Press release: 12th EUROSLAG conference in Bilbao on the future of ferrous slags
Transformation as a challenge
Bilbao/Duisburg, 25 October 2024: The transformation of the steel industry to largely low-CO2 manufacturing processes also has a massive impact on the by-product ferrous slag. The 12th EUROSLAG conference from 23 to 25 October 2024 in Bilbao focused on the challenges facing science and industry and the solutions already available today. Under the motto ‘Slags for the Future, the Future of the Slags’, 230 participants from 34 countries exchanged ideas in the sessions ‘Legislation and Standardisation’, ‘Applications and Best Practices’, ‘Future Trends in the Steel Sector and Implications on Slag’ and ‘Tendencies in Slag Utilization and Research Projects’. The European Association of Producers and Processors of Ferrous Slag EUROSLAG, based in Duisburg, organises the trade event every two years, in Bilbao with the major support of the Basque Steel Cluster Association Siderex, the Spanish Steel Industry Association Unesid and the Spanish Steel Technology Platform Platea.
In addition to the influence of the decarbonisation process on the properties and availability of slags, this year's EUROSLAG focused on the impact of legislation and standardisation, including technical and ecological issues, innovative production and processing, characterisation and use of slags, new areas of application and the recovery of metallic raw materials from ferrous slags. In particular, the necessary changes to the regulations for the use of slag products from the transformed steel industry were clearly emphasised as one of the core tasks. The organisers also emphasised the industry's strong commitment to innovation, modernisation and sustainability as well as the importance of research and international networking.
Thomas Reiche, Chairman of EUROSLAG and Managing Director of FEhS Building Materials Institute from Duisburg, which provided five speakers: ‘We would like to thank the Spanish organisers for this very successful event. The large number of participants this year, not only from Europe, also emphasises the economic and ecological importance of by-products for the steel industry. In 2023, 35.8 million tonnes of iron and steel slag were produced in the European Union and Great Britain. Over 90 per cent of this was used in building materials, fertilisers and metallurgy. This avoided the extraction of 44 million tonnes of natural rock and the emission of around 12 million tonnes of CO2 through the use of granulated blast furnace slag instead of Portland cement clinker in cement. In the period from 2000 to 2023, a total of 1.17 billion tonnes of natural rock and 416 million tonnes of the climate-damaging gas were saved. This track record must be confirmed and expanded in the future.’
Duisburg, 6 March 2024. Decarbonization and transformation, resource conservation and circular economy: The enormous economic and ecological challenges can only be overcome at an international level. This also applies to ferrous slag and the products made from it. Under the title "Slag for the Future, the Future of Slags", the European network EUROSLAG is organizing its 12th conference from 23 to 25 October in Bilbao. Registration is now open at www.euroslag2024.eu or https://lnkd.in/dGZjudzA. Participants and speakers from all over the world are expected to attend. Interested parties can also submit their abstracts for papers and posters via the website until April 30, 2024. SIDEREX, the Basque Steel Cluster Association, and UNESID, the Spanish Steel Industry Business Association, are organizing the event with the support of PLATEA, the Spanish Steel Technology Platform, and EUROSLAG.
Central topics of the event are the influence of the decarbonization process on the properties and availability of slags, the impact of legislation and standardization including technical and ecological issues, innovative production and processing, characterization and use of slags, new areas of application and the recovery of metallic raw materials from ferrous slags.
Thomas Reiche, Managing Director of FEhS – Institute for Building Materials Research and Chairman of EUROSLAG: "Science and industry, research and companies are working hand in hand worldwide to make enormous efforts to be able to use ferrous slag in cement and concrete, as a transport construction material, in fertilizers or new fields of application in the future. This not only benefits numerous industries. It also benefits the earth's increasingly scarce natural resources and the climate. We want to set an example in Bilbao that a lot can be achieved together and look forward to groundbreaking presentations and an interesting exchange."
About EURSOSLAG:
EUROSLAG brings together 26 organisations and companies from 17 countries. As the European network for the production, use and development of iron and steel slag and slag-based products, EUROSLAG focuses on research and technology, standardisation at European level and internal and external communication.
About the FEhS Institute:
For seven decades, the FEhS Building Materials Institute has been one of Europe’s leading addresses for research, testing and consulting on iron and steel slag, building materials and fertilisers. As a modern service provider, the experts with seven laboratories, the Construction Competence Forum and a network of industrial associations, public authorities, standardisation committees, as well as institutions from science and research, are a sought-after partner for members and customers from all over the world.