloyed spring and ball bearing steels follow, but also large amounts of copper stuck in pieces of iron. In order to ensure that the content of unwanted elements is not exceeded, the scrap input
Gyllenram, CEO and founder, Kobolde & Partners
is mixed carefully according to proven recipes. Dilution is the solution. In this way, important alloying elements such as nickel, molybdenum, and copper are lost, all of which are more noble than iron and difficult to refine away in later stages.
Identification of alloy content in scrap, for example with LIBS technology and automatic sorting into different fractions, exists but has been found to be unprofitable for handling large scrap flows. The problems that can be identified are, among others, that the amount of alloyed parts in the flow is low in a normal scrap flow, the economic value of the alloys
2. Possible deconstruction and scrap processing paths for complex products like vehicles. In order to recover alloys and avoid contamination in a cost-effective manner deconstruction is done to separate the parts of a product that need a more advanced processing and sorting.
does not cover the handling cost and that there is no readiness from the steel companies to accept small scrap lots of alloyed scrap. Nevertheless, there is a desire from the product companies that their products should be recycled with preserved material value as far as possible.
Key questions
A possible future scrap flow where the alloy value is retained is shown in Fig 2. The products, in this case End of Life Vehicles, are dismantled so that the parts with low alloy content can be sent for simpler reprocessing
while parts with high alloy contents or potential contaminants are handled in a way that a clean flow with a higher alloy value than normal from a frag is achieved. This vision requires an appropriate design and the ability to handle an increased number of scrap types from a shredding plant, which in turn places demands on logistics, trade and steelmaking.
Key questions are what is needed in the form of initiatives from producer companies, recyclers and steel manufacturers to increase the retention of alloy value in scrap and what is needed in the form of standards and regulations. �
Rutger’s presentation (1155hrs, Day Two) is based on results from the three projects:
� DesignValue funded by Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Vinnova, aims at improving alloy recovery over sequential product life cycles through improvements in standards and the regulatory framework.
� MEDALS funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme aims to improve the knowledge about metal dissipation and especially taking on the problem with copper as tramp element.
� ScrapPrecision funded by the Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Vinnova, aims to improve knowledge about the analysis of commercial scrap to decrease the need for virgin metallics.
Fig 1. The product life cycle from the perspective of alloyed steel in complex products. In a static system materials are recycled and virgin materials have to be added to make up for system losses and system growth.
Fig
Data – the map to navigate safely at high speed
Whether it has to do with hallucinating artificial intelligence, political gaslighting, or the sort of corporate behaviour that have led to the European Union’s greenwashing crackdown, the truth can be elusive in business. Stefan Koch* examines the increasing importance of data.
For manufacturers of steel, chemicals and building materials, the uncertainties are piling up: supply chain and transportation disruptions, challenges associated with raw materials sourcing, regulatory changes, and, not least, geopolitical turmoil.
The truth, in short, is hard to find. Data can’t imbue solidity into a shape-shifting world. But it can provide a tighter rein over the variables they control and highlight ways to deal with ones beyond your reach.
Steel manufacturers suffer no lack of data. It pours in from internal systems as well as from customers and partners up and down supply chains. Where manufacturers can improve is in exploiting ever-advancing tools supporting data-driven decision-making from the shop floor to the C-suite.
With that in mind, let’s consider four areas of a steel business where data is getting to truths that build trust with partners and customers while bolstering the bottom line: production, logistics, sales, and sustainability.
Sales-driven production
Operational efficiency looms large in steel businesses. Increasingly, so does the integration of production and sales data.
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS) India is deriving valuable truths from both new and legacy data.
AM/NS India is tracking granular data associated with 10,000 monthly orders of hundreds of steel grades and product types; and that is enabling faster, more flexible
configuration of complex steel products while supporting real-time inventory valuation and sales order and production costing, among other benefits.
Profitable logistics
Logistics and shipping efficiencies are key focuses of steel manufacturers. Celsa UK is rolling out a digital platform and saving 1% to 2% on transportation costs through optimized scheduling and routing. They’re matching different hauliers to different products, keeping customers closely apprised during load planning to catch discrepancies early, and tracking KPIs such as loading times,
dispatches, and on-time deliveries in real time. The approach in this unit was so successful that Celsa is now rolling it out to additional locations.
While scenario simulation can pay back handsomely – energy cost modelling with respect to production-facility location being a good example – it can be a boon to logistics. Data are the fuel for AI that can take price volatility, comparative costs, local political conditions, geopolitical concerns, transit risks, natural disaster risks, and other factors into account and enable fast-paced scenario planning that serves as an early warning system for the business. The outputs
* Stefan Koch is global lead for metals, process industry & natural resources industry business unit at SAP SE.
FUTURE STEEL FORUM 2025
help planners balance inventory levels and locations with the risks of supply chain disruption. A company that had modelled the possibility of trouble in the Strait of Hormuz will have done better than one taken by surprise by having to ship around the Cape of Good Hope. Despite physical impacts even virtual factors like changing tariffs can require a destination change.
Sales that increase margins
Pricing and profit data can help answer some of a steel business’s most elusive questions. Where am I making money? Where can I make more? How can I optimize margin across my many SKUs and customers?
Advanced analytics and business AI help segment customers and consider variables, such as competition and transportation costs, in understanding where dynamic and predictive pricing can boost the bottom line. AM/NS India is leveraging data for a clearer sense of customer, order, product, and grade-level profitability. Real-time product configuration and pricing guidelines help
sales negotiate more effectively, and AM/ NS has seen 60% increases in new retail customer registration and sales conversions.
Sustainability that pays dividends
Sourcing, production, and logistics data are central to improving sustainability through enhanced efficiency. Data is also critical to proving sustainability. Regulators and customers are or will soon be demanding
actuals, not averages and estimates, on sustainability metrics – particularly with respect to carbon emissions. They’re looking for the truth through verifiable data. Steel businesses must establish the emissions profiles of their products from mine through mill and end-customer.
The good news is, carbon emissions relate directly to product composition and sourcing decisions, so more than simply satisfying government mandates, manufacturers can use carbon-related insights to improve their operations and supply chains. And an added benefit: better sustainability data and performance can make products more valuable and competitive – boosting sales while making the world greener.
The world is awash with obfuscations, overstatements, fibs, and worse. Steel businesses must navigate it all like the rest of us. They have a big advantage, though: troves of their own and partners’ trusted data. They’re using it to better compete and reliably serve their customers, and that’s anything but fake news. �
Run agile. Drive profits.
Steelmakers’ margins are under enormous pressure from rising costs, tightening regulations, and customer demands.
Yet, thousands of metal organizations are already forging ahead more profitably with SAP solutions that:
• Improve operations without disruption
• Boost productivity and performance
• Protect profits and stay competitive
Do what you do best—only better—with SAP solutions.
Learn more about SAP solutions for Metals and Mining businesses.
Green steel and post-war recovery in Ukraine
Reconstructing Ukraine will require vast amounts of steel, which should be locally produced to stimulate economic regrowth, says Professor Vlad Mykhnenko1 and Dr. Alli Devlin2 who explain how investing $62 billion into Ukraine’s green steel transition would generate up to $415 billion of gross value added (GVA) in total, over a 20-year post-war reconstruction period.
Rebuilding Ukraine’s ravaged steel sector— which produced 22Mt annually prior to the Russian large-scale invasion in February 2022 —presents a golden opportunity to harness the striking economic benefits of low-emission steel production once hostilities cease.
A roadmap for rebuilding Ukraine’s steel sector to be close to zero emissions by
1.
2050 has already been drawn*. The industrial decarbonisation pathways assume Ukraine’s eventual accession to the European Union. This makes Ukraine’s steel decarbonisation nonnegotiable. Ukrainian steelmakers would be subject to the EU Green Deal target for near zero-emission steel (also known as green steel) by 2030
Professor of geography and political economy, Oxford University 2. Senior decarbonization advisor, ResponsibleSteel.
and open access to essential green export markets.
A robust green steel sector in Ukraine would have ripple effects across the entire economy, for instance, through stronger supply chain links. In 2021, for every $1 invested in Ukraine’s basic metals industry, an additional $3.28 was generated elsewhere in the economy. In our most recent study of post-war Ukraine’s techno-economic optimisation of steel supply chains in the context of clean energy transition, we quantify for the first time that by 2050, a green steel pathway would generate up to $415 billion of gross value added (GVA) and $164 billion worth of additional GVA compared to traditional coal-based steelmaking.
Ukraine’s reconstruction must be green, inclusive and technologydriven
Replacing coal with renewable energy as the primary heating source in steel furnaces will radically shift the centre of gravity of Ukraine’s steel industry from eastern regions towards western and southern ones, and accelerate economic growth. The proposed new green steel mills will be situated near (i) westward cross-border railway crossings and southbound Black Sea ports and (ii) optimal solar and wind energy sources.
Even under the most pessimistic scenario of a partially-liberated Ukraine, facing a slow economic recovery and prolonged EU accession talks, the build-backbetter Ukrainian iron and steel sector will substantially increase demand for land and sea transport services, re-routing them towards Western/EU markets, but also create new demand for the production of green hydrogen and green ammonia as decarbonised fuel and for higher-grade iron ore and metal scrap inputs into steelmaking itself. Green steel will also generate new demand for specific ferroalloys, chemicals and non-metallic minerals (such as graphite electrodes) used as intermediate inputs.
Access to capital, clear climate policies, and strong EU regional trade links will also be integral to the successful redevelopment of Ukraine’s iron and steel sector.
Overall, Ukraine would require an investment of $62 billion over 20 years to fully recover steel production, while transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Ukraine’s optimised steel supply chains in 2050 under the partial liberation and slow recover scenario: Map (a) capacity of iron and steel production assets (marker diameter indicates rated capacity), and map (b) domestic supply chain flows (straight-line distances shown, line thickness indicates trade volume) including transportation of green steel exports to ports. The geospatial data for Russianoccupied regions were provided by Deep State UA, accurate as of April 2023.
Notes: BOF – Basic Oxygen Furnace; OSBF – Open Slag Bath Furnace; EAF – Electric Arc Furnace; DRI - Direct Reduction of Iron; H2 – Hydrogen; NH3 – Ammonia; HBI – Hot Briquetted Iron.
This capital injection would cover $45.9 billion for renewable energy infrastructure, $6.6 billion for energy storage, and $9.5 billion for iron and steelmaking furnaces, in addition to funds to recover and upgrade the supporting transportation systems.
The most recent (February 2025) analysis
by the World Bank of Ukraine’s post-war recovery and reconstruction needs estimates them at $524 billion (€506 billion) over the next decade. Thus, by comparison, Ukraine’s green steel investment needs amount to just under 12% of the country’s total post-war reconstruction needs, in total, or about 6%
over a 20-year post-war recovery period. As a positive step forward, a recent commitment by domestic players (including the largest Ukrainian steelmakers Metinvest and ArcelorMittal) of $35 billion into the mediumterm green steel transition strategy until 2035 means the outstanding amount needed would be significantly lower.
The country was previously the 14th largest global steel producer, with 21.4Mt crude steel output in 2021. But its pre-war steel
industry was also one of the dirtiest in the world. In 2020, the Ukrainian steel industry was responsible for 48Mt CO2, 15% of the country’s entire carbon dioxide emissions. Globally, steelmaking produces more CO2 than any other manufacturing and construction industry, comprising around 8% of total global emissions – 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, around eight times more than international aviation.
However, our research shows Ukraine
could provide the ideal blueprint for a nearzero emissions steel industry. The country has the clear potential to develop the clean energy infrastructure needed – including a robust supply of renewable energy and green hydrogen produced using renewable energy. Ukraine also sits on vast reserves of iron ore, the main raw material needed to make steel using virgin materials, and is welllocated for access to European customers.
The vast destruction of Ukraine’s iron and steelmaking assets represents a stark opportunity to rebuild a thriving industrial sector independent of fossil fuels. Ukraine is well-positioned to supply European green steel markets, providing employment throughout the value chain and delivering returns to the economy well beyond the original investments.
This research is not just another feasibility study. It is a call to action for steelmakers, investors, and politicians to ensure that we rebuild better after the war.
Investing in a Ukrainian green steeldriven recovery would not be charity. Green steel would become a sustainable growth promotion machine for Ukraine’s post-war development, generating almost twice as much economic growth as traditional coalbased steel. This means more income and higher living standards for all Ukrainians. �
* For full details, see Alexandra Devlin, Vlad Mykhnenko, Anastasiia Zagoruichyk, Nicholas Salmon, Myroslava Soldak (2024). Technoeconomic optimisation of steel supply chains in the clean energy transition: A case study of post-war Ukraine, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 466, 142675, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142675.
Ukraine’s iron and steel supply chain asset map, illustrating the location of relevant mines, established nuclear and hydropower plants, and critical transportation nodes for exports.
Replacing fossil gas with renewable biosyngas
The use of biosyngas from biomass gasification to decarbonize industrial metal production offers a potential reduction of 10kt-70kt/yr CO2 emissions in comparison to fossil fuels, claims Meva Energy of Sweden. The company claims that biochar produced as a side stream from biomass gasification unlocks the potential to achieve carbon-negative emissions. Renewable biosyngas produced on-site, reduces transportation and upgrading costs. By Kristoffer Lorentsson*
WHAT IS BIOSYNGAS?
Biosyngas is a renewable gas produced by thermal gasification of low-value biomass residues. In relation to other biogases, such as biomethane, the energy carriers in biosyngas are mainly Carbon monoxide (CO), Hydrogen (H2) and Methane gas (CH4)
THE metals industry accounts for approximately 7-9% of global CO2 emissions, making it one of the most energy-
intensive sectors worldwide (International Energy Agency, 2020). As the global push for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
*Business developer, Meva Energy.
intensifies, manufacturing industries are facing pressure to adopt sustainable energy solutions. This challenge is particularly
Fig 1. Meva Energy´s renewable gas plant replacing fossil gas consumption at Sofidel Sweden’s tissue mill in Kisa, Sweden.
FUTURE STEEL FORUM 2025
significant in energy-intensive sectors such as industrial steel and metal production, where decarbonization must be balanced with maintaining operational efficiency and costeffectiveness.
The European Union’s Green Deal and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 have accelerated the development of renewable energy technologies for industrial applications (European Commission, 2021). Additionally, within the framework of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and now CBAM, industrial facilities face rising carbon costs, further motivating the transition away from fossil fuel-dependent processes (European Commission, 2024).
This article explores how biomass gasification can contribute to the decarbonization of high temperature process heat in industrial production, such as metal manufacturing, with a particular focus on a case study from Elcowire’s copper production site in Helsingborg, Sweden, where fossil natural gas will be replaced with renewable biosyngas in its melting process.
The energy challenge in metal processing
Producing and processing metals is choca-bloc with energy-intensive processes; the smelting phase, for instance, requires high temperatures to melt the raw material
and remove impurities. In modern metal production, a large share of the energy is consumed in blast furnaces, and reheating
furnaces, where precise temperature control is critical to ensure the quality of the final product. It is essential that the heat source does not introduce contaminants, inconsistent heating, or fluctuations that could compromise the metal’s strength, purity, or mechanical properties.
Currently, to maintain low costs, stability, and high-temperature efficiency, the industry primarily relies on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, to generate the necessary heat for its melting. However, this approach conflicts with the metal industry’s decarbonization goals and the
EU’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This makes the transition to renewable energy sources an urgent priority.
Looking at renewable alternatives, biogas, specifically biomethane from anaerobic digestion and green hydrogen are often considered. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), biomethane remains more expensive than natural gas, and green hydrogen is not yet a viable large-scale alternative in most locations (IEA, 2020).
One promising alternative is biomass gasification. By generating biosyngas on-site, from locally sourced organic low-value waste materials, biomass gasification has the potential to offer a renewable and costefficient substitute to fossil fuels in energyintensive processes like metal melting.
Understanding biomass gasification
Biomass gasification is a highly energyefficient process, already applied in the manufacturing industry today by converting locally generated low-value biogenic residual and waste streams into renewable biosyngas, consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H₂), and methane (CH₄). This makes it highly suitable for industrial applications that require substantial thermal energy.
Unlike fossil fuels, the CO2 released from biomass gasification originates from
Fig 2. Biochar – a valuable by-product from biomass gasification.
Fig 3. Meva Energy’s gasification plant is located right next to Sofidels tissue mill in Kisa, Sweden.
biogenic sources and is part of the natural carbon cycle, reabsorbed by plants during photosynthesis as new biomass grows. When biomass is sustainably sourced, this results in net-zero carbon emissions, positioning biomass gasification as a climate-effective energy solution.
During the gasification process a highly stable organic carbon fraction remains, called biochar. Biochar serves as a permanent carbon sink when incorporated into soil or used in other carbon-sequestration applications. As a result, biochar is recognized as one of the most effective existing technologies for carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Both the European Commission and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledge its potential, and biochar currently accounts for over 90% of carbon credits sold on the voluntary market. Beyond its carbonsequestration properties, biochar can enhance soil fertility and improve water retention, making it valuable for sustainable agriculture. Fig 2
Case Study: Implementation of a biomass gasification plant at a copper manufacturing facility in Sweden
An example of this technology can be found in Sweden, at Elcowire’s copper manufacturing facility in Helsingborg, where a new type of thermo-chemical biomass gasification technology is set to be integrated to replace industrial consumption of fossil gas in copper smelting. Elcowire, a major
producer of copper wire for various industrial and commercial applications, has long relied on natural gas for its smelting processes. While natural gas is an efficient energy source for these purposes, it is a fossil-derived fuel that contributes to carbon emissions and exposes the company to fluctuating energy prices.
In response to these challenges, Elcowire has partnered with Meva Energy, a provider of gasification technology for renewable energy production to integrate a biomass gasification plant at site. The plant, designed and operated by Meva Energy, will have a capacity of 9 MW gas, providing the thermal energy required to power the smelting section of the facility.
The project is based on a successful pre-study confirming the feasibility of the technology, and once operational, Elcowire will become the world’s first fossil-free copper producer. By eliminating their fossil fuel dependency, Elcowire not only expects to reduce its carbon footprint but also to achieve greater energy security and stability, shielding the company from the unpredictable fluctuations of global energy markets. Fig 3
Environmental benefits of biomass gasification in Elcowire’s copper production
The adoption of biomass gasification in industrial production provides substantial
environmental benefits, particularly in the context of carbon footprint reduction. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biomass gasification process reveals that replacing fossil LPG with biosyngas has the potential to reduce fossil CO2 emissions by up to 98%, depending on factors such as feedstock type, gasification efficiency, and system integration. (1)
In the specific case of Elcowire’s facility in Helsingborg, the implementation of biosyngas has the potential to reduce fossil CO2 emissions by up to10kt/yr compared with today’s consumption of fossil natural gas. This reduction represents a significant contribution to the facility’s sustainability goals and aligns with the EU’s targets for carbon neutrality.
The plant will be utilizing biomass residues, such as sawdust and wood fibres, sourced from nearby industries as fuel. This localized approach will not only eliminate the need for fossil fuel imports but reduce transportation emissions and the energy losses typically associated with fuel distribution and upgrading processes.
The use of fossil-free biosyngas from biomass gasification to fuel the burners in the shaft furnace at Elcowire’s copper production facility allows CO2 emissions to be reduced by approximately 10kt per year, compared to the carbon footprint from fossil natural gas used in the smelting process. Fig 4
Fig 5. Local and circular energy system. The energy model at the Helsingborg site, developed by Meva Energy, showcases use of locally sourced biomass waste to produce high-quality renewable gas and biochar at the production site, contributing to environmental and economic sustainability.
Fig 4. Meva Energy’s thermochemical conversion technology converts biogenic residue, including sawdust, to renewable gas. The gas can then be used to fuel power generation or to replace fossil gas consumption in industrial heat systems.
FUTURE STEEL FORUM 2025
Renewable gas production on-site
The philosophy of the Helsingborg plant is to produce gas on-site, using locally generated biogenic waste streams. By eliminating the need for extensive upgrading of the gas to meet standardized quality parameters, as well as avoiding long-distance transportation of fuels, the system minimizes unnecessary energy losses and reduces overall costs.
In addition to generating renewable biosyngas, the gasification process produces biochar as a byproduct, which contributes to the circular energy system. The biochar not only provides a means of carbon sequestration, helping to offset emissions, but also creates opportunities for agricultural applications by enhancing soil quality. These combined factors enable a local, circular energy system and independence from fluctuating global gas prices.
Renewable gas directly at the production site will enable carbon negative production and independence from fluctuating global fossil gas prices.
Furthermore, the gasification system in Helsingborg will reduce the site’s dependence on external energy suppliers, enabling the facility to be more energy selfsufficient. This, in turn, offers Elcowire greater operational stability and cost predictability in the long term. Fig 5
A potential negative emissions technology
To fully understand the environmental impact of biomass gasification, Meva Energy has together with two master students at Chalmers University of Technology, conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its biomass gasification plant at a tissue mill in Kisa. The results are nothing short of promising.
The LCA revealed that the combination of replacing fossil gas with biogenic renewable gas and harnessing the carbon sequestration potential of biochar creates a unique opportunity to go beyond zero emissions and achieve negative emissions. The LCA study, conducted in 2024 in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology, is based on the ISO 14040/14044 standards and verifies that when the biochar sequestration effects are included, the gasification process gives rise to a negative emissions value, -6 g CO2-eq/kWh. This value includes the
impact of the entire system (from cradle to grave) and includes the climate impact from building, construction and end-of-life management. Despite this expansion, the result is still a negative emission value. When only considering the impact allocated to the biosyngas and excluding the biochar effects, the process shows a climate impact of 22 g CO2-eq/kWh, following the energy allocation according to the renewable energy directive.
Compared to the fossil alternative, LPG, Meva Energy’s biomass gasification plant has a significantly lower climate impact, see Fig 6, where different sources of LPG have been used for the comparison.
When the biochar sequestration effects are included, the gasification process gives rise to a negative emissions value, -6 g CO2-eq/ kWh. This means more carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere than is emitted. When only considering the impact allocated to the biosyngas, the process shows a climate impact of 22 g CO2-eq/kWh.
The inclusion of biochar as a carbon sink can allow the system to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than it will emit, enabling the gasification plant in Helsingborg to contribute to a carbon-negative operation.
Conclusion
Biomass gasification presents a promising solution for decarbonizing metal production, with substantial economic potential. The inclusion of biochar as a byproduct further amplifies the environmental impact of the
system, providing a viable method for carbon sequestration and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
The case study highlights the potential for biomass gasification to serve as a key technology in the decarbonization of industrial sectors. It demonstrates that, through innovative energy solutions, industries can achieve not only emissions reductions but also contribute to the broader goal of achieving the European Union’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
How do you see your energy supply in the future?
References:
1. International Energy Agency 2022
2. European Commission. (2024).
2024 Carbon Market Report: Stable and well-functioning market driving emissions reductions in power and industry. Retrieved from European Commission.
3. International Energy Agency (IEA). (2020). Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane: Prospects for Organic Growth. Paris: IEA. https://www.iea.org/reports/outlookfor-biogas-and-biomethane-prospects-fororganic-growth
4. Hedbom, H., & Lundh, P. (2024). Life cycle assessment of biosyngas from a multifunctional biomass gasification plant in Sweden (Master’s thesis, Chalmers University of Technology). Chalmers Open Digital Repository. https://odr.chalmers.se/server/ api/core/bitstreams/78ba8906-19ec479c-ace4-0deaa73ef940/content
Fig 6: The three allocation scenarios of Meva Energy’s biosyngas compared to fossil LPG (Hedbom, H and Lundh, P (2024).
Energy optimization in steelmaking
One of the largest steel companies in Brazil and Latin America has reduced natural gas consumption up to 17% with the Viridis Dispatch Platform, says Thiago Turchetti Maia*
The pursuit of energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint is a strategic challenge for the steel industry. One of the largest producers of flat steel in Latin America has made significant progress by reducing natural gas consumption of the main downstream consumer up to 17% through the implementation of the Viridis Dispatch platform, developed by Vetta, which is part of the SMS group.
This achievement was enabled using intelligent automation, which transformed the management of process gases dispatch into an automated and highly efficient system. The technology combines predictive modeling, simulation and real-time optimization, maximizing energy recovery and minimizing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG).
This article explains how this innovation is redefining energy management in
steelmaking, promoting plant self-sufficiency and consolidating the company as a benchmark in industrial decarbonization.
The challenge of energy management in steelmaking SMS group’s customer operates an integrated steelmaking process, where the generation and consumption of steelmaking gases (byproducts) vary constantly due
* Executive vice president, automation, digital, and service solutions at SMS group thiago.maia@sms-group.com
to fluctuations in the different production stages, technical constraints and operational changes. This unpredictability made efficient distribution difficult, increasing dependence on natural gas, operating costs and environmental emissions.
To address this scenario, the search for efficiency was intensified, including steelmaking gases consumption forecasting, and efficient dispatch of energy resources and maximizing its use. Currently, an average of 360MWh of electricity is generated through gas and steam turbines, with intelligent management of this process being essential to minimize waste and significantly reduce operating costs.
Committed to operational excellence and sustainability, the company became the first integrated steel mill in the Americas to obtain ISO 50001 certification for its entire operational scope. This recognition reinforces its strategy focused on efficiency and reducing environmental impacts.
The solution: intelligent automation for gas management
To overcome the limitations in steelmaking gases dispatch, Viridis Dispatch was implemented, a system that efficiently optimizes the recovery, utilization and strategic distribution of steelmaking gases. The solution allows for automated and highly efficient gases distribution management, structured in a continuous real-time cycle of analysis and decision-making:
� Predictive forecasting: machine learning models analyze historical and
operational data to anticipate gas generation and consumption.
� Scenario simulation: the system evaluates different operational strategies, considering technical, economic and environmental constraints.
� Distribution optimization: advanced algorithms adjust gas allocation, minimizing waste and maximizing electricity generation.
� Automated real-time decisionmaking: the software provides precise guidance to operators, allowing for dynamic and real-time adjustments in energy distribution, in the case of open loop. For closed loop, it manages gases distributions automatically.
With this implementation, the company increased its efficiency, reducing dependence on natural gas and improving the use of gaseous byproducts. In addition to cost reduction and operational benefits, the solution directly contributes to emission reduction and the strengthening of sustainability in the sector.
Architecture and structure of Viridis Dispatch
The adopted technology has a modular and scalable architecture, ensuring adaptation to different operational scenarios and greater efficiency in energy management. The solution is structured in three interdependent layers:
� Data acquisition and processing: real-time continuous collection of operational information from sensors and supervisory systems, consolidating them in a central database.
� Modelling, simulation and optimization: application of predictive algorithms to estimate energy generation and consumption, combined with simulations and optimization models to improve the operation.
� Monitoring and decision-making interface: real-time visualization of energy indicators and operational recommendations, allowing for quick and assertive adjustments.
Application features
The incorporation of technology in the steel mill provided a systematic approach to energy management, reducing uncertainties and improving operational efficiency. Among its main functionalities, the following stand out:
� Forecast of energy generation and
demand: predictive models anticipate variations in the total fuel gases’ energy balance.
� Optimization of gas allocation: dynamic adjustment in gases distribution based on operational, technical and economic constraints.
� Scenario simulation: evaluation of different configurations to mitigate losses and reduce the flaring of gases surpluses.
� Generation of reports for diagnostics: quantitative analysis of energy balance, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
The first tests at the company have already demonstrated positive impacts:
� 17% reduction in natural gas consumption in the MGS (Main Gas System).
� 24% increase in BOFG (Basic Oxygen Furnace Gas) energy consumption, ensuring better use of steelmaking gases.
� Greater stability in energy distribution, reducing unwanted variations and optimizing the thermal efficiency of operations.
Results and benefits of implementation
The implementation of Viridis Dispatch at one of the largest steel companies in Brazil and Latin America resulted in significant gains in energy management, promoting greater operational efficiency, cost reduction and mitigation of environmental impacts. The main results include:
� Reduction of natural gas consumption: the optimization of the allocation of steelmaking gases made it possible to reduce dependence on natural gas, minimizing operational costs and associated emissions.
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ABOUT VETTA
Part of the SMS group, Vetta is a Brazilian company with more than 20 years of experience in digital solutions for the industry. Specialized in software and services that optimize processes and drive operational efficiency, Vetta combines technological innovation with personalized service, helping its clients achieve extraordinary results.
� Maximization of electricity generation: the system allowed for more efficient use of byproducts gases in electricity co-generation, increasing the plant’s energy self-sufficiency and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG).
� Improvement of energy efficiency: predictive modeling and optimization algorithms allowed for more precise control of the energy balance, resulting in greater efficiency and less waste of resources.
� Reduction of environmental impact: the reduction of gas burning in flares and the greater integration of renewable sources contributed to the reduction of the operation’s carbon footprint.
Additional benefits
In addition to the direct impacts on energy efficiency, the adoption of Viridis Dispatch brought complementary benefits, such as:
� Optimization of operational costs: intelligent management of gas distribution made it possible to reduce the consumption of externally purchased fuels, reducing the plant’s energy costs.
� Improvement of operational safety: automation and real-time analysis provided more precise decision support, increasing the reliability of processes and reducing operational risks.
� Greater stability and control of processes: the optimization of gas and steam management allowed for better energy balance, ensuring greater predictability and operational stability.
� Keep the company know how: digitalization and automatic standardization of the operational processes reduce impact of the turnover company cycle.
Conclusion
This case study shows that the adoption of advanced technologies can strongly transform energy management in the steel industry. The digitalization of the recovery and distribution of steelmaking gases proved to be an effective solution to reduce the consumption of externally purchased fuels, minimize emissions and maximize operational efficiency. With a data-driven approach and dynamic control of energy flows, the Viridis Dispatch software enabled smarter and more predictable management of the plant’s energy matrix, promoting significant gains in stability and sustainability.
In addition to reducing natural gas consumption and mitigating environmental impacts, the project reinforces the strategic role of innovation in the transition to a more efficient and resilient industrial model. The integration of predictive systems and optimization algorithms not only improves energy performance, but strengthens operational safety, reduces costs and increases the competitiveness of the steel industry in a scenario of growing demand for decarbonization.
This case impressively shows the successful use of Viridis Dispatch and how it reinforces the importance of continuous investment in digitalization and automation for the
ABOUT SMS GROUP
SMS group is renowned worldwide for its future-oriented technologies and outstanding service for the metals industry. The company applies its 150 years of experience and its digital know-how to provide the industry continuously with innovative products and processes – even beyond its core business – and generates worldwide sales of around 3.1 billion euros. SMS is the right partner for challenging projects and supports its customers throughout the lifecycle of their plants, enabling profitable and resourceefficient value creation chains. Paving the way for a carbon-neutral and sustainable metals industry is the company’s stated goal. As a global player with German roots, SMS takes responsibility for its more than 14,000 employees
future of steelmaking. The expansion of the project’s scope and the improvement of predictive models open the way for new opportunities for innovation, consolidating artificial intelligence as an essential pillar for the evolution of energy efficiency and sustainability in the sector. � For further information, log on to www.vetta.digital
Decarbonization and the future of steelmaking
A profound transformation is currently transpiring in the metals manufacturing industry, says Prashanth Mysore*
THE steel sector, traditionally anchored in longevity, is being reshaped by market fluctuation, regulatory constraints, evolving customer needs, and resource limitations. Despite these hurdles, they pave the way for innovative changes and open doors for enhanced value generation. This paradigm shift is fueled by a robust dedication to cutting carbon emissions and fostering sustainability in the industry.
Decarbonization is more than a buzzword. For the metals industry, it signifies a transformational change in the way we extract, process, and use metals. With increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of carbon-intensive industries, the metals sector is under the spotlight. It’s here that decarbonization becomes not just
necessary, but strategically essential for the survival and competitiveness of the sector.
At a time when regulators are introducing increasingly stricter environmental norms, and customers are demanding greener products, decarbonization offers a way to meet these external pressures while enhancing internal efficiencies. It’s a challenging journey, but one fraught with numerous possibilities for profitability and resilience.
Transitioning the metals industry to a carbon-neutral space is undoubtedly a challenge, but it is on the path toward possibility due to the evolution of technology and the emergence of innovative solutions. Here are some of the key pathways that will likely shape the industry’s decarbonization journey:
1. The dawn of electrification and renewable energy: One of the most promising strategies for decarbonization is the fundamental shift towards electrification in metal production processes. By phasing out energy sources based on fossil fuels and embracing renewable electricity—like solar, wind, or hydropower—significant emissions reductions become achievable. This shift is particularly crucial in sectors with high energy consumption, such as steel and aluminium.
2. The emergence of hydrogen as a green substitute: The role of hydrogen is rapidly evolving in the landscape of a decarbonized metals sector, specifically in steel production. Hydrogen has the potential to replace coal and natural gas in processes such as direct reduced iron (DRI) production,
*Senior director for strategic business development, DELMIA, Dassault Système
FUTURE STEEL FORUM 2025
substantially decreasing CO2 emissions. Despite hydrogen technology still being in its infancy, its potential for widespread use in the metals industry is immense.
3. The role of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS): While the ultimate goal is complete elimination of emissions, carbon capture technologies can play a significant role in reducing emissions in the interim. CCUS revolves around capturing CO2 emissions from industrial processes and storing them underground or transforming them into useful products. This approach, when combined with cleaner production methods, could play a pivotal role in shrinking the industry’s carbon footprint.
4. The advancement of a circular economy and recycling: Promoting recycling and a circular economy is another effective method for reducing the carbon footprint in the metals industry. Metals are eminently recyclable and using recycled materials requires drastically less energy than producing metals from raw resources. Enhancing recycling infrastructure and designing products with reuse in mind will be instrumental in mitigating overall emissions and minimizing the utilization of virgin materials.
For many, the question isn’t whether to decarbonize, but how quickly to do so. The shift toward a low-carbon future offers compelling business opportunities for forwardthinking companies in the metals industry, which can bring several benefits:
� Cost efficiency and innovation: Admittedly, large-scale financial inputs are sometimes needed for the initial roll-out of decarbonization technologies. However, their adoption can pave the way to long-term cost reductions. This is achieved through improved energy efficiency, waste reduction, and process optimization. Plus, the embrace of innovative, sustainable practices can access new markets and consumer sections, with the growing demand for ecologically conscious products.
� Regulatory compliance: Governments globally are tightening their grip over emission regulations. This shift puts industries under immense pressure to diminish their carbon footprints. By taking a proactive stance towards decarbonization, metal manufacturers can not just adhere to
regulations but also stake their claim as pioneers in an ever-evolving global market.
� Attracting investment: The current investment climate is increasingly shifting its focus towards companies that illustrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) accountability. Metal companies that pledge to decarbonize are more likely to draw in investments, thereby boosting their reputation and financial performance in the long run.
� Future-proofing the industry: Decarbonization is more than just a passing fad driven by regulations or market trends – it is undeniably the way forward for the industry. As technology advances and sustainable practices become widely accepted, companies lagging in adopting these green practices stand the risk of being left behind. For those in the metals industry, the swift adoption of decarbonization strategies is indispensable for their future expansion and resilience.
Automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and analytics – all these technological developments have a crucial role to play in this transformation. They enable smart, data-driven decision making, enhance resource utilization, and facilitate innovative business models that align profitability with sustainability.
In the context of the metals industry, the use of advanced technologies like automation, robotics, AI, machine learning, and IIoT plays an instrumental role in facilitating decarbonization and sustainability, albeit, in an energy-intensive manner. However, the
energy input in these technologies can be substantiated by focusing on their benefits to sustainability.
For instance, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in predictive maintenance can significantly enhance the operational efficiency of industrial machinery. By predicting equipment failures, these intelligent technologies allow proactive maintenance, thus reducing energy wastage and downtime. Moreover, AI algorithms can optimize energy consumption by controlling and adapting the use of machinery based on real-time data, thus aiding energy conservation and sustainability.
Another notable application is in the sphere of robotics and automation. Automating processes in metallurgical operations not only augments precision and productivity but also contributes to energy efficiency. For instance, automated logistics in metal manufacturing facilities reduce the need for constant human-operated machinery, thus saving energy. Additionally, robot-assisted production lines can function continuously without breaks, reducing energy waste from start-stop cycles.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) also plays a crucial role in supporting sustainability in the metals industry. With IIoT, sensors can be installed across the manufacturing chain, capturing real-time data about energy use, heat loss, and equipment performance. This granular data, when analyzed, provides valuable insights into energy consumption patterns, thereby identifying potential areas for energy conservation.
One notable example of technology
aiding sustainability is the development of virtualization technology. By creating ‘virtual twins’ of physical assets, manufacturers can significantly enhance their operational
efficiency and reduce environmental impact, all while improving product quality and customer satisfaction.
Finally, the journey towards
FUTURE STEEL FORUM 2025
decarbonization and sustainability cannot happen in isolation. It calls for collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders— from employees to suppliers, customers to regulators. Sharing knowledge, insights, and best practices can significantly speed up the transformation process, ensuring that the entire value network moves towards a more sustainable future.
As we navigate towards a future characterized by sustainability and low carbon footprints, decarbonizing the metals industry stands out as a necessary and impactful step. This transition demands audacious leadership, innovative technological solutions, and considerable investment. However, the potential benefits substantially outweigh the challenges. The adoption of decarbonization practices not only reduces the industry’s environmental footprint but also unveils fresh business prospects, augments competitive edge, and establishes a strong foundation for a more sustainable, greener, and resilient world for every inhabitant. �
