ALCHIMIA at ESTAD2025: innovation and sustainability for the steel industry

Nov 5, 2025 | blog

From 6 to 9 October 2025, the ALCHIMIA project took part in the European Steel Technology and Application Days (ESTAD 2025) in Verona, Italy — one of the most important international events dedicated to innovation, technology, and sustainability in the steel sector.

The ALCHIMIA consortium was present with an exhibition stand and several scientific contributions, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of the project’s progress and results. The booth attracted great interest from steel companies, research organizations, and academic institutions, becoming a lively meeting point for discussions on digitalization, process optimization, and environmental performance in steelmaking.

Throughout the conference, the team presented various papers, including:

  • Life Cycle Assessment for the electric steelmaking route in the ALCHIMIA project: Dr. Federico Rossi presented the massive work conducted in ALCHIMIA by the COGITO Lab at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, focusing on the assessment of the environmental performance of CELSA Group’s electric steelworks and their contribution to enhancing the overall sustainability of the process.
  • Artificial Intelligence-based decision support system for optimizing the ladle furnace process in the ALCHIMIA project: Dr. Stefano Dettori presented methodologies for developing a Decision Support System (DSS) aimed at optimizing the ladle furnace operations. Artificial Intelligence techniques, such as Neural Networks for modelling the process and Genetic Algorithms for optimizing economical and environmental impact, have been applied to improve the ladle furnace process operations at CELSA Group.

The high level of engagement from participants led to stimulating questions and in-depth exchanges, confirming the relevance of ALCHIMIA’s integrated approach to sustainability and innovation.

Events like ESTAD2025 provide a valuable opportunity to connect with industry leaders, share knowledge, and strengthen collaborations towards a more sustainable European steel industry.