Schedule
2–6 February 2026 • Flamingo Las Vegas • Las Vegas, NV, USA
Monday, 2 February 2026 | |
| 4–6 p.m. | Registration |
| 5–6 p.m. | Welcome Reception |
Tuesday, 3 February 2026 | |
| 7 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Introductions |
| 8:05 a.m. | Safety Presentation |
| 9:30 a.m. | Chemistry of EAF Steelmaking — Chemistry Background and Introduction to Steel Kyle Vanover, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division Chemistry Background and Intro to Steel: This discussion will kick off with atomic small talk, where protons, neutrons, and electrons lay the groundwork for everything in steelmaking, from basic elements to the cosmic forges that cook up iron in stellar cauldrons and supernova blasts. We'll nerd out on iron's stellar origins as the most stable nuclide, its abundance in the universe, and how it evolves into steel through history's milestones — like ancient carbon infusion in East Africa to Bessemer's game-changing process—highlighting carbon's pivotal role in tuning hardness, strength and ductility. By the end, you'll grasp why steel is more than iron: it's an alloy powerhouse with crystalline structures, metallic bonds and tailored compositions that define modern grades from carbon steels to stainless. Chemistry of EAF Steelmaking — Focus on Oxidation, Carbon and Slag: Enter the Electric Arc Furnace arena where oxygen plays chemical maestro, oxidizing impurities in a high-stakes dance that fuels the carbon “boil” and foams slag like a volcanic espresso shot for optimal arc protection. Nerd out on Ellingham diagrams charting oxide stabilities like a thermodynamic treasure map, guiding deoxidizers to banish residuals while balancing slag basicity for peak fluidity and yield. This section reveals how mastering oxidation, carbon combustion and slag symphony not only refines steel but slashes CO2 emissions, turning EAF ops into a sustainable alchemical triumph. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | Chemistry of EAF Steelmaking — Focus on Oxidation, Carbon and Slag Kyle Vanover, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | EAF Slag Fundamentals Arun Sriram Chockalingam, Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC This is an overview of slag and slag practices in the EAF, its influence on the steelmaking process and controls for engineering a “good” slag. This will also explore and define efficiencies at the EAF. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | Chemical and Electrical Energy Inputs and EAF Performance |
| 4 p.m. | LMF Metallurgy and Secondary Steelmaking |
Wednesday, 4 February 2026 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | EAF Designs and Operations Jeremy Jones, CIX Inc. This session will provide an overview of EAF technologies and an approach to EAF optimization. |
| 9 a.m. | Break |
| 9:10 a.m. | EAF Technologies — The Path to EAF Optimization Inc. Jeremy Jones, CIX Inc. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:40 a.m. | Environmental Operations for the EAF |
| Noon | Boxed Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. | Plant Tour of Nucor Steel Kingman LLC |
| 4:30 p.m. | Reception and Roundtable Discussion |
Thursday, 5 February 2026 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Utilization of Fe Metallics in the EAF |
| 9:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10 a.m. | EAF Maintenance Requirements |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | The EAF Steelmaking Industry: Energetic, Aggressive and Fearless Becky Hites, Steel-Insights LLC EAFs have changed the face of U.S. steelmaking in the past half-century, making it green and globally cost-competitive. Surviving the economic cycles, moving up the product value chain, responding to changing metallics requirements and now incorporating greener power and production options, EAFs continue to push the envelope to make U.S. steelmaking ever more competitive. Included in this presentation will be a highlight of economic indicators shared in AIST’s Iron & Steel Technology magazine and how they relate to steel demand. |
| 2:15 p.m. | Break |
| 2:30 p.m. | Process Control and Automation in the EAF Rob Oldroyd, Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC |
| 3:45 p.m. | Break |
| 4 p.m. | Practical EAF Regulation and Electrode Handling |
Friday, 6 February 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Gas/Carbon/DRI Usage Fundamentals for EAF Performance and Lower Carbon Footprint Michael Grant, Consultant This gas/carbon injection systems lecture will present the theory, practical aspects and strategy of use of oxygen, natural gas and carbon injection in the EAF as well as the technologies used to apply these. The use of DRI, its advantages and challenges, as well as the necessary operational adjustments to DRI use will be presented. The import contribution that EAF steelmaking will have on the steel industry's journey toward carbon neutrality is discussed. A strong emphasis on oxygen safety and its precautions is presented. |
| 9:15 a.m. | Break |
| 9:30 a.m. | EAF Steelmaking Fundamentals Mark Trapp, CIX Inc. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | EAF Steelmaking Fundamentals (cont’d) Mark Trapp, CIX Inc. |
| Noon | Conference Adjourn |