Page 12 - Steel Metallurgy eMagazine Volume April 2026

COMPANY FOCUS

STEEL’S FUTURE

IS BEING FORGED TODAY

Summary: Norbert Petermaier’s
interview illustrates that knowledge
retention at Primetals Technologies
relies on regional differentiation,
strong internal and partnership-based
documentation, extensive localization
and knowledge transfer activities, and a
deeply anchored tradition of innovation
and technical excellence. While several
mechanisms are in place, there is
potential for more systematic and
company-wide approaches to knowledge
identification, documentation, and
sharing. A strong cultural emphasis
on knowledge-sharing supports the
company’s global strategy, especially in
key growth markets like India.

Norbert Petermaier
Executive Vice President & Head of Global Sales
Member of the Management Board,
Primetals Technologies
CEO of Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH

NM : Primetals Technologies has been transformation has three phases. We are This is ongoing, especially due to political
at the forefront of innovation in the currently in the first two phases; the third pressure, but also substantial support
steel and non-ferrous metals industry. phase — true net zero — will likely come in Europe, particularly in Germany,
From your perspective, what are the around 2040–2050, so there is still some Austria, and Central Europe.
biggest technological shifts shaping the way to go. The first two phases involve
global steel industry today? What are the optimisation or transition of existing Another technological shift concerns
the priorities Primetals has in terms of processes. Many technologies are already new processes for the potential use of
customer orientation? available, such as the modular approach low-grade iron ore and iron ore fines,
for decarbonisation of the steel industry, which is also, of course, linked to the
NP : Mr. Mukherjee, namaste — which we are already offering to our decarbonisation of the steel industry.
and namaste to India again. With clients. A major development is electric We know that for DRI production — an
respect to your first question, a major steelmaking — the substitution of fossil- increasingly important feed material for
technological shift today is the ongoing fuel based furnaces with electric arc electric arc furnaces — we use mainly
decarbonisation of the steel industry. furnaces — which is a cross-technology the highest-grade iron ore for DR-grade
On a global stage, we say that this that has been available for a long time. pellets today. This high-quality is

12 STEEL & METALLURGY APRIL 2026