News

At Tata Steel Nederland, our Technology department has proudly contributed to the Federation for International Refractory Research and Education (FIRE), a unique global initiative that connects academia and industry to push the boundaries of refractory science and application.

Since joining FIRE, we’ve actively collaborated with leading universities including the Federal University of São Carlos (Brazil), University of Limoges and University of Orleans (France), and TU Freiberg (Germany). These partnerships, often through joint FIRE projects, focus on developing and applying advanced refractory solutions tailored to the steel industry.

A cornerstone of our involvement has been the supervision of MSc students sponsored by FIRE. These talented individuals bring fresh perspectives and cutting-edge academic insights to our research, while gaining hands-on experience in industrial settings. Some of these talented students have gone on to join Tata Steel Nederland, bringing fresh perspectives and technical expertise to our teams.

Through FIRE, we’ve gained:

• Access to cutting-edge knowledge in refractory materials and behavior
• Advancements in modelling and simulation techniques
• Opportunities to develop pilot-scale rigs and validate innovations
• A pool of skilled young professionals

The FIRE spirit, built on openness, collaboration, and excellence, resonates deeply with our mission to innovate sustainably and continuously improve our steelmaking processes. It’s more than a network; it’s a catalyst for progress in the refractory field.

We’re proud to contribute to FIRE’s vision of bridging academic research with industrial application, and we look forward to continuing this journey of collaboration, education, and innovation.

Paul van Beurden
Knowledge Group Leader R&D
Thermomechanical Engineering & Digitalisation
Tata Steel Nederland
The Netherlands