Hyundai Steel leads sustainable by-product upcycling at tech forum

Hyundai Steel Head of Process R&D Sub-Division Kim Yong-hee, fifth from left, poses with other participants of a technology symposium hosted by the company on upcycling steel by-products for construction projects at COEX Magok Convention Center in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Hyundai Steel

Hyundai Steel shared and promoted technologies to reuse steel by-products for a more sustainable steel industry and its broader applications to construction projects and urban infrastructure expansion, according to the country’s major steelmaker, Tuesday.

The company hosted a technology symposium in Seoul on Friday, bringing together around 100 experts to explore new applications for steel by-products aimed at maximizing usability and enhancing material efficiency. Attendees included representatives from the company, the Korea Iron & Steel Association, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, SsangYong C&E and the Korea Expressway Corporation Research Institute.

The symposium highlighted the high quality of building materials produced from steel by-products and projected future demand for upcycled steel by-products across various industries. It also addressed relevant domestic regulations and showcased examples of technologies currently utilizing these materials.

Hyundai Steel introduced how it has been upcycling steelmaking slags generated through its carbon reduction-centered manufacturing processes. Slags are one of the most abundant steel by-products available. Representatives of other companies and agencies also shared their own ways of reusing the by-products, along with the more advanced methods they plan to use to do so.

“By upcycling steel by-products, we can contribute a great deal to reducing carbon emissions in construction projects and practices,” said Kim Yong-hee, head of the Process R&D Sub-Division at Hyundai Steel. “We will bolster technological advancement and encourage regulatory revision by cooperating with industries, academics and researchers.”