On 17 and 18 March, a new General Assembly was held at the headquarters of Calderys Ibérica Refractarios, located in Gijón (Asturias), a region with a long industrial tradition and closely linked to the history of the steel industry and refractory materials in Spain.

For over a century, Asturias has been a key region for the development of refractories, driven by the historical concentration of steelmaking, metallurgical and energy activities in the region. From the supply of materials for blast furnaces and reheating processes to the development of advanced technical solutions, the Asturian refractory industry has evolved in tandem with the needs of a steel industry that is increasingly demanding in terms of efficiency, reliability and, nowadays, decarbonisation.

In this context, the choice of Calderys’ Gijón site to host the Twinghy General Assembly highlights the link between industrial tradition and technological innovation that drives the project. The consortium was received by Diego de la Fuente, Calderys’ General Manager of Industrial Operations, who welcomed the partners and shared Calderys’ vision as a refractory manufacturer committed to the energy transition of high-temperature processes.

During the meeting, the partners reviewed the progress of the various work packages and confirmed that the project is proceeding as planned, with encouraging technical results both in the development of hydrogen and oxygen combustion solutions and in the analysis of the behaviour of refractory materials under these new operating conditions.

The General Assembly also provided an opportunity to strengthen coordination between industrial and technology partners, exchange knowledge and define the next steps ahead of the validation and industrial demonstration phases. Such face-to-face meetings are key to aligning expectations, sharing lessons learnt and ensuring that the solutions developed within Twinghy are robust, safe and applicable in real industrial environments.

At Twinghy, we would like to thank Calderys and its team for their excellent hospitality and active involvement in the project. The combination of industrial experience, expertise in refractory materials and an innovative approach makes Calderys an essential partner in the move towards more efficient reheating furnaces that are compatible with a decarbonised energy future.