Room4Steel driving innovation to the iron and steel industry

The steel industry is regaining its prominence thanks to Room4Steel, a classroom created through the collaboration between the Bilbao School of Engineering and the SIDEREX cluster. This initiative connects students with a traditionally significant sector, presenting a modern and attractive image through R+D+I projects, specialized training, and company visits.

According to Alberto Oleaga, the Room4Steel director, “some of the students who have participated in Room4Steel have been hired by the companies afterward,” demonstrating positive impact on employability. Additionally, this initiative recognized as a best practice model at the national level by the Spanish Steel Technology Platform.

Since its inauguration in the 2021-2022 academic year with eight partners, Room4Steel has strengthened its relationship with companies, currently collaborating with 13 companys: Sidenor, Aceros Inoxidables Olarra, Tubos Reunidos, ArcelorMittal, Sarralle, Idom, Fives Steel Spain, Acería de Álava, Harsco, Nervacero, and Aranía.

PROYECTS
Room4Steel stands out for developing 20 innovation projects, an outstanding figure within the Bilbao School of Engineering, where few classrooms exceed 15 projects per year. Among the current initiatives are:

Optimization of Production Processes by Nervacero, which the implementation of an automated data capture system to enhance efficiency. Sidenor works about the development of an advanced model for accurately calculating the tonnage of liquid steel by combining thermographic technology and data intelligence.

Reengineering the logistics process at its Olaberria plant to optimize the production of steel beams with ArcelorMittal, covering the logistics and efficacy stuff.

Regarding to the sustainability and environment, Arania and Five Steel Spain are working in those aspects, Arania, reducing carbon and water footprints through digitization and environmental parameter monitoring. Five Steel Spain is quantifying environmental impact through life cycle analysis of a coating curing line.

The last part, innovation in materials processes, Sarralle is modelling the behaviour of steelmaking furnaces, with Tubos Reunidos, they are implementing energy effiency plans in their production processes. Acería de Álava is develoving automatic inspection systems to evaluate product quality.

ROADMAP
To continue its growth, Room4Steel aims to expand its number of projects and attract more students. To achieve this, it is developing a new academic program at UPV/EHU titled “Microcredential in Specialization in Steel Metallurgy”, aimed at lifelong learning for industry professionals and new talent.

With this roadmap, Room4Steel continues to establish itself as a benchmark in the modernization and transformation of the steel industry, fostering collaboration between university and industry to address future challenges.