Infrabuild

SENSE 600: Innovative lower-embodied carbon reinforcing steel solution

InfraBuild’s SENSE600® high-strength reinforcing bar was first supplied in February 2024.

Utilising a unique 600N grade, InfraBuild took an innovative “equivalent load-capacity” approach, rolling SENSE600® in reduced diameters of 11-36.5mm (versus 500N at 12-40mm), whilst still delivering the same load capacity. This provides a 16.7% mass saving, meaning less scrap steel feed is needed, and less steel needs to be cast, rolled, transported and installed for the same structural outcome.

SENSE600® is recognised in relevant Australian Standards (manufacturing, concrete, bridge and foundation design), has unique bar patterns and line markings, third-party product certification, and is easily designed in using existing commercial design and sustainability software. It is supported by design guides, an EPD, and Type I Ecolabels (GECA, SSA).

Made solely from 100% scrap steel at InfraBuild’s EAF mills, SENSE600® reduces embodied carbon by up to 39% and reinforcing mass by up to 16.7% (compared to 500N).

SENSE600® improves material circularity because it is only made from scrap steel using EAF technology, thus eliminating BF-BOS billet. It has a recycled content of 97% (versus 82% for 500N) and a high material circularity indicator (MCI) value of 0.915 (versus 0.698 for 500N). SENSE600® also delivers significant reductions (30%-47%) in various LCI indicators.

One tonne of SENSE600® steel produces 20% more linear metres of reinforcing compared to 500N, increasing production and transport efficiencies.

Designing and supplying SENSE600® into Australian projects requires no additional time as it has been designed for like-for-like replacement of 500N.

New robotic tagging increases accuracy and uptime.

JFE Steel Corporation

Development of advanced sour resistant low-alloy steel for sour gas transportation pipes to contribute stable energy supplies

Natural gas is one of the clean energy sources with low CO2 emissions, and its demand is expected to rise. Raw natural gas can contain hydrogen sulphide, which may cause hydrogen embrittlement, specifically hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC), and sulphide stress cracking (SSC) in steel. Consequently, natural gas transport pipe steels with high resistance to hydrogen embrittlement are utilised. However, recent SSC accidents have occurred in low alloy steel pipelines transporting sour gas with high H2S concentrations. This has increased the need for low alloy steel for pipelines that offer even greater resistance to hydrogen embrittlement.

Specifically, the hardness of the outermost surface layer must be lower than before to improve SSC resistance. Additionally, it has become necessary to guarantee the hardness of the outermost surface layer of the steel plate for pipes through comprehensive inspection prior to installation. Furthermore, to enhance the safety of pipeline steel, it is essential to further reduce central segregation in the steel to improve HIC resistance. JFE Steel has succeeded in developing the world’s most advanced sour pipe-resistant steel for pipelines that meets all three of these requirements.

In the development of this steel, JFE first focused on creating “Outermost Surface Hardness Control Technology,” which achieves both high strength and low surface hardness in a low alloy design through advanced cooling control. JFE also developed the “Outermost Surface Hardness Full Inspection Technology,” which enables comprehensive quality assurance through our proprietary non-destructive inspection methods. This has improved sulphide stress cracking resistance in environments with high concentrations of H2S and contributed to stable manufacturing, including quality assurance during mass production.

Additionally, JFE have worked on developing a centre segregation control technology by optimising the position of soft reduction using a new sensor called a crater end metre during slab casting, which has led to improved HIC resistance. Moreover, JFE have optimised the heating conditions before rolling, resulting in a reduction of heat consumption by more than 10%. The yield of products has also improved by 11% due to stable HIC characteristics, and lead time has been reduced by 25% thanks to operational improvements in non-destructive inspection.

JFE Steel Corporation

J-Lecoa™: World-first integrated levelling control system for fully automated hot strip mill operation

In the hot rolling process, camber and wedge occur during rough rolling due to the asymmetric factor at the beginning of the rolling process, which induces meandering (off-centre) of the steel strip during the finishing rolling in the subsequent process.

As the meandering expands, a “tail pincher” problem occurs in which the tail end folds in. As a result, work roll replacement is required, which leads to a decrease in operating rate. Technology for stabilising strip threading (camber and meandering) during hot rolling is essential not only for improving operating rates, but also for achieving schedule free rolling and fully automated rolling to reduce CO2 emissions.

Conventionally, hot rolling leveling has been set manually by the operator through empirical judgment, but there has been a demand for DX (Digital Transformation) and CPS (Cyber Physical System) to achieve stable and automatic operation. Both camber and wedge control in the roughing mill and suppress off-centre in the finishing mill are key technologies to prevent tail pinchers.

A consistent automatic leveling control technology for rough and finishing mills that combines automatic rough leveling control and feedback leveling control (J-Lecoa™) was developed, and the combined effect has succeeded in halving the number of work roll changes caused by tail pincher troubles.

By reducing operating troubles, energy consumption (electricity, water and fuel gas) and CO2 emissions decreased, and the yield loss, lead-time operating ratio improved.

JFE Steel will continue to provide the world‘s best rolling technology for reduction of environmental impact, improvement of labour environment and productivity.

POSCO

Ni-free high manganese austenitic steel for cryogenic energy industries

High manganese austenitic steel is a ground-breaking innovation that redefines the standards of sustainable materials for cryogenic applications. Developed through proprietary technology, this product is the world’s first nickel-free austenitic steel specifically engineered for cryogenic use, emerging nearly a century after the advent of traditional austenitic stainless steels. By eliminating the need for costly nickel, we have not only reduced material cost but also addressed critical supply chain and environmental concerns.

High manganese steel achieves an unprecedented single-phase austenitic structure with a yield strength of 400 MPa—setting a new global benchmark for austenitic steels. Its exceptional strength enables significant thickness reduction, resulting in lighter structures, less material input, and faster construction timelines. These advantages directly contribute to minimising both direct and embedded carbon emissions throughout the product life cycle, supporting users in achieving their own sustainability goals.

Our innovation extends beyond alloy design. We pioneered a series of world-first manufacturing technologies, including molten ferromanganese production and advanced holding furnace systems, which enable stable mass production. The product’s unique property of requiring no heat treatment further streamlines manufacturing, reducing energy use and environmental impact. To ensure safety and reliability, the steel underwent rigorous validation; dozens of mock-up tanks were fabricated, subjected to comprehensive cryogenic testing, and deployed in multi-year field demonstrations on vessels and storage tanks. These efforts confirmed the technical excellence and operational performance of the high manganese steel. Recognizing its transformative potential, major international standards organizations—including ASTM, ISO, API, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), one of the UN’s specialized agencies—have established new codes and standards for this material. The IMO’s first-ever registration of high manganese steel, along with the invitation to present at the 2024 plenary, underscores the product’s innovative technology and far-reaching global impact.

Currently utilised in large-scale ships and storage tanks, high manganese steel is accelerating the transition to eco-friendly fuels and setting a new paradigm for the steel industry, bringing the world closer to carbon neutrality.

CITIC PACIFIC Special Steel Group Co., Ltd.

Innovative practices in the development of low-carbon special steel products and brand building based on Life Cycle Assessment

Our objective at CITIC PACIFIC was to apply an LCA methodology to develop a comprehensive and credible framework for lthe market development of low-carbon products, and promote their practical implementation, thereby effectively addressing the current imbalance between low-carbon investment and output across the entire industrial chain.

Our approach involved collaborating with partners in the whole special steel industrial chain, including component manufacturers, OEMs, and owners, as well as LCA research institutions, associations, and relevant parties to jointly develop and promote.

The outcome finalised the development of representative new low-carbon products and
brand construction, thereby achieving enhanced user collaboration, business growth, market expansion, and eventually improving the business’s overall operational efficiency and profitability.

HBIS Group Co., Ltd.

 “LCA+Life Well-Being Index” Collaborative Evaluation System: Innovating to drive marketing and application of metal decorative products

HBIS Group Dahe Metal Company has developed a new type of metal decorative products (coated steel-based), realising “replacing wood with steel” for the architectural decoration industry. However, the promotion of new metal decorative products in the decoration field faces problems: first, the advantages of their environmental performance lack quantitative evaluation, and customers have prejudices about whether steel materials are ”green”; second, the advantages of improving quality of life and the associated value to “people” have not been fully considered.

HBIS, in conjunction with international organisations, with the application of LCT as the core, has carried out a project on the “LCA+” evaluation methodology, tool development, and case study. Taking bathroom cabinets as a typical case, through a comparative analysis of “coated steel cabinets and particleboard cabinets,” the environmental performance and quality of life improvement value of the two schemes under different service lives are studied. The results show that coated steel cabinets have significant advantages in reducing environmental load and improving quality of life, and the longer the service life, the more obvious the advantages. The project team has formed an evaluation tool and a solution that can quantify environmental performance and intuitively present the value of improving quality of life, achieving a breakthrough from “quantitative presentation of environmental data” to “concrete perception of life value”. The project is undergoing professional review by the third-party thinkstep-anz .

This case also led to orders for bathroom cabinets in the renovation of Shijiazhuang Yanshan Hotel and for the redecoration of the library at Suzhou Campus, Nanjing University with Dahe Metal Company, successfully transforming LCA data into market competitiveness. The “LCA+” solution was also officially released at the 2025 World Steel Association LCA Conference, providing a scientific and practical demonstration sample for the large-scale implementation of metal decorative products in the architectural decoration field.

Jingye Group

Research and application of metal powder PCR based on steel joint
production

This project, led by Jingye Group, created an integrated production scenario combining
steel and metal powder industrial chains. In collaboration with upstream and downstream partners, research institutions, and third-party verification agencies, it conducted LCA methodology research for metal powder products and developed publicly released PCR for metal powders. Based on the PCR documentation, Jingye Group successfully released the world’s first EPD for iron-based metal powders, validating the LCA pathway for reducing environmental impact through steel integration. The verification results were used to optimise the project’s energy structure and overall layout, continuously improving product environmental performance.

Metal powders are fundamental to advanced manufacturing, essential for everyday products like mobile phones, automobiles, TVs, and laptops. Approximately 70% ofautomotive components can be manufactured through powder metallurgy. Under
traditional processes, each tonne of metal powder product generates about 30 tonnes of carbon emissions with significant environmental impact, yet product LCA accountingmethodologies were previously non-existent. The steel industry’s supply chain can fully cover all raw materials and fuels for metal powder/3D printing production lines, and steel companies’ robust environmental protection systems enable perfect recycling of wastewater, exhaust gas, and solid waste from metal powder/3D printing production. Verification shows that integrating steel and metal powder industrial chains can reduce the environmental impact of metal powder products by approximately 66%.

The combination of green low-carbon development in the steel industry with the high added value of metal powder products presents a breakthrough path for the steel industry.

JSW Steel Limited

Use of LCA tool to predict the impact of green hydrogen manufacturing process and its injection in gas-based DRI plant under various scenarios

JSW’s objective was to develop a denmonstration project for a new green hydrogen
manufacturing facility and use the green hydrogen produced for injection in an existing DRI plant.

The project is powered by renewable electricity sourced from a combined 825 MW portfolio of wind (600 MW) and solar (225 MW) assets owned by JSW Renewable Energy. A dedicated transmission line ensures continuous, round-the-clock supply of this green power to the hydrogen plant at the JSW Vijayanagar complex.

The green hydrogen plant uses a 25 MW alkaline electrolysis system to convert demineralised water into hydrogen and oxygen, powered entirely by the dedicated renewable electricity. The project activity consists of two phases. In the first phase, which is currently implemented, the facility will supply 5000 NM3/hr of green hyrdrogen and is equipped with advanced electrolysers featuring dedicated rectifiers and transformers, and all necessary utilities are supplied on-site to support smooth operations. For phase two, planned in future this existing facility will be ramped up to supply 20,000NM3/hr of green hydrogen.

Produced green hydrogen is delivered through a dedicated pipeline to the DRI plant at
Vijayanagar. The existing DRI plant of 1.2 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) capacity operates with gas generated by the Corex plant at JSW Vijaynagar works.

The LCA study has been used to predict impacts under various potential scenarios which will assist the plant operations to take decision for process optimisation.

POSCO

CEFacT: A system that responds to steel industry decarbonisation standards

In response to the global low-carbon economy and the resulting industry paradigm shift, this project has developed a system to monitor the CO2 emitted by each steel product. First, a method has been devised to assign grades to carbon-reduced steel products; then, a staggered costing scheme will be determined, based on the steel industry’s LCA concept.

By combining this CO2 emission tracking with the cost analysis tool previously developed by POSCO, the system assesses the PCF of steel products by various production methods and routes. Because this system is flexible, composed of a clear emission profile and cost of each steel product, the transparent findings can be readily shared with customers. The system is designed to estimate CO2 emissions throughout the manufacturing process, from raw materials procurement to final product. Collected at daily and monthly intervals, the estimation method subscribes to the principles of mass and heat balance, which comply with ISO 14044 and 14067 standards.

Based on a top-down approach, a steelworks is split into plant unit and then product unit by defined boundaries, where CO2 emission intensities and CO2 emissions per unit, were estimated. The CO2 emission intensity was used to determine the CO2 emissions along production routes of products. The monthly estimated CO2 emissions were 99.7% consistent with the confirmed CO2 emissions of the steelworks. Depending on environmental policy and regulations, the CO2 emissions of scope3 from the upstream supply chain was partially added.

The goal of this project is to perform daily and/or monthly management of the CO2 emissions of each steel product. As a result, customers are informed about the carbon footprint of their products before they are shipped to them. Additionally, when this
forecasting and tracking system combines with the cost analysis tool, a tangible pathway can be offered to achieve decarbonisation in the steel industry.

Gerdau S.A.

Steel is POP: The steel sunglasses that united Gerdau and Chilli Beans at Rock in Rio

With its products, Gerdau is present in people’s daily lives around the world: in the homes they live in, the offices they work in, and the bridges, highways, and overpasses they cross every day. However, as a B2B company, its operations are not very tangible to the general public, who often don’t realise how steel is part of their lives every day.

Despite investing in innovative initiatives and striving to bring steel closer to the public, the steel production sector still faced the challenge of overcoming the negative image
historically associated with mining and steelmaking in Brazil.

Faced with this scenario, Gerdau realised it needed to humanise steel and bring it closer to society — to make it visible, relatable, wearable. Steel is in almost everything, yet it goes unnoticed. As a centennial brand, Gerdau needed to modernise and connect with new generations, showing how tradition, sustainability, and innovation can walk together toward the future.

In 2022, Gerdau became a sponsor of Rock in Rio, the world’s largest music and entertainment festival. More than just sponsoring the event, Gerdau made steel one of its protagonists. With a bold strategy, a new “World Stage” was launched — the largest in the festival’s history — built entirely from 100% Gerdau recyclable steel.

The desire to get even closer to the public sparked the idea of a collaboration with Chilli Beans to create sunglasses made of steel — a tribute to the Rock in Rio’s (World Stage), which features over 200 tonnes of 100% recyclable Gerdau steel in its set design. The sunglasses line became a fashion product, a symbol of attitude and youth, carrying the same DNA of innovation and sustainability that drives Gerdau.

More than just creating a desirable item, the partnership between Gerdau and Chilli Beans was designed to showcase how steel is part of people’s everyday lives. The material that builds cities now also shapes a fashion accessory. The inspiration came from the stage’s scenography — an 860 m² structure, equivalent to a 10-storey building.

JSW Steel Limited

JSW Steel MSME Empowerment

India’s extraordinary growth is driven by the millions of MSMEs across the nation, whose innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are propelling the country forward. These businesses see opportunities where others see challenges. They think differently, dream bigger, and are constantly reimagining industries and reshaping the economy.

At JSW Steel, we recognise the power of this transformative force. That’s why we introduced JSW Steel for MSME: MSMEs – Initiatives by JSW Steel—a set of programmes designed to simplify procurement and make the raw materials MSMEs need more accessible than ever, enabling them to focus on what they do best: innovate, grow, and drive change.

On MSME Day (27 June 2024), we set out to capture the spirit of MSMEs—fueled by innovation and imagination—through a film that brings their story to life with hand-drawn illustrations. Each frame of the video tells the story of how MSMEs are not just surviving but thriving—dreaming beyond limits, redefining industries, breaking boundaries, and building the future of India.

The success of this spirit was reflected in the campaign’s performance, achieving an
impressive 41.06 million total views, with 36 million views on Instagram alone and an engagement rate of 65.61%.

This film is a tribute to the power of MSMEs, showcasing how they are shaping India’s growth while highlighting how JSW Steel is empowering them to build, visualise, and achieve their potential.

Tenaris

Safety in First Person

Safety in First Person is a video series adapted into eight languages, designed to highlight lessons learned from specific incidents or accidents within our operations at Tenaris. These are real events explained by our own people, directly from the field, who share not only what happened, but also their insights and reflections.

To create a stronger connection and make the message more impactful, we chose to film these videos using a POV (point of view) format—placing the viewer in the middle of the scene, as if they were experiencing the event firsthand. This immersive approach helps recreate the context in a more engaging and realistic way, making it easier for employees to relate, understand the risks involved, and connect with the people behind the stories.

By seeing the event unfold through the eyes of those key referents from the area where it occurred, viewers are encouraged to reflect, speak up, and apply the lessons learned in their own daily work. This initiative fosters safety conversations and promotes a stronger, more personal commitment to prevention.

The series is shared by our Global Senior Director of Health and Safety through an email campaign sent to all mill employees and other internal channels, such as TenarisToday (our intranet), TV screens and WhatsApp. The main goal is for them to watch it and to cascade and discuss the video with their teams.

This production is part of the Safety Update campaign, an ongoing weekly communication also sent by our Health and Safety Senior Director to all employees. Each weekly message includes a detailed infographic featuring information about accidents or incidents that have occurred at Tenaris mills across the regions where the company is present.

Tenaris 

Tenaris Siderca 70th anniversary

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of TenarisSiderca, Tenaris’s Industrial Center in
Campana, Argentina, we developed a multichannel campaign with different actions
and initiatives to reflect the mutual growth between the company and its community.

One of these actions was the production of a video portraying daily life in the city and the mill, emphasizing the company’s strong ties with the community. This piece was the cornerstone of an internal and broader media campaign.

Ternium

“Tomorrow, Santa Cruz” Documentary – Building Futures Through Education

“Tomorrow, Santa Cruz” is a documentary strategically produced by Ternium Brazil to
showcase the construction of the newest Roberto Rocca Technical School—the first in Brazil and the third within the Techint Group network. This short film serves as an initial step in highlighting the creation of the school, which will welcome students from the neighbourhoods of Paciência, Sepetiba, Itaguaí, and Santa Cruz (Rio de Janeiro).

By 2027, the Roberto Rocca Technical School is expected to accommodate 576 students from these communities. This initiative reflects one of the Techint Group’s core values: fostering development and inclusive growth in the regions where it operates. To bring these values to life, the documentary follows the journey of local students transitioning from under-resourced public schools to a high standard institution, where they face new academic challenges and opportunities for personal transformation.

Through their stories, these young students take centre stage, sharing their aspirations and their belief that education can change their futures. Their testimonies illustrate how Ternium, through community-focused initiatives, fulfills one of the Techint Group’s most important commitments: advancing technical education as a catalyst for growth, transformation, and social mobility.

The film also highlights the people behind the project—the professionals building the
school, future teaching staff, and Ternium Brasil’s technical team—whose perspectives underscore the deep and lasting impact the Roberto Rocca School will have on Santa Cruz, creating real opportunities for local development.

Producing a documentary was a deliberate strategy to reinforce Ternium’s commitment to the region—not only by showcasing its most significant investment locally but also by ensuring the community could directly access the story. To achieve this, the film premiered on TV Band Rio, a major free-to-air channel reaching 92 municipalities and an estimated 3 million viewers across Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, over 2,000 people—including teachers, students, Ternium employees, and staff from other Techint Group companies— attended local screenings. The documentary is also available on the official TV Band Rio YouTube channel, ensuring broader access.

UNESID

#WomenOfSteel (#MujeresDeAcero)

#WomenOfSteel (#MujeresDeAcero) is a long-standing communication initiative launched in 2015 by UNESID to raise visibility and recognition of women in Spain’s steel industry. Over the years, it has evolved into a multi-format programme that highlights the contribution of women across the sector—from production to leadership— while promoting inclusion and diversity.

In 2022, the initiative gained new momentum with the launch of annual webinars, each year focusing on a different topic and bringing together female professionals from various steel companies. These virtual events provide a platform for participants to share their career experiences, personal reflections, and challenges, building a community of supportand inspiration within the industry.

The latest milestone of the campaign has been the relaunch of the #WomenInSteel website in March 2025, improving its usability, accessibility and content structure, where you can find all the information related to gender equality actions in the sector with data, news and individual and collective programmes of the steel sector to be a reference in the best way to its growing audience. The updated site offers clearer navigation, fresh interviews, and an improved multimedia experience. #MujeresDeAcero’s goal is not only to strengthen the internal reputation of the sector among employees, but also to showcase steel as a modern and inclusive industry to the broader public.

United States Steel Corporation

I Live Here, Too

U. S. Steel’s environmental team works every day to ensure that compay facilities adhere to rigorous environmental standards. They do this work in an adversarial, and often hostile, atmosphere where the constant scrutiny of regulators, environmental groups, and activist media outlets makes a difficult job even harder. This project sought to tell the stories of the men and women whose jobs address environmental compliance at our facilities each day. For them, a commitment to environmental excellence isn’t merely professional, it’s personal. Why? They live in the communities where they work and want clean air, clean water, and a clean environment for themselves and their families. The reason is simple, and it’s what we called this programme: “I Live Here, Too.”

Finding the right employees to tell their stories was crucial. We chose our stars because of their professional acumen, their ties to the communities where they work, their commitment to innovation, and, where possible, a family history in the region. The videos were not scripted and the employees answered questions from a producer standing off camera. The only scripted portions were their introductions, and the “I Live Here, Too” that tied their portion to the rest of the campaign. The final product made for a genuine, heartfelt, and compelling message why U. S. Steel’s drive for environmental excellence is one of the cornerstones of company culture.

U. S. Steel produced six videos targeted toward geographic areas where our message was needed most. Phase one involved the first four videos and featured U. S. Steel employees from the Monongahela Valley surrounding company facilities in the Pittsburgh, PA area. The final two videos starred employees working at the U. S. Steel facility located in Gary, IN, a short distance from Chicago. Videos were targeted to the Pittsburgh and Chicago areas via social media and Google advertising.

The videos were posted to U. S. Steel’s website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X feeds as well as the X-App, an internal facing news source for employees enterprise wide. Each video lasted one minute or less, thirty-second versions were also created to be used as television advertisements. The videos were deployed over a six week period, with one video being released each week. Prior to launch, a “trailer” video was created for X-App to create some interest among U. S. Steel employees.