voestalpine intensifies sustainable and digital research projects

3 October 2022 |

voestalpine is successfully driving forward the further expansion of its technology and innovation leadership and has budgeted around EUR 196 million for research and development (R&D) expenditure in the current business year. The steel and technology group claims that R&D projects make a positive contribution to sustainability. Research priorities include the digitalization of production processes, the development of innovative products and the transition to climate-neutral steel production.

Worldwide, the voestalpine Group has over 740 employees working in R&D in more than 80 companies. In the past few years, this intensive research and development work has enabled the company to establish itself as one of the leading technology suppliers to the automotive, railroad infrastructure, aerospace, energy, toolmaking, and consumer goods industries.

Research and development plays a major role at voestalpine, a fact that is reflected in this year’s record budget of EUR 196 million. By consistently investing in new products and processes, we are solidifying our position as a global player in demanding product segments. Another research focus is greentec steel. We also want to be the quality leader in future green steel production.

Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG

voestalpine cooperates with around 100 scientific partners in Austria and abroad, including renowned universities, technical colleges, research institutes, and competence centers. The Group also cultivates strong development partnerships with key customers.

Our research projects build on global megatrends in technology and the environment. As an Industry 4.0 pioneer, voestalpine utilizes smart technologies. The use of artificial intelligence is constantly opening up new technological opportunities for both production and products.

Franz Androsch, Head of Research and Development at voestalpine

greentec steel: R&D projects in materials technology and digitalization

greentec steel is the voestalpine Group’s ambitious phased plan for green steel production. The first step will be reducing CO₂ emissions by one third starting in 2027. Part of the existing blast furnace route will be replaced by a hybrid electric steel route. Research will focus on materials technology to ensure that high-quality steel is produced in the future—even with a different raw material mix.

The Group is also heavily researching digital simulation methods and processes that will prepare and support the transformation of steel production. For example, a Group project is assessing the potential for recycling byproducts into the production process and developing technologies for a circular economy to ensure climate-neutral steel production in the future.

Innovative product solutions

On the product side, the steel and technology group is hard at work on developing new digital and smart technologies such as “intelligent” cold-rolled steel strip. For tailormade functional steel, conductor tracks for the required sensors are integrated into a special high-quality coating layer. Intelligent sensors also ensure continuous monitoring in smart turnout systems. The development focus is to make sure the system detects and reports impending failures early on.

The voestalpine Group

voestalpine is a globally leading steel and technology group with a unique combination of materials and processing expertise. voestalpine, which operates globally, has around 500 Group companies and locations in more than 50 countries on all five continents. It has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1995. With its premium products and system solutions, it is a leading partner to the automotive and consumer goods industries as well as the aerospace and oil & gas industries; it is also the world market leader in railway systems, tool steel, and special sections. voestalpine is fully committed to the global climate goals, and its greentec steel program represents a clear plan for decarbonizing the production of steel. In the business year 2021/22, the Group generated revenue of EUR 14.9 billion, with an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 2.3 billion; it had about 50,200 employees worldwide.

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