Hy4Smelt: Pioneering hydrogen-based CO2-neutral steelmaking for a sustainable and circular industry

Rutger Gyllenram is a Swedish metallurgist and entrepreneur. He has an MSc in process metallurgy and materials science and a licentiate degree (Dr-ing) in metal production technology from the Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, in Stockholm. Rutger is the founder and CEO of Kobolde & Partners AB, working with raw material and process assessment, which is crucial for decarbonisation in the steel industry.

Oleksandr Nechyporuk is technical manager, Steel Decarbonisation at Rio Tinto, London since January 2025. A specialist in ironmaking technologies, he previously led R&D in blast furnace and ironmaking at ArcelorMittal France, and held process engineering roles in Ukraine and South Africa. Oleksandr holds two master’s degrees with honours in metallurgy and management from the National University of Kryvyi Rih. His expertise spans process optimization, project engineering, and technical leadership in sustainable steel production. He is recognized for advancing decarbonisation, business process improvement, and driving innovation in steelmaking and iron ore processes.

Joachim Lehner serves as head of technical processes at voestalpine Stahl, Business Unit Slab, bringing more than 20 years of experience in iron and steel production. Throughout his career, he has held leading positions in plant engineering, quality management, secondary and primary metallurgy, and steelmaking R&D. Since April 2024, he is responsible for managing strategic investment projects and Research and Development activities within the Business Unit Slab. His expertise includes metallurgy, process optimization, quality and project management, PPS system design, change management and Six Sigma. Joachim holds a Master of Engineering in Metallurgy from Montanuniversität Leoben. As a member of ASMET and AIST, he actively supports the advancement of metallurgy through close collaboration between industry, universities, and research institutions.

Thomas Buergler is CEO of the COMET competence center K1-MET for metallurgical and environmental process development, senior expert at voestalpine Stahl GmbH in the field of iron and steel metallurgy and climate-neutral production processes, and on the board of the hydrogen initiative flagship region Austria Power & Gas. He graduated from the secondary technical college for mechanical engineering in Linz and studied metallurgy at Leoben University. His more than 30 years of professional experience as a project and research manager at national and international levels includes the further development of classic iron and steel production and all alternative process routes in the area of direct or smelting reduction. He also has extensive expertise in the processing of primary and secondary raw materials as well as the recycling of byproducts and waste.

Dr. Alexander Fleischanderl is based in Linz, Austria, and serves as a member of the executive management team at Primetals Technologies. Since April 2024, he has held the position of global chief technology officer, overseeing the entire technology solution portfolio, innovation management, intellectual property, information technology, industrial digitalization and mechatronic solutions. As head of green steel, Alexander leads the company’s initiatives in sustainable iron and steel production. With over 100 patents to his name, he is widely recognised as a pioneer in advancing eco-friendly steelmaking technologies. Alexander’s achievements have earned him several prestigious honors, including Siemens’ Inventor of the Year (2013) and the Best Innovation Award from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (2019). Alexander holds a PhD in process engineering and is renowned for his leadership and expertise in navigating the steel industry towards a climate-neutral and circular future.