Digitalization and furnace technology are increasingly interconnected in the steel industry. Improving how reheating furnaces are monitored, modeled, and controlled is not only a matter of operational efficiency but also a key step toward reducing energy intensity and supporting the transition to lower-carbon steel production. 

This spring, representatives of the Swedish steel industry met in Högbo, near the Sandvik/Alleima plant in Sandviken, for a joint meeting organized by Jernkontoret’s TO60 Digitalization program and TO51 Energy and Furnace Technology program. 

The event brought together experts from across the sector to discuss how digital tools, process modeling, and furnace technologies can improve industrial performance. Among the participants was Carl Ellström from SSAB, who attended with colleagues Jan Pettersson and Orhan Gafurovic, underscoring SSAB’s continued interest in improving reheating processes and reducing the energy intensity of steel plate production. 

A key highlight was Joel Falk‘s presentation, a researcher at Swerim, who introduced the furnace model developed within the Twinghy project. 

The model, based on thermal FEM simulation, provides fast, 3D, and time-resolved predictions of slab temperatures during reheating. This type of digital modeling can support furnace operators and process engineers by improving understanding of how heat is transferred inside the furnace and how slabs evolve thermally throughout the reheating process. 

In practical terms, more accurate temperature predictions can lead to better process control, improved product quality, and more efficient energy use. For industrial sites such as SSAB Oxelösund, where the model is already improving processes, this is a concrete example of how advanced modeling can move from research into industrial application. 

The discussions in Högbo also reinforced one of the central ideas behind Twinghy: decarbonizing steel production requires not only new energy carriers, such as hydrogen, but also smarter, more precise control of existing high-temperature processes. 

By combining furnace expertise, digitalization, and industrial validation, Twinghy is contributing to a broader transformation of reheating technologies in the steel sector. Events such as this meeting in Högbo are essential for exchanging knowledge, connecting research with industrial needs, and accelerating the adoption of solutions that can make furnace operations more efficient, flexible, and sustainable.