From September 30 to October 4, 2024, 11 master’s students had the opportunity to visit some of Austria’s leading companies in iron and steel production and steel processing. The route led from Leoben to Linz, Leonding, Salzburg, and the Pongau region, concluding in Bruck an der Mur. The trip was accompanied by Prof. Susanne Michelic, Prof. Christian Bernhard, Dr. Michael Bernhard, and Dr. Peter Presoly, representing the chair.
The field trip started at voestalpine Stahl GmbH in Linz, where the group learned about the company’s ongoing efforts toward sustainable steel production as part of the TransMet project. The tour of the steel plant and hot strip mill allowed the group to witness the production process firsthand. On the second day, the participants visited the cold rolling mill and hot-dip galvanizing plant, followed by a tour of voestalpine Gießerei Linz GmbH, where they experienced processes in the foundry and mold manufacturing.
On Wednesday, Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH hosted an exciting session on technological advancements in metallurgical plant construction. The lectures also covered the roles and responsibilities of technologists in the steel industry. In the afternoon, EBNER Industrieofenbau GmbH welcomed the group to their modern research center in Leonding, offering insights into their diverse range of business sectors.
The participants then traveled to Eisenwerk Sulzau-Werfen, R. & E. Weinberger AG, where they had the unique opportunity to observe the live casting of a roller using centrifugal casting. Nearby, Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen GmbH gave a demonstration of the wheel loader production process, from heavy plates to the product.
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The field trip concluded with a visit to INTECO Melting and Casting Technologies GmbH in Bruck an der Mur on Friday. At INTECO’s Experience Center, the participants engaged in lively discussions about current projects and trends in the digitalization of processes in iron and steel metallurgy. The inspiring location provided the perfect atmosphere for this exchange.
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We would like to express our sincere thanks to all our corporate partners and sponsors who made this unforgettable experience possible for our students.
