The research group of Angélique Léonard was warmly welcomed by Paul Royes for a tour the Aperam Châtelet site, where stainless steel is produced from recycled materials, showcasing a concrete application of circular economy principles in metallurgy.

The visit provided a rare opportunity to observe key stages of the process, including the electric arc furnace in operation, its charging with recycled feedstock and the reinstallation of the electrodes.

Aperam is actively engaged in Reverse Metallurgy research, notably through the #ECWALI project, which aims to capture additional recyclable material streams in Wallonia instead of exporting them to Asia. This approach reduces both transport-related environmental impacts and dependence on primary raw materials.

As part of this work, Ehmen Khalid will analyse different scenarios within a Master’s thesis, supported by Juliette Christiaens and Yvonne Kaye. In addition, valuable data related to refractory recycling will contribute to the PhD research of Sarah Badioli.

This visit highlights the strength of collaboration between industry, academia, and public authorities in driving a more sustainable and resilient metallurgical sector.

For highquality images of this site check out thebeautyofsteel.com.