Turning the by-products of the steelmaking process into a useful resource for the local area is one of the most interesting challenges of the circular economy. We discuss this with Giovanni Bairo, who oversees Granella® and Siderlime®, two products that make use of steelworks slag and are used in road infrastructure and civil engineering.
How would you describe your work to someone who isn’t familiar with Granella® and Siderlime®?
Granella® and Siderlime® are a concrete example of the circular economy applied to infrastructure. These products are obtained by recycling the slag generated during the production of electric furnace steel. Granella® is used in the production of bituminous mixtures, cement-bound mixtures and cement-bound composite mixtures, whilst Siderlime® is used as a filler or blend in bituminous mixtures and construction materials, partially replacing natural aggregates. Through a dedicated and certified production cycle involving recovery, treatment and sorting, these materials are transformed into products suitable for a wide range of applications. My role involves promoting these products, supporting their development and encouraging their use in road infrastructure and civil engineering works.
What is the most interesting aspect of transforming materials from steelworks into resources for new infrastructure?
There are certainly many aspects to this, but one of the most interesting is breathing new life into a material that is a by-product of the steel-making process, transforming it into a resource for efficient, sustainable and durable infrastructure. In this way, we reduce our consumption of natural raw materials and make the most of a resource that would otherwise be destined for disposal, thereby making a tangible contribution to the Pittini Group’s circular economy objectives.
What is the most important trade fair for your sector?
Asphaltica is Italy’s leading trade fair dedicated to road infrastructure and mobility. This year it is taking place in Bologna from 7 to 10 October, and the event will therefore be attended by the key players in these sectors, who will be presenting their latest innovations, technologies and solutions.
Undoubtedly, both the trade fair conferences and the stakeholders in attendance will provide interesting insights into both the potential development of our products and their future applications.
