Innovation forms the basis of our success
As a global leading steel and technology Group in technology-intensive industries with the highest quality standards, research and development lay the foundation for our success. By continuously investing in research & development, we ensure that our company can continue to generate new product solutions and processes long into the future. The continuous increase in expenditure also reflects the importance the Group attaches to R&D.
Facts and Figures
The new record research budget of EUR 244 million means that research, development, and innovation within the voestalpine Group can once again make an important contribution to the company this year. The technological shift toward electric arc furnaces to transform steel industry processes, in particular, requires research-intensive support for our high-quality products, which ultimately ensures our customers receive the accustomed level of quality and consistent properties. Digitalization is used to drive and advance sustainability in all R&D activities, and to increase resource, energy, and process efficiency in general.
We rely on innovative technologies
At voestalpine, process development is aimed at achieving the goal of climate-neutral steel production by 2050. Life cycle considerations, digitalization, and expanded material and energy cycles help us to conserve resources and optimize production processes, and make a significant contribution to protecting the environment. We are also researching novel breakthrough technologies to transform the current carbon-based steel production to the hydrogen-based approach of the future.
One product development focus lies in combining the Group’s existing material expertise with know-how in processing steel and other metallic materials to develop innovative system solutions for our customers. Our R&D activities focus on industries with the most demanding technological requirements, in the promising mobility and energy markets. A wide range of innovative products help both voestalpine and its customers to achieve their sustainability goals. Priority is given to products that are increasingly environmentally friendly, effective, have a long useful life, are safe, and highly recyclable.
Global network
Research and development at voestalpine are decentralized and located close to both the respective production facilities and the market as well as our customers. This allows R&D results to be implemented quickly.
Worldwide, the Group has more than 700 employees working in research and development at over 70 locations. By combining and pooling the Group’s existing competencies—even across divisional boundaries—we are able to develop system solutions to address specific customer needs.
Another key to success is global networking and collaboration with external R&D partners such as our customers and suppliers. In our application-oriented fundamental research, we draw on the know-how and resources of scientific partners including universities, research institutes, competence centers, and Christian Doppler laboratories.
