A sustainable future for steel? Pittini Group innovates with AI and circular economy

Replacing coal and natural gas with recycled materials in the steel fusion process: this is the objective of the Retrofeed research project that Pittini Group is also involved in.

Circular fusion
The Retrofeed project focuses on the enhancement of recycling in the steel production process, an issue that is even more relevant in the current historical period plagued by raw material supply problems and rising energy costs. Specifically, Retrofeed aims to evaluate the performance of potential waste as a replacement for fossil fuels and natural gas in the electric arc furnace (EAF). The resulting environmental benefit is twofold: resource saving and reduction of amount of materials sent to landfill. Currently, the most promising candidates are plastics, biochar (products derived from biomass), and granular products derived from used tires. These, by the way, are readily available materials: suffice it to say that about 350,000 tons of end-of-life tires are recovered in Italy each year.

Using AI to reduce environmental impact
Pittini Group has made significant efforts and investments in the search for a sustainable steel production method that simultaneously reduces costs and CO2 emissions. With this in mind, the role of artificial intelligence and Machine Learning technologies in measuring the performance of alternative materials used as fuels play a crucial role. With the EAF's Digital Twin furnace, operators can assess this performance in real-time and predict the outcome of the smelting process, to reduce inefficiencies and ensure sustainable solutions.

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Pittini Group is one of the most important steelmakers in Italy, specializing in the production of long steels for construction and mechanical engineering. Headquartered in Osoppo (Udine), the group consists of 7 companies with a production capacity of more than 3 million tons of steel and stands out for its strong emphasis on focus on staff training and sustainability.