Machine Industries

What global steel production has looked like over the last 50 years   Steel is the foundation of our buildings, vehicles, and industries. Image: Unsplash/Yasin hm Steel is the foundation of our buildings, vehicles, and industries, with 1,864 million metric tons of crude steel produced in 2020. Global steel production has more than tripled over the past 50 years, despite nations like the U.S. and Russia scaling down their domestic production. Steel’s true strength lies in its infinite recyclability with no loss of quality and it being 1,000x stronger. Steel production has tripled in the last 50 years. Image: Niccolo...

A burning issue - decarbonising the global steel industry Steel is essential in today’s world, and it will be just as essential tomorrow – much of the technology to create a zero-carbon future will use steel in its construction. Yet steel production itself is a highly polluting activity. One of the most ubiquitous materials in the modern world, steel is used in everything from suspension bridges and skyscrapers to surgical scalpels and cookware. The ready availability of the iron ore from which steel is made and the immense versatility of the finished material have made it integral to the way...

Removing steel safeguards leaves the industry at risk of collapse It is essential for the UK government to extend steel safeguards beyond their June 2021 expiry date, or we risk job losses and endangering this treasured British industry. British made steel is one of the pillars that built this great nation to what it is today, contributing £2 billion to the UK economy in 2020 alone. The British steel industry produces enough for 70% of the UK’s annual requirement of crude steel each year. With 96% of it used in construction and infrastructure recycled and used, over and over. Yet,...

New challenges in the scrap metal industry Anticipating this, Panizzolo Recycling Systems has gained concrete experience in the end-of-waste sector. It is no secret that global markets are rapidly moving towards an overwhelming demand for quality metals, in the wake of China’s National Sword policy, to treat scrap as products rather than waste. Companies already moving in this direction are benefitting from increased sales. In order not to get left behind, companies need to sharpen their weapons and target technological innovation. By updating and elevating the treatment phases, it will be possible to seize the opportunities of this change and...

This is how the steel industry is forging a path to net-zero The modern world is built from steel – 1.8 gigatons (Gt) were produced last year, 90% of all metal produced globally. From wind turbines to electric vehicles, steel will be an integral enabler of the energy transition. But steel production is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most steel is still made using coal to reduce iron ore, a process that emits roughly two metric tons of CO2 per ton of steel. The industry accounts for 7% of global GHG emissions from the energy system –...