European steel looks ahead as the 2026 European Steel Forum concludes

Day 2 of the European Steel Forum opened at Corte Villalta, Udine, Italy, continuing two days of discussion around the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the global steel industry.

Building a competitive and resilient steel industry

The day opened with the Industry Leader Panel, moderated by John Ball, General Manager – Commercial, AIST, and featuring Marco Di Giacomo, Chief Executive Officer, Acciaierie Bertoli Safau S.p.A.; Jean Arribe, Group CTO Steelmaking Expert, ArcelorMittal Luxembourg; and Yury Krotov, Vice President, Long Products Steel Operations, Steel Dynamics, Inc.

The discussion explored the challenges facing steelmakers on both sides of the Atlantic, from competitiveness and energy availability to decarbonization, trade and the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

Resilience emerged as one of the central themes. Clean and affordable energy will be essential to maintaining the competitiveness of the industry, while closer engagement between steelmakers, energy providers and policymakers will be increasingly important as electricity demand continues to grow.

The panel also addressed the different starting points and challenges faced by individual regions, as well as the importance of protecting industrial ecosystems against unfair trade while maintaining globally competitive manufacturing and downstream value chains.

For ABS – Acciaierie Bertoli Safau, Marco Di Giacomo highlighted the ongoing development of the Hybrid Digital Green Plant, designed to combine technological innovation with sustainable and efficient steelmaking.

Artificial intelligence added another perspective to the conversation, with panelists exploring its potential applications in industrial processes, knowledge transfer and the development of the next generation of steel professionals.

Leadership through transformation

The conversation then shifted from technology and competitiveness to the people driving the transformation of the industry.

“Women Shaping the Future of Steel: Leadership and Transformation in Europe,” moderated by Stacy Varmecky, General Manager – Operations, AIST, brought together Anna Mareschi Danieli, Vice Chairwoman, Acciaierie Bertoli Safau SpA and Member of the Board, Danieli & C. S.p.A.; Elena Petraskova, Vice President and General Counsel, NIPPON STEEL SLOVAKIA s. r. o.; and Nicole Voigt, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group.

The panel explored leadership and organizational culture in an industry undergoing profound technological and generational change. The discussion went beyond the role of women in steel, highlighting the value of broader perspectives, younger generations and different experiences in creating organizations capable of adapting to change.

Anna Mareschi Danieli highlighted the importance of visible role models for younger generations and reflected on leadership as the ability to make long-term decisions under uncertainty while remaining flexible in the short term and maintaining a coherent vision. Trust and the human dimension of leadership were equally important themes of the discussion.

Overall, the panel pointed toward an industry in which attracting new talent and creating space for different voices will be increasingly important to its long-term transformation.

Investing in the next generation

This focus on the future continued with the Danieli Student Scholarship Award Ceremony, recognizing deserving students from the ITS Academy in Udine with scholarships funded by the Danieli and Benedetti families.

Following a discussion centered on leadership, talent and the next generation, the ceremony provided a tangible connection with the young professionals who will contribute to the future of industry.

The initiative also honored the legacy of the late Danieli President Gianpietro Benedetti and his longstanding commitment to education and younger generations.

From investment decisions to successful execution

The third panel,“Execution Strategies for Large-Scale Steel Projects,” moved the discussion from why the industry needs to transform to how major industrial transformations can successfully be delivered.

Moderated by Alberto Perin, Executive Vice President – Sales, Danieli & C. S.p.A., the panel brought together Marco Ferrone, Chief Operating Officer, Marcegaglia Plates S.p.A.; Bart Korink, Vice President, Head of Capital Projects, ArcelorMittal Europe; Joachim Lehner, Head of Technical Processes, voestalpine Stahl GmbH; and Martin Pei, Senior Advisor, SSAB AB.

Drawing on large-scale transformation projects across Europe, the conversation developed around four interconnected questions: why to invest, how to select the right technology, how to execute complex projects and how to manage their impact on people and organizations.

The different experiences showed that there is no single formula. Greenfield developments can provide greater freedom to rethink production from the ground up, while brownfield projects can leverage considerable existing value, from infrastructure and equipment to established know-how and experienced people.

Technology selection requires the same balance. Performance, flexibility, product quality, capital expenditure and overall industrial costs must be considered together, while collaboration between steelmakers, technology suppliers, engineering partners and other specialists remains essential to managing increasingly complex projects.

When discussion turned to execution, clear project ownership, disciplined planning and close cooperation emerged as crucial factors. Large industrial transformations require coordination across suppliers, schedules and project interfaces, while delays can affect not only costs but also commitments to customers.

Yet the transformation does not end with equipment. The panel emphasized the importance of involving employees and local communities early in the process, communicating openly and preparing people for new technologies and new ways of working. Training and reskilling therefore become part of project execution itself.

One of the clearest lessons from the discussion was that the human transition must begin before the technical transformation is complete.

Innovation in plant design

The final panel of the forum, “Innovation in Plant Design,” turned the conversation toward the technologies that will shape the next generation of steel plants.

Moderated by Mauro Bianchi Ferri, Managing Director, Acciarium Srl, the panel brought together Cristian Cattalini, Vice President, Steelmaking Center of Competence, SMS group; Harald Holzgruber, Chief Executive Officer, President and Managing Director, INTECO melting and casting technologies GmbH; Rolando Paolone, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technical Officer, Danieli & C. S.p.A.; Paolo Stagnoli, Sales and Marketing Director, Tenova S.p.A.; and Gerald Wimmer, Vice President Converter Steelmaking, Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH.

The discussion explored how the next generation of plant design can respond to the industry’s evolving requirements for lower emissions, greater safety, efficiency and flexibility, as well as the growing opportunities offered by digitalization and artificial intelligence.

Danieli SPACE made its debut during the discussion with an intervention by Danieli Chief of Innovation Massimiliano Cappa, introducing a new approach to artificial intelligence across steelmaking operations. As an ecosystem of digital content, Danieli SPACE is designed to support professionals in simulating, observing, training, understanding and acting, combining human expertise with increasingly intelligent machinery. Rather than replacing human expertise, the approach aims to enhance it, opening a new perspective on the interaction between people, AI and steelmaking technology across the entire production process, from start to finish.

More details on Danieli SPACE will be unveiled soon.

Looking ahead

From competitiveness and energy to leadership, talent, project execution and innovation, the second day brought the 2026 European Steel Forum to a close with a common message: the transformation of the steel industry requires technology, but its success will ultimately depend on the ability to turn innovation into competitive, executable and sustainable industrial solutions.

The Forum continued with a Gala Dinner at Nonino Distilleries, ahead of plant tours at Acciaierie Bertoli Safau S.p.A. (ABS), Pittini Group and Arvedi Group.