worldsteel announces steelChallenge-19 World Championship Finalists
4 December 2024 | Brussels, Belgium
The Regional Championship of steelChallenge-19 took place online for 24 hours on 26 November 2024. This year’s steelChallenge attracted 2,624 participants, a nearly 60% increase on last year, representing more than 120 companies and 150 academic institutions from 34 countries. They used steeluniversity’s steelmaking simulator to produce the best steel at the lowest cost while meeting carbon footprint requirements. worldsteel is pleased to announce the finalists for the upcoming steelChallenge-19 World Championship in April 2025.
Jorge Muract, Director at steeluniversity, said, “We have witnessed an exponential growth in this year’s challenge, reflecting the unwavering commitment of everyone in the steel industry to building a better, more resilient future. steelChallenge provides a dynamic educational experience, engaging students and professionals in the art of steelmaking while driving the industry’s digital transformation. Moreover, participants were also challenged to meet carbon footprint requirements, underscoring our dedication to sustainability. By developing talent to embrace technology and sustainable practices, we are shaping the future of the steel industry.”
The first-place winners in both the ‘Industry’ and ‘Student’ categories from each of the five regions will be invited to compete in the World Championship in April 2025. Additionally, all participants who completed a successful run of the integrated simulator will receive a certificate of accomplishment.
steelChallenge-19 utilised steeluniversity’s electric arc furnace and secondary steelmaking simulators in a combined run. Participants were tasked with producing a grade of steel that met specific technical requirements, achieved the lowest cost per tonne, and adhered to carbon footprint standards. The simulation featured a steel grade based on a case study specifically designed for this year’s edition.
All registered participants for steelChallenge-19 received permanent access to the electric arc furnace and secondary steelmaking courses, including e-learning lessons, 3D interactive models, and practice simulators. In addition, there have been three steelTalks masterclasses with worldwide recognised experts in the steel industry.
steelChallenge-19 is proudly supported by 14 leading companies and associations, showcasing their dedication to driving innovation, education, and sustainability within the steel industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors for their invaluable support in making this initiative a success.
Results
Industry Category
| Participant | Affiliation | Region/Country |
| Carlos Arroyo | Acerinox S.A. | Europe and Africa |
| Leandro Rodrigues Ribeiro | ArcelorMittal | Americas |
| Amer Abdelkader Mohamed Amer | EMSTEEL | Asia – West |
| Xiao Wu (潇吴) | HBIS | Asia – North |
| Boseong Park (박보성) | POSCO | Asia – East and Oceania |
Student Category
| Participant | Affiliation | Region/Country |
| Ožbej Modrijan | University of Ljubljana | Europe and Africa |
| Daniel Aquer | Universidade Federal do Ceará | Americas |
| Vivek Soren | Shavak Nanavati Technical Institute | Asia – West |
| Lu Hezhong (贺忠 卢) | Tangshan Vocational College of Science and Technology | Asia – North |
| Junho Lee (이준호) | Jeonbuk National University | Asia – East and Oceania |
More information about steelChallenge-19 is available at https://steeluniversity.org/steelchallenge-19
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Notes
- steeluniversity is the education and training programme of the World Steel Association, delivering education and training to current and future employees of steel companies and related businesses.
- steelChallenge-19 is sponsored at the ‘Steel’ level by Alacero, Danieli, UNESID, JSW, POSCO and HBIS Group. Gerdau is a ‘Gold’ level sponsor. Emirates Steel (EMSTEEL), Korean Iron & Steel Association (KOSA), Tata Steel and Ternium are ‘Silver’ level sponsors. ArcelorMittal, Hadeed Saudi Iron & Steel Co., JFE Steel and Tenaris are ‘Bronze’ level sponsors.
- The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world, with members in every major steel-producing country. worldsteel represents steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. Members represent around 85% of global steel production.