How important is sustainability for Acciaierie di Verona?
The focus on sustainability has always been a defining characteristic of the Pittini Group. At the production site in Verona, which is practically embedded in the urban context of the city (the Verona Arena is less than 1,000 metres from the steelworks), this awareness is also a necessary requirement. The effort of everyone is aimed at transforming this very necessity into an opportunity.
What steps have been taken to improve the environmental performance of the plant?
Following the turning point represented by the ‘Masterplan’ project in 2016, the ‘Sustainable Steel’ project was launched in 2020, with the specific aim of improving environmental performance through the construction of the new steelworks fume extraction system, the roller way for the transfer of hot billets from the steel mill to the rolling mill, and the roofing of a second branch of the scrap yard, all of which are now operational. Moving forward, an additional investment package was launched in 2023 that will include, among other measures, a new water treatment plant and the soundproofing of the steelworks building.
Speaking of the future, and by extension the Industry 4.0 programme, what is the impact of digitalisation and automation on manufacturing operations and processes?
The technological component of modern plant engineering, namely Industry 4.0, enables plant operators to collect information in almost real-time conditions. This massive volume of data was unimaginable until recently. Translating this otherwise sterile information capital into efficient processes requires expertise and analytical skills. Verona has invested in this area and will continue to do so. But we must continue to push forward and be aware that we need to start thinking in terms of Industry 5.0, with a specific focus on energy savings.
As we look to the future, what are the plans for Acciaierie di Verona?
In the world of steel, market conditions have recently changed significantly in relation to the international context. The concept of sustainability is shifting from a competitive factor to a survival factor, with the result that the focus of technological decisions and therefore investments is expanding, not only in terms of cost but also in terms of energy saving and decarbonisation. This is perhaps the greatest challenge we face today: being ready to meet the demands of a market driven by new rules.
