TUESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2025
Location: Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Collaboration with SteelTech
Room: Main Auditorium
08:30
Registration
09:00
SteelTech Expo Hall Opens
09:15
Inauguration and Keynote Speakers
10:45
Networking Break
11:15
Transformation of the European Steel lndustry for Carbon Neutrality
Moderator: Jürgen Cappel, Managing Director, Cappel Stahl Consulting GmbH
13:15
Networking Lunch
14:30
Carbon-Free Energy Sources for the European Steel Industry
Moderator: Susanne Michelic, Chair of Ferrous Metallurgy, Montanuniversität Leoben
16:00
Networking Break
16:20
Strategic Iron: Balancing Availability, Quality, and Cost for Sustainable Steelmaking
Moderator: Felix Firsbach, Vice President, Badische Stahl-Engineering GmbH
17:50
Closing Summary
18:00
Reception, Exhibit Hall
19:00
Program Concludes
WEDNESDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2025
Location: IDOM Headquarters
08:00
Registration
09:00
Welcome IDOM & AIST
09:30
Digital Transformation Across the Plant Lifecycle: Strategies for Brownfield and Greenfield Environments
As steelmakers pursue digital transformation, they face distinct challenges depending on whether a facility is new or existing. Brownfield environments must reconcile decades of legacy systems, incomplete data, and complex infrastructure, while greenfield projects require early strategic alignment to ensure long-term digital success. This session explores approaches to digitalizing the entire plant lifecycle—from project definition through operations and maintenance. Industry experts will share practical strategies for integrating systems, managing data, and executing projects that unlock value and efficiency through digitalization, laying the foundations for intelligent and autonomous manufacturing.
Speaker: Marco Busatto, Industry 4.0 Director, IDOM
10:30
Networking Break
11:00
Industry Leader Panel
European steel demand continues to face significant challenges: global overcapacity, geopolitical uncertainty, high inflation, monetary tightening, and elevated energy prices. Even so, producers are executing on multi-generational investments necessary to meet climate goals. In this session, several industry leaders from both the EU and the U.S. will share perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the steel industry to thrive in the years ahead.
Moderator: Ronald Ashburn, Executive Director, AIST
12:30
Networking Lunch
13:30
Execution Strategies for Large-Scale Steel Projects
The challenges for Europe’s steel industry as significant investment in new technologies and greenfield projects alongside immediate improvements in existing facilities remain unchanged. But increasing political risks and market uncertainties do not mitigate the chance for failure. On the other hand, improvements in production technology, quality and reduced environmental impact remain mandatory. Is there a philosopher’s stone for a successful project execution? We are looking forward to hearing from several courageous investors, well-seasoned project advisors and hopeful project developers how they challenge project risk mitigation.
Moderator: Thomas Germershausen, Managing Partner, KLE.GER
15:00
The Future of European Steel Research
Klaus Peters, Secretary General, The European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP)
15:30
Networking Break
16:00
Keynote
Antonio Marcegaglia, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Marcegaglia
16:30
Innovation in Plant Design
The search for greater efficiencies, safer environments and better-performing products is relentless, so innovation and steelmaking have gone hand in hand. That is evident in the newest steelmaking facilities, which are more automated, safer, and better performing than ever. Representatives from the major technology providers will showcase some of their latest innovations and describe how they are aiding steelmakers in lowering carbon emissions and improving their competitiveness.
Moderator: Mauro Bianchi Ferri, Managing Director, Acciarium Srl
18:00
Program Concludes
19:30
Gala Dinner, Guggenheim Bilbao Museum
THURSDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2025
08:00
Joint Technical Visits
*Please note program times and content is subject to change.