50 years of innovation at the R&D center in Esch
50 years ago, the Esch-sur-Alzette Research and Development Center was created in the Schlassgoard domain in the Minett region. On September 27, 2022, and for this very special anniversary, the research center manager, Boris Donnay, received H.R.H. the Crown Prince Guillaume, and the Minister of Higher Education and Research, Claude Meisch, for an uncommon ceremony.
A rich history
It was at the Maison des Arts et des Etudiants of the University of Luxembourg that yesterdays and today’s researchers gathered and were hosted with several speeches, including those of Boris Donnay, Greg Ludkovsky, CEO ArcelorMittal Global R&D, Michel Wurth, Chairman of ArcelorMittal Luxembourg, and Sanjay Samaddar, CEO ArcelorMittal Europe Long Products. At the opening of the ceremony, the strategic importance of the past-50 years researches was highlighted and demonstrated a unique know-how at the service of steel production and architecture for the whole world. Indeed, the center specializing in long products (beams, sheet piling, rails) has been supporting Luxembourg sites in their development since 1972, as well as other ArcelorMittal facilities throughout the world.
A future-oriented vision
It is with local players such as the University of Luxembourg, LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science), Luxinnovation or the FNR (National Research Fund) and in strong collaboration with the Global R&D network that the research center prepares the steel of tomorrow and our journey to zero. Throughout the event, researchers of all ages and nationalities, working at the Esch center, introduced their projects meeting todays and tomorrow’s challenges: greener, smarter, digitalized and more demanding steel products and manufacturing, for construction, civil engineering and transport markets.
For 50 years, the research center has been able to adapt and welcome new skills. During these 50 years, our researchers have brought their dynamism and their creativity. Their achievements are applied in the Luxembourg units of the group and beyond, all over the world. Our researchers contribute to demonstrating that steel is a material at the service of society and its sustainable development, as expressed in the slogan of the ArcelorMittal group: better steels for the planet and its inhabitants.
Boris Donnay, Research center manager Esch-sur-Alzette
It was with great emotion that at the end of the ceremony, the 45 researchers went on stage and were warmly acclaimed by the Crown Prince and the entire audience.
