Andreas Flick

Trends in the Steel Industry: Innovative Solutions to Drive Sustainability

Megatrends will shape the future. Climate change, urbanization, demographic change and globalization challenge all industries. The key to success will be the speed how the steel industry adapts to this fast changing environment. In order to sustainably maintain a competitive position, steel producers must focus on innovative technological solutions which provide advantages regarding costs, quality, production and maintenance. Siemens VAI Metals Technologies therefore focuses on sustainability in their research and development activities which provide benefits to steel producers now and in future. The biggest growth rates can be expected in India in the years to come. However, tightened competition must be expected, especially from China and other high developed steel producing countries. In recent years Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has increased its numbers of innovations with focus on flexibility regarding raw material quality, energy saving and recovery solutions, operational enhancements, reduction of process steps by compact plant designs and linking of processes, productivity and quality gains and maintenance improvements. An outlook into the future is provided in brief showing some future scenarios derived from an internal study called Pictures of the Future, made by Siemens VAI Metals Technologies recently.