Abstract
Digitalization represents a paramount process started some decades ago, but which received a strong acceleration by Industry 4.0 and now directly impacts all the process and manufacturing sectors. It is expected to allow the European industry to increase its production efficiency and its sustainability. In particular, in the energy-intensive industries, such as the steel industry, digitalization concerns the application of the related technologies to the production processes, focusing on two main often overlapping directions: Advanced tools for the optimization of the production chain and specific technologies for low-carbon and sustainable production. Furthermore, the rapid evolution of the technologies in the steel sector require the continuous update of the skills of the industrial workforce. The present review paper, resulting from a recent study developed inside a Blueprint European project, introduces the context of digitalization and some important definitions in both the European industry and the European iron and steel sector. The current technological transformation is depicted, and the main developments funded by European Research Programs are analyzed. Moreover, the impact of digitalization on the steel industry workforce are considered together with the foreseen economic developments.
Highlights
Over the last few decades, the European steel sector has undergone relevant transformations.On one hand, this sector has been restructured and consolidated; on the other hand, highly technological production processes and products have been developed
Among the ongoing projects dealing with the Internet of Things (IoT) systems technology, TrackOpt aims at implementing an automatic ladle tracking system, in order to ensure the tracking of the product from steelmaking via casting to delivery by using a Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) Framework and big data analytics as well as innovative acoustic sensors
The steel production is already partly automated, the application of new technologies can further sustain the optimization of its entire production chain
Summary
Over the last few decades, the European steel sector has undergone relevant transformations. “automation” is defined as “the use or introduction of automatic equipment in a manufacturing or other process or facility” 1 as well as “the technology by which a process or procedure is accomplished without human assistance” [3] In this context, Industry 4.0 concerns the interoperability, the decentralization of information, the real-time data collection, and the increased flexibility, that represent main aspects of the fourth industrial revolution. This review paper derives from an analysis that was performed in the context of a multinational initiative funded by the European Union through the Erasmus Plus framework This project is devoted to the development of a Blueprint for “New Skills Agenda Steel”, is entitled “Industry-driven sustainable European Steel Skills Agenda and Strategy (ESSA)”, and has two main aims:.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
