Sustainable Steel Manufacture and a Possible Future for North East Steel: Dr Richard Curry

Dr Richard Curry, SUSTAIN, University of Swansea

Lecture Synopsis:
The future for the UK Foundation Industries is bright, although potentially challenging. To resolve approaching issues, the industries must address topics including the selection of appropriate technologies, continuous process improvement, ensuring quality and availability of raw materials, finding environmentally appropriate options for wastes (including heat and water) as well as retaining and developing a skilled workforce. These challenges are compounded by the need to maintain and develop order-books for products that underpin the UK Manufacturing Industry, that may not currently be possible using the available technologies.

This lecture will focus on steel; its global ubiquity has led to the current high demand and production levels. Steel can be the kick-starter for the greater circular economy as a result of its sheer production volume, end of life availability, intrinsic recyclability and resulting economy of scale. The talk will also briefly cover the role of DRI/HBI as alternatives to blast furnace technology as well as how steel could return to the North East of England and other regions under a revolutionary new business model.

Speaker Bio: Dr Richard Curry
Dr. Richard Curry is the SUSTAIN Future Manufacturing Hub Programme Manager. Richard began his career in academia working on novel harsh environment sensor arrays for bio-electronic applications, including the measurement of cell signalling and disease markers In 2011 he joined Tata Steel R&D to concentrate on the challenges of developing sensors and systems within the steelmaking and casting processes. In the lead up to the separation of Tata’s UK business units, a time of growing concern for the longevity of UK steel and the increasing need to move to a carbon free, green solution for the industry, Richard’s passion shifted to focus upon the rejuvenation of UK’s steelmaking’s expertise and the identification of key technologies to drive the transition. As well as leading several research groups within Tata R&D, Richard was a key driver in the spin-out of the Materials Processing Institute from Tata Teesside Laboratories. After the launch of MPI, Richard held the role of Deputy CEO and Operations Director, including a brief 6 months secondment as Commercial Director where he actively initiated many key relationships with industrial and academic partners; expanding MPI’s offer to the greater metals and foundation industry sectors, both domestically and abroad. Now based at Swansea, Richard is committed to the development of SUSTAIN as the UK’s National Steel Research Hub and driving the UK to become world leading in the area of recycling and materials circularity through the FlexisApp iSPACE and Circular Materials Research Institute.

Timings:
00:00:00 - Introductory Notices
00:05:38 - Lecture
01:18:08 - Questions
01:25:46 - Vote of Thanks

About the Institute:
The Mining Institute is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for science and technology in the North. Founded in 1852 by some of the most important contemporary Northern scientists and engineers, our members still actively contribute to academia, industry and public life across the region.

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