Successful SMSVC Semi-Annual Meeting

Approximately 80 industry collaborators and CIVS faculty, staff, and students met at CIVS for the SMSVC Semi-Annual Meeting on April 10 and 11, The events included 1) technical presentations by CIVS staff and students in 6 topics (safety, ironmaking, EAF, Continuous Casting, Ladel, and Reheating Furnace), 2) A Dinner Keynote, 3) CIVS student poster competitions, 4) Project Technical Committee meetings, and 5) the SMSVC board meeting. Active discussions were held throughout the two-day event, with excellent feedback on the project progress and outcomes as well as the quality of presentations.

This semi-annual event facilitates the advancement and implementation of models and simulators for SMSVC projects. The thorough review and discussions ensure continued project success and future directions to address the industry’s needs. SMSVC’s collaborative efforts toward the implementation of smart manufacturing will continue to impact the sustainability and competitiveness of the steel industry by addressing critical issues in process optimization, digitalization, productivity, and safety. The goal of CIVS and SMSVC is to maintain their position at the forefront of industrial decarbonization, energy transition, smart manufacturing, and workforce development through research partnerships with industries and communities.

The annual event included a keynote dinner on April 10 by Barry Schneider, President and Chief Operating Officer of Steel Dynamics and President of AIST, entitled “Smart Use of Scrap and Other Alternatives in EAF Operation for Decarbonization.” The presentation highlighted Steel Dynamics’ history of sustainability efforts as well as an overview of various plants and their operations.

The Steel Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Consortium (SMSVC) is a nationwide, industry-led sustainable consortium launched in 2016 by the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) at Purdue University Northwest and is supported by more than 16 companies and organizations. The consortium is focused on supporting the development and implementation of simulation and visualization technologies to address major technological issues and related barriers that inhibit the growth of advanced manufacturing in the steel industry to ensure a competitive advantage for steel manufacturing.