Innovation drives our progress. We are constantly developing new products that are used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and more. At the same time, we are improving our processes through automation and digital technology to produce more intelligently, efficiently, and sustainably. Thanks to research and collaboration, we are developing steel solutions that are ready for tomorrow's challenges.
Product innovation
ArcelorMittal Belgium plays a pioneering role in product development. More than half of our current products didn't exist 10 years ago. These innovations enable applications in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, which are crucial for a climate neutral future.
Process innovation
We invest heavily in process innovation to increase productivity, improve quality, optimize logistics, and reduce our environmental impact.
- Automation: We are pioneers in large-scale crane automation, developed entirely in-house and rolled out to other sites.
- Digital technology: Big data, augmented reality, AI, and 3D simulations enhance our production processes.
Research and development
Innovation is deeply rooted in our research and development organization. We develop new steel products and processes that address the challenges of tomorrow. Collaborations with universities, research centres and industrial partners accelerate our energy transition.
Some innovation projects
3D printing in production and maintenance
Using 3D printing technology, we produce complex parts locally, eliminating long delivery times. We print spare parts and components for our installations, which ensures faster repairs, less downtime, and higher efficiency. This fits in perfectly with our strategy of working sustainably, flexibly, and cost-efficiently.
Spot robot: Innovation for safety and efficiency
The Spot robot, a mobile inspection robot, increases both the safety of our teams and the efficiency of our processes. This robotic dog takes over repetitive and risky tasks and performs inspections autonomously, even in hard-to-reach places such as stairs and narrow passages. Among other things, the Spot robot takes thermographic images to detect heat loss and fire sources, detects gas leaks, records sounds for early detection of defects, and recognizes visual signals such as indicator lights.
Digitization and 5G: Smarter and safer processes
With our project 5G Connected Steel we are taking our production site to a new level of connectivity. Via a private 5G network, machines, cranes, and sensors communicate with each other and with our employees in real time. This enables direct data exchange, allowing malfunctions to be detected more quickly, maintenance to be carried out proactively, and logistics movements to be safer. The result? Reliable processes, higher efficiency, and a production environment that is ready for the future.
