One of ABM’s most traditional events, the Ironmaking and Raw Materials Seminar, reaches its 50th edition this year as part of the 6th edition of ABM WEEK.

Bringing together professionals from the industry, academic researchers, and representatives from technology players since the 1970s, the Seminar will be held at Pro Magno Centro de Eventos, São Paulo, as an integral part of ABM WEEK’s program this year.

“Reaching 50 editions is quite a victory for us in 2022, after facing so many crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” celebrates Helênio Resende Silva Júnior, senior consultant at Paul Wurth/SMS Group’s Sales & Process Department and coordinator of ABM’s Technical Committee on Ore Agglomeration and Reduction.

According to Silva Júnior, the Seminar seeks to present the latest research and experimental approaches from universities and relate them to specific applications in the industry in every edition.

“Technology providers also have an opportunity to demonstrate the innovative solutions they’ve developed every year,” he adds.

This year, the Ironmaking Seminar will address topics such as production optimization, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, technological improvement in industry, and methods, systems, and technologies that lead to productivity gains.

The event will open with a brief introduction by Silva Júnior and Leonardo Caputo, manager for the Metallics Engineering and Steelmaking Engineering departments at Vale, which is the Seminar’s host company.

Then, tribute will be given to outstanding professionals at this year’s edition: Hamilton Pimenta, Vale’s Product Development & Supply Planning manager, and Helênio Resende Silva Júnior.

“I’m extremely honored to have been remembered by ABM, although I think I don’t deserve it. I appreciate the recognition for almost 40 years as a metallurgical engineer,” Helênio says. 

He says he joined ABM in 1984 when he graduated as an engineer from the Federal University of Minas Gerais and joined Usiminas.

“I’ve always been linked to the Ironmaking Seminar and attended the ABM Congress. I haven’t miss one single edition,” he points out.

The consultant considers this gathering a great opportunity for technical and professional exchange in the industry and hopes the Seminar will continue for many decades.

At the end of our careers, all we do is think about our legacy and future generations. I hope they will also have the same affection we've always had for ABM,” he says.

The 6th ABM WEEK is hosted by Gerdau and is sponsored by the following companies: Açokorte, Alkegen, Amepa GmbH, Aperam, ArcelorMittal, Atomat Services, AutoForm, BM Group/Polytec,BRC, BR Event Materials ,CBMM, Combustol, Clariant, Danieli, Dassault Systèmes, DME Engenharia, Eirich, Enacom, Engineering, Evonik, Fosbel, GSI, Harsco, Hatch/CISDI, Ibar, Imerys, IMS Messsysteme GmbH, Isra Vision Parsytec, John Cockerill Industry, Kuttner, Metso Outotec, Nalco Water/Ecolab, Nouryon, Primetals Technologies, PSI Metals, Reframax , RHI Magnesita, Saint-Gobain, SMS Group Paul Wurth/ Vetta, Spraying Systems, Suez, SunCoke, Tecnosulfur, Ternium, Timken, Thermo Fischer, TopSolid, TRB, Unimetal, Usiminas, Vale, Vamtec, Vesuvius, Villares Metals, Wallonia.be (ADI – Industrial Services, John Cockerill Hydrogen, BorderSystem, Datanet International, Synthetis e PEPITe), White Martins, e Yellow Solution.Special support: CNPq. Institutional support: Abal, Abendi, Abifa, AIST, AIST Mena, Alacero, CBCA, Ibram, Icz, Instituto Aço Brasil, CIMM, Ind4.0.