PURESCRAP takes the stage at AIMET 2026

On 28 September 2026, PURESCRAP had the honour of taking centre stage at AIMET 2026 – Conference on AI in Metallurgy in Mechelen, Belgium. The three-day conference brings together researchers and industry experts to explore how Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation can shape the future of metallurgy. AIMET

Opening the scientific programme as keynote speaker, Prof. Valentina Colla from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa) presented results from the PURESCRAP project, focusing on the application of Artificial Intelligence for the detection of copper components and other impurities in steel scrap. Her contribution highlighted how AI-supported scrap characterisation can enable more targeted sorting and cleaning and, ultimately, support the increased utilisation of secondary raw materials in steel production. LinkedIn

We are particularly proud that PURESCRAP was given the opportunity to set the tone for the conference right from its opening keynote. With AIMET dedicated entirely to Artificial Intelligence in metallurgy and bringing together experts from academia and industry, this provided an excellent stage to demonstrate how digital technologies can contribute not only to smarter processes, but also to the wider transformation towards more circular and sustainable steel production. AIMET

Increasing the use of scrap while maintaining the quality requirements of steel production is an important element of this transition. Within PURESCRAP, advanced sensor technologies, data processing and AI are combined to improve scrap characterisation and facilitate the use of higher shares of post-consumer scrap. The project’s sustainability assessment consequently considers the potential for increased post-consumer scrap utilisation and its impact on steelmaking routes and CO₂ emissions. 20250915_WP5_CO2 emissions_v1

Reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from steel production is an essential contribution to global climate-change mitigation. By helping to unlock secondary raw-material streams that are currently difficult to utilise, AI and advanced scrap processing can become practical enablers of both circularity and decarbonisation.

A big thank you to Prof. Valentina Colla and the team at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna for representing PURESCRAP and bringing our research to the AIMET community — and to the AIMET organisers for giving PURESCRAP such a prominent stage at the very beginning of the conference.