Our “Meet the Partners” interview series continues, introducing the people and organisations working together within the TWINGHY project and exploring their contribution to the transition towards more sustainable steel production.

In this episode, Diego de la Fuente, Industrial Operations Managing Director at Calderys Iberica Refractararios, shares Calderys’ perspective as the refractory manufacturer involved in TWINGHY and explains how its industrial expertise contributes to the development and demonstration of hydrogen-based reheating technologies.

The transition from natural gas to hydrogen-based combustion changes the operating environment inside steel reheating furnaces. Understanding how refractory materials perform under these new conditions is therefore an important part of ensuring the reliability and long-term performance of the technology.

Within TWINGHY, Calderys works closely with RWTH Aachen University to evaluate refractory materials under different combustion atmospheres. This combines scientific testing with Calderys’ industrial experience in refractory solutions for reheating furnaces, helping to understand whether existing materials can meet future requirements or need to be adapted to the new operating conditions.

Watch the interview to learn more about Calderys’ role in TWINGHY and how cooperation between refractory manufacturers, researchers and steel producers is helping prepare industrial furnaces for the transition towards hydrogen.