R&D as an engineering tool for steel's future

Knowledge and technology are considered new key elements in the competition of the base metal industry. Therefore the role of R&D in the iron and steel industry is changing rapidly. R&D is becoming an asset of the company rather than a cost centre. This change in appreciation of R&D is illustrated for the case of Koninklijke Hoogovens, which claims as a corporate statement to be 'technologically in the forefront through ongoing innovation'. Examples of the role of R&D in continuous improvement and breakthrough technology development at Hoogovens Staal are given in the areas of continuous annealing, ironmaking, and smelting reduction.