After celebrating ten years of Primetals Technologies, former CTO Dr. Etsuro Hirai reflects on the past ten years and its beginnings.
Looking back at the founding of Primetals Technologies, describe what it was like for Siemens VAI and Mitsubishi to come together in 2015.
Dr. Etsuro Hirai: In 2015, both Siemens VAI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, then Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery, brought together two legacies in steel production. This was a coming together of Western and Eastern cultures, downstream expertise, and upstream expertise in the iron and steel industry. Siemens VAI’s background in iron and steel production and focus on the liquid and casting phase of steelmaking are coupled well with Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery’s background in rolling and processing. This was an opportunity for both companies to learn from one another to create a truly comprehensive supplier profile for the metals industry.
What has been a lasting memory from the last ten years of Primetals Technologies? What was one of the most critical events in your view?
Dr. Hirai: On a personal level, I had the opportunity to travel to Linz, Austria, and become CEO of Primetals Technologies Austria. After that, it was a chance for me to see Primetals Technologies emerge as a top supplier following the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic presented a challenge across the globe. It impacted my arrival in Austria, but seeing our company rise to the challenge and continue to deliver solutions to customers worldwide was very important for me.
Over the past ten years, Primetals Technologies has experienced major global events and shifts in the industry. What characteristics of Primetals Technologies enable us to persevere through challenges and changes in the industry?
Dr. Hirai: I have observed three fundamental principles to the culture and structure of Primetals Technologies that have helped us maintain them and will continue to serve us well into the future. The first of these principles is “technology-oriented.” Of course, our name is Primetals Technologies, but what I mean here is that our focus is on delivering cutting-edge technologies and finding breakthrough solutions for the steel industry and not focusing merely on trying to squeeze profits from technologies that we see as not furthering the steel industry toward sustainability and growth.
The second principle is “full liner.” The ability of Primetals Technologies to offer solutions for the entire value chain in iron and steelmaking is vital to our continued success and ability to serve customers worldwide with tailor-made solutions. It comes down to a knowledge base grounded in our technologies and metallurgy, from raw materials to finished products.
Finally, it is the principle of being a global company. At Primetals Technologies, we are a company full of a diverse population of employees worldwide with offices on multiple continents. We are here to serve our local customers with the knowledge and talents of a global network of engineers and experts. I believe these principles will drive Primetals Technologies toward success in the future.
What is in store for Primetals Technologies in the future? What do the next ten years look like for Primetals Technologies and the metals industry?
Dr. Hirai: I foresaw “Green Steel” becoming a major topic in the 2030s, but the industry only saw its arrival two years ago, and it is gaining more emphasis. With that, it is hard to say what the next ten years will look like as the industry experiences a new level of acceleration. New technologies are and will continue to emerge, and capitalizing on these new capabilities quickly and effectively will be a part of the future of Primetals Technologies. From artificial intelligence to quantum computing, new iron and steel industry applications will redefine steelmaking as we know it.
10 Years of Pioneering Innovations
We are proud of our accomplishments in this first decade. We are committed to the long-term success of our customers and continuously work together as a global team driven by our passion to pioneer future-oriented solutions and services for metals production.
Satoru Iijima
CEO, Primetals Technologies
Our people and the relationships with colleagues, customers, suppliers, and
Yoshiharu Ikeda
partners have ensured our success over the last ten years.
CFO, Primetals Technologies
We aim to build on this foundation of success by expanding into new markets, advancing our existing portfolio, developing new technologies, and embracing innovation at every turn. We will continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies and sustainable solutions, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of our industry.
Naoaki Ikeda
Executive Vice President, President and CEO,
Plants & Infrastructure Systems, Head of Machinery Sytems,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
