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One month ago the city of Udine in Italy was at the core of a 3-days event, the AIST European Steel Forum 2018.

The first day, 3 October, was hosted by Fabio Miani, Associate Professor of Metallurgy at the University of Udine: the University joined again AIST and strongly contributed to the event. Locally based multi-national companies (such as Cimolai, ABS, Pittini) and steel experts proposed their latest technologies and brought their perspectives about the future of steel and steelmaking. Two important guests honored the congress: Prof. G. Nardin, former associate professor of department of architecture and engineering at the University of Udine, who spoke about his several and important projects related in particular to the steel sector and also to the district heating and cogeneration in Udine; Kenneth S. Coley, professor and associate dean at McMaster University, who received the 2018 AIST John F. Elliott award and exposed his significant researches in slag-metal kinetics.

The second day, 4 October, was hosted by AIST and its European Member Chapter. Several topics were discussed: current steel environment and sustainability, with a focus on the Hybrid development; advanced and innovative technologies in steel plants; last but not least, we listened to different and powerful stories during the Women in Steel session. Many distinguished representatives of well-known companies (such as Tenova, SMS, Danieli and Primetals) contributed to the different panels, remarking the importance of join together and spread knowledge and ideas.

The last day was dedicated to visiting 3 plants: NLMK in Verona, ABS and Cimolai near Udine.

As the past May event (MIT Professor D. Sadoway’s lecture), this was another inspiring moment for networking and scientific dissemination.

Thanks to those who pro-actively collaborated to the organization of the event, to AIST, to the University of Udine and to the plants that hosted us during the Friday tours.

SIME S.r.l. was proud to participate as one of the sponsor and in particular to see its CEO, Maria Elena Fabiani, awarded as one of the panelists of the Women in Steel Session.

AIST European Steel Forum Program Schedule

The University of Udine and AIST European Member Chapter joined for a 2-days event in Udine on May 14^th  and 15^th. Locally based multi-national companies and international researchers working in the Iron and Steel sector met a wide and diversified audience: university students, professors, managers and researchers.

The aim of the event was to share important perspectives and results of recent scientific studies and processes focused on an environmentally friendly metal production as well as to introduce the next generation of practitioners to the sector opportunities.

The long-awaited moment was indeed the lecture held by Donald R. Sadoway’s, the John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Chemistry in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Quoting Professor Amon, Dean of the University of Toronto, Sadoway is indeed “an innovative, accomplished and committed to research, teaching and mentoring person; he seeks to establish the technologies required to make efficient use of energy and natural resources in an environmentally sound manner”.

Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE) was the key-point of his breakthrough presentation: “Innovation in Metals Extraction: Molten Oxide Electrolysis”. Professor Sadoway goes back to basics with MOE: a process emitting only products!

Along with his MIT team, he demonstrated the feasibility of producing emission-free steel as well as oxygen from a metal oxide feedstock using earth abundant and affordable metals, alloys in particular, as inert anode in high temperature electrolysis. Thus, he overcame the limitations of the process high cost and the fact it only works with consumable or highly expensive and rare anode materials.

A greener and cheaper way to produce metal of higher purity, while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy consumption and process cost, guaranteeing efficiency and flexibility in raw materials. Nonetheless, the technology may even be useful for producing oxygen as well as metals during extra-terrestrial exploration, for instance on missions to the Moon or Mars (In-Situ Resource Utilization project by NASA).

With MOE Professor Sadoway is paving the road towards the sustainable production of metals. Now the question is: are YOU ready to support and pursue revolutionary researches and innovations for positive and sustainable changes?

I’m proud to have been part of this unforgettable and inspiring moment for three main reasons:

• first as a post-graduated student of the University of Udine and former student of Professor Miani who had been the leading mind behind the forum organization;
• second as member of AIST EMC Executive Committee for having embraced this opportunity of networking, knowledge sharing and students involvement;
• third as CEO of SIME S.r.l. that together with Quaker Chemical Corp. powered Tuesday reception, cocktail and gala dinner.