This year, Refractory Highlights brought the people behind the steel industry to Nyköping and Oxelösund, Sweden. The theme of the two-day conference was the development of refractory materials in the Nordics. The topic connects directly to the daily work of everyone attending.

Launched in 2018, the conference has grown year by year into a forum where suppliers, customers and end users sit around the same table to share experiences, challenge each other’s views and develop solutions together. A relaxed atmosphere and a hands-on approach have remained the hallmarks of the event this year as well.

Insights from the shop floor and the latest technology

Expert presentations delivered practical lessons from across the Nordics:

• Tata Steel spoke about the shift from brick-lined ladles to monolithic solutions: what they learned along the way and the benefits the change has brought to the process.
• SSAB opened up the development of the VTD lid and explained how refractory material choices have a direct impact on workplace safety.
• Ovako Smedjebacken focused their presentation on ladle practice.
• Krosaki introduced their latest solutions, including K-GenesisX™.
• Betker walked through BAT tundish bay practices and cost-efficient lances developed to address customers’ real-world needs.

Plant visit at SSAB Oxelösund

On day two, participants headed to where refractory materials actually do their job: the SSAB Oxelösund plant. The visit included an introduction to the upcoming electric arc furnace (EAF) and a tour at the brickshop to see refractory solutions in action. The visit gave the previous day’s discussions a concrete frame of reference and tied theory to practice in a way no seminar room ever could.

Moving forward together

A familiar and increasingly important message ran through this year’s conference: developing refractory materials is teamwork. Open dialogue between supplier, customer and end user is what makes processes more sustainable, safer and more efficient.

Thank you to all participants, speakers and to our host SSAB Oxelösund for a great event. See you again next year!

Watch the event highlights.