Connections - April 2024

Welcome to the first edition of ASA Connections for 2024!

The year has started at a cracking pace, and we cannot wait to share the stories of 2024 so far!

We begin with NSW Transport announcing motivated goals for decarbonisation and climate action, aiming to achieve net zero emissions across the entire transport sector in New South Wales by the year 2050!

From here, it’s off to Canada, where a Montreal-based carbon removal technology company has managed to create carbon-negative concrete blocks with the help of steel slag!

Mark your calendars, the 16th Global Slag conference is about to kick off! Hosted in Dubai, the conference begins on the 23rd of April. Be quick – you can still register to attend.

We then sit down with Jamie North, a Sydney-based artist and sculptor who uses industrial coproducts, such as slag, in his projects. Jamie recently completed ‘Stone in Three Phases’ in Stein am Rhein, Switzerland. The project featured electric-arc furnace slag, and has become a fan favourite to the town locals and travelling tourists.

Next, the ASA would like to thank recently retired Mr Gavin Tory for his services & commitment to the Association. Gavin Tory, General Manager at ASMS decided it was time to step aside earlier this year. We spoke with Gavin about his career, the industry, what he plans on doing in retirement, and much more below. We would also like to welcome Emeile Stenbeck on her appointment as General Manager at ASMS and representative to the Association!

Our good friends over at InfraBuild have been working hard on developing more sustainable steel. Infrabuild are claiming reduced embodied carbon emissions by 35%. This 100% recycled product is set to help reach low-carbon emission targets.

Now, back to some exciting news in the slag world –with India producing their longest road yet using eco-friendly practices. Set to be completed by mid-2024, the 8km long, 8-lane road is currently being constructed in Khajod, roughly five and a half hours north of Mumbai.

After you’ve attended the Global Slag Conference in Dubai, it’s time to jet off to Spain to join the 12th European Slag Conference! The event concentrates on sustainability, innovation, and circular economy principles, & will be held from October 23rd to 25th, in the city of Bilbao, known for its Basque cuisine.

ASA members, Independent Cement and Lime Group (ICL) have recently obtained accreditation from EPD Australasia, and have released their Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) powder.

Lastly, Holcim subsidiary Aggregate Industries has begun the construction of a low carbon manufacturing facility in Essex, England, aimed at increasing the production of low carbon cement components, including GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag).

The Australasian (iron and steel) Slag Association would like to say a massive thank you to our members for their support and contributions to this edition of Connections. Connections would not be possible without our members, and we would love to report on your stories for the Connections to follow!

Ben Grant

Ben Grant Editor

NSW TRANSPORT TAKE HISTORIC STEPS TOWARDS NET ZERO FUTURE

New South Wales Transport is propelling Australia towards a cleaner future, with progressive plans aimed at accelerating the transition to net zero operations in the transport sector.

Contributing approximately 20 percent of the states greenhouse gas emissions, transportation stands as the fastest-growing contributor to Australia's emissions.

The Net Zero and Climate Change Policy of Transport for NSW outlines ambitious goals for decarbonisation and climate action, aiming to achieve net zero emissions across the entire transport sector in New South Wales by the year 2050.

In line with Australia's commitments to the 2016 Paris Agreement, these targets acknowledge the industries challenges and emphasise the imperative need for urgent action.

Key targets include:

• 100 per cent renewable energy for operational electricity for the rail, light rail,and metro networks by 2025 (already around 98 per cent complete)

• 100 per cent of Transport’s work vehicle fleet transitioning to all-electric by 2030

• Net Zero in Transport sector emissions by 2050

• Net negative transport sector emissions by 2060

Transport for NSW will collaborate with National Highways, the organisation overseeing the management of the UK's motorways and major roads and recognised as a global leader in the decarbonisation of transport infrastructure.

This comes after a year of collaboration on ‘The Future of Carbon Accounting in Infrastructure Contracts’, with the MOU including two initial deliverables.

The first MOU deliverable will develop integrated carbon cost management processes and technology that will:

• Clearly define ‘baseline carbon’ with cost across the project portfolio.

• Allow contractors to produce quantified decarbonisation plans analogous to cost plans.

• Provide a consistent carbon baseline across complex portfolios – solving one of the largest decarbonisation challenges our industry faces.

The latter MOU deliverable focuses on the Digital Engineering Framework to help partners automate workflows on decarbonisation, driving costs and resource efficiencies. Transport for NSW will monitor progress and produce annual reports on the agency’s carbon footprint.

Transport Minister Jo Haylensaid “Australian Governments and industry are beginning to make serious moves to greener infrastructure, and I’m pleased that Transport for NSW has been taking a leading role in this important work.”

Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s outgoing CEO Ainsley Simpson was quoted: “With around 70 per cent of Australia’s emissions enabled by infrastructure, sustainability is more important than ever. That's why we strongly endorse the continued positive measures the NSW Government is undertaking in this field.”

“The targets set out are challenging but important, and the Memorandum of Understanding with National Highways means we have two global leaders collaborating to accelerate to net zero.”

Australian Governments and industry are beginning to make serious moves to greener infrastructure, and I’m pleased that Transport for NSW has been taking a leading role in this important work.

Transport Minister Jo Haylensaid

Canadian Company CarbiCrete Develop CEMENT FREE, CARBON NEGATIVE CONCRETE SOLUTION

CarbiCrete is a Montreal based carbon removal technology company whose patented technology enables the production of cement-free, carbon-negative concrete made with industrial by-products, such as steel slag and captured carbon dioxide.

Recently, the company has received third-party validation that the products generated through its technology meet and/or exceed ASTMC90 performance requirements for concrete masonry units (CMUs).

With CarbiCrete, cement is replaced by steel slag, along with other materials which is then poured into a conventional block-making machine where the CMUs are formed. For the concrete to be cured, the CMUs are placed into a CO2 injected chamber for 24 hours. Once the CO2 reacts with the steel slag, the carbon dioxide is permanently captured and converted into stable calcium carbonates.

When compared to conventional cement-based CMUs, CarbiCrete possesses higher compressive strength by up to 30% and displays better freeze/ thaw resistance.

Testing of CarbiCrete’s products was performed by CTL Group, who examined requirements such as compressive strength, permissible variations in dimensions, and finish and appearance criteria.

"This validation, using industry-accepted standards, is an important step in demonstrating that CarbiCrete-enabled products deliver equivalent or better performance than those made with cement, while reducing emissions and permanently removing CO2," says Chris Stern, CarbiCrete's CEO.

Last November, the company announced that Enviro-access, a Canadian leader in the quantification of environmental impacts, validated that CarbiCrete’s process is carbon-negative, eliminating more than 100% of the global warming potential of concrete blocks, compared to those made using normal, cement-based process.

BEGINS THIS MONTH!

Officially kicking off on the 23rd April, this two day conference will bring slag producers and technologists together to discuss the latest trends and emerging state-of-the-art advancements in the industry.

A pre-event field trip planned at Green Cement in Dubai will be held on the 22nd April followed by a post-event trip to the slag-grinding plant at National Cement, Abu Dhabi, on the 25th.

With around 150 slag-related delegates expected to attend from across 30 countries, the Global Slag Conference is the hub for uncovering the latest and greatest in the slag industry, along with providing instrumental networking and business opportunities for you and your business.

If your business is slag, make it your business to attend the 16th Global Slag Conference. Slag producers, slag-product users, cement producers and users, equipment vendors, traders and shippers, and academics & researchers are all urged to attend!

Registrations are still open, so book your place now and do not miss this amazing event!

REGISTER NOW!

‘STONE

IN THREE PHASES’ WITH JAMIE NORTH

Jamie North, a Sydney-based artist and sculptor who uses industrial co-products, such as slag in his projects recently completed his latest project, ‘Stone in Three Phases’. The project was created in Stein am Rhein, Switzerland, and took Jamie over three months to complete.

The primary sculpture material was electric-arc furnace slag, sourced from a steelwork in Switzerland. Jamie’s piece emulates the ancient stone walls found throughout the town, which provide habitat for local plant and animal species.

We recently sat down with Jamie to discuss his amazing project and learn more about the process of using industrial by-products.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the project and how did it come about?

The work was developed specifically for the site. I always make work that features regular geometries that are eroded to make life permissible. The major element constitutes a formal grid, with each point marked by a slag rock. It is the individuality of each rock coupled with the irregularities of the wall which it occupies that disrupts this geometry.

The project came about after being approached by Helga Sandl, the curator of the Kulturhaus Obere Stube, via email. The Kulturhaus, (in Stein am Rhein, Switzerland) was undergoing a major renovation and the curator thought that my work was a good fit for the inner courtyard of the Kulturhaus.

Q: Did you encounter any challenges throughout the process?

One challenge was trying to replicate my processes remotely and sourcing the right tools. But the major challenge was working with the local slag that I obtained, sourced from Steeltec AG in Emmenbrücke, a division of Swiss Steel.

It was much harder than I am used to in working with the blast furnace slag from Australian Steel Mill Services in Port Kembla, having a lot less porosity and being riddled with steel. The project involved core drilling each rock multiple times, and the core drill bits would constantly break delaying the process.

I think the electric-arc furnace slag process must result in a much denser slag than blast furnace slag with more steel remaining in the end product. However, it also helped to distinguish the work I made with it as its harsh and jagged nature helped produce a different sculptural result, so what was a challenge became an opportunity.

Q: How much electric-arc furnace slag was used?

288 rocks were used in ‘Stone Field’ a component of ‘Stone in Three Phases’ with many more collected and rejected.

Q: What plants did you use & how did you select them?

The plants were local herbaceous and fern species. The dominant species is a small succulent, Sedum alba. One interesting fern species that I used, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum is reported to only be found in rock walls which really underscores my motivations around the work, being that humans are intricately a part of nature to the point where our processes and structures can actually become important habitat. The plants in the slag are thriving, albeit with my addition of organic material to the slag at the time of planting. This organic material helped to offset the extreme alkalinity of the slag and judging by the growth rate of the plants it has been extremely successful.

Q: What were your aspirations for this project?

Art for me is not so much about end goals. It is a process of thought and physical exploration. I think of the process as being triangular between myself, the material, and the audience. I’m interested in the revelations that are a rich part of the process, and the individual responses that visitors have had when experiencing the work. The responses often incorporate personal reflections and anecdotes, and I am happy with my work when it becomes a source of connection between people’s thoughts, memories, and feelings.

Q: Do you have any exciting upcoming projects?

I have a commission in Docklands, Melbourne, that involves the high res scanning of nine selected rocks, adapting them a little in a program, printing them at a much larger size and then casting these prints in bronze using traditional methods. They will feature as a drift of rocks elevated within a garden bed that runs along La Trobe Street.

I like the fact that humble slag, that would otherwise have been crushed for industrial or construction use will be celebrated for its form, with each “rock” showing the vestiges of its origin.

AUSTRALIAN STEEL MILL SERVICES’ GENERAL MANAGER GAVIN TORY RETIRES

Gavin Tory, after 10 years, is retiring as General Manager of Australian Steel Mill Services.

Australian Steel MillServices Pty Limited (ASMS) is one of Australia’s leading steel mill service providers and a major supplier of construction materials in NSW. ASMS is a joint venture company between Cement Australia Group and Edw. C Levy. Company (USA).

Gavin joined ASMS and the industry in 2014, initially as Manager, Sales and Business Development, replacing Eliot Wiener who was returning to Edw. C Levy in USA to take up new leadership roles. Previously, Gavin held senior management roles mainly in the Oil industry.

Looking for a new challenge, Gavin decided to join ASMS, where his exceptional management, sales and technical skills & expertise would shine. When asked how the industry has evolved over his tenure, Gavin stated that the focus on low carbon products has gained momentum, especially with recent greenhouse gas management initiatives from the State and Federal Governments.

Since July 2022, Gavin has held the GM role, and has loved the autonomy within the role, along with the diverse range of challenges and opportunities that have come his way. Overseeing all operations as well as being responsible for many different departments, Gavin has enjoyed being able to deliver his skillset to his co-workers and the company.

Gavin has been involved with the Australasian (Iron & Steel) Slag Association since he began with ASMS. “I have enjoyed my time both working with the Association and its members and affiliates. I have made a lot of valued relationships from my involvement with the ASA, and I have learnt a lot along the way. I appreciate the opportunities the ASA has provided.”

Working with ASMS for 10 years, there are many people to thank. “I believe you are only as good as the team you work with. With that in mind I would like to recognise the ASMS and Ecocem teams as well as the ASA for their diligence and support. A special mention also goes to ASMS’s shareholders, particularly to our U.S shareholder, Levy, who provide a lot of expertise to our business and are also great to work with. Levy is a privately held company and still has a family feel to it, despite being a global business.”

When asked if Gavin had any advice for Emelie Stenbech, the new GM - he had a few simple words. “Enjoy the ride. There’s never a dull moment. Invest in the people who can grow and make a difference.”

Gavin is planning to stay busy and active during his retirement, with travelling, pursuing his hobbies, such as snow and water skiing, and spending time with his family & two grandchildren.

From everyone at the Australasian (Iron & Steel) Slag Association, we would like to thank Gavin for his commitment and services to the industry. Gavin served as Chair for 4 years on the Board of the Association. His valuable insights will be sorely missed as we wish him an enjoyable retirement!

AUSTRALIA’S OWN CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE STEEL

InfraBuild has introduced an innovative reinforcing product aimed at reducing the quantity of steel required for constructing buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure. This initiative aligns with efforts to decarbonise the built environment and ensure the sustainability of Australia's future.

‘SENSE 600®’ provides a design solution that uses up to 16.7% less raw material whilst maintaining the same load capacity as 500N product. The product provides up to 35% reduction in embodied carbon versus standard grade reinforcing solutions, allowing customers to lower their scope 3 emissions.

Scope 3 emissions are defined as emissions which a company is indirectly responsible for, up and down the value chain and according to Deloitte UK, can account for more than 70 percent of their carbon footprint.

InfraBuild is Australia’s largest vertically integrated, electric arc furnace-based long steel manufacturer and uses 100 percent scrap which means customers are also supporting the Australian economy and local jobs when they use SENSE 600®

“We’re very pleased to be at forefront of innovation and to advance both our own and the construction industry’s decarbonisation journey,” InfraBuild CEO Francisco Irazusta said.

Pursuing a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, InfraBuild is at the forefront of the industry's efforts to decarbonise its manufacturing processes.

“The development of SENSE 600® is another step forward in delivering value to our customers and ensures we’re playing our role in the successful transition to a low emission economy,” Mr Irazusta said.

As InfraBuild pioneers these advancements, their net-zero pursuit by 2030 underscores their dedication to sustainability and the ongoing transformation towards a low-emission economy.

INDIA’S LONGEST STEEL SLAG ROAD TO BE COMPLETED IN 2024 INDIA’S LONGEST STEEL SLAG ROAD TO BE COMPLETED IN 2024

INDIA IS SET TO COMPLETE THEIR LONGEST STEEL SLAG ROAD BY MID-2024.

The 8km long, 8-lane road is currently being constructed in Khajod, roughly five and a half hours north of Mumbai.

The introduction of steel slag reduces the overall construction costs, produces a more reliable & durable road, and limits the amount of CO2 emissions released and involved in the project. Steel slag is set to replace up to 95% of the mix that will be used during this development.

Director of the project, Piyush Patel claims that approximately 80,000 tonnes of steel slag aggregate has already been used. “We have completed over 30%, with our focus set on completing by the middle of 2024”.

It is projected that this number will increase to 60 million tonnes by the end of 2024, with each ton of steel resulting in around 200kg of steel slag waste.

By using steel slag in road construction, the technology offers an eco-friendly approach to managing industrial waste. Production costs and road thickness are reduced by 30% when steel slag is utilised in these construction developments.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Steel is actively working to promote the widespread usage of this technology across the country.

By fostering collaborative efforts, India aims to lead the way in sustainable road infrastructure development and achieve its 'Waste to Wealth' mission.

12TH EUROPEAN SLAG CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN SPAIN DURING OCTOBER

The 12th European Slag Conference, EUROSLAG 2024, will be held later this year in Spain. The event, where sustainability, innovation, and circular economy principles converge, will be held from October 23rd to 25th, in Bilbao, Spain

EUROSLAG 2024 serves as the platform where experts, innovators, and decision-makers converge to exchange knowledge, explore cuttingedge solutions, and set the course for a more sustainable and prosperous future where slags will render the most.

Call for papers closed last month. The themes for papers focused on:

• Influence of the decarbonisation process on the characteristics and availability of both future iron-based (from pre-reduced iron) and EAF slags.

• Influence of legislation and standardisation on slag uses including technical and environmental issues.

• Innovative Production and processing, characterisation, and uses of slags.

• New fields of application and results from and new frontier research.

• Recovery of critical elements from metallurgical slag.

Join industry leaders as you explore the dynamic world of slags, and uncover the course towards a brighter & more sustainable future for slags and the steel industry!

Being held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) provides attendees the ultimate experience, being recognised as one of the most modern trade-show complexes globally. Positioned just a short distance from Bilbao Airport and the city centre, attendees are in an ideal location to see what the historic city has to offer.

Slags for the Future, the Future of the Slags.

REGISTER NOW!

INDEPENDENT CEMENT & LIME GROUP PUBLISH EPD FOR GROUND GRANULATED BLAST-FURNACE SLAG

Recently accredited by EPD Australasia, Independent Cement and Lime Group (ICL) have published their EPD for Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBFS) powder.

GGBFS is produced by quenching molten iron slag (a by-product of iron and steelmaking) from a blast furnace in water. The resulting granular product is subsequently dried and ground into a fine powder. It is used in concrete mixes and Independent Cement’s Ecoblend products, for its environmental and technical benefits.

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is an independently verified and registered document that communicates transparent and comparable data and other relevant environmental information about the life-cycle environmental impact of a product.

The carbon footprint of Type GB binders in concrete and other cement-based products, is significantly lower with the addition of SCM’s such as slag and fly ash. With the industry now lifting the proportions of SCM’s in concrete to meet the low carbon market demand, ICL is helping its customers find sustainable solutions to this need.

Independent Cement and Lime Pty Ltd was established in 1987 & is a specialist supplier of cement and cement-blended products, as well as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) such as slag and fly-ash. ICL was one of the early adopters of alternative environmental binders and is the home of Ecoblend, a trusted cement brand for over fifteen years.

ICL supplies a wide variety of industries throughout Victoria and NSW including:

• Concrete manufacturing

• Concrete product and precast concrete manufacturers

• The mining sector

• Road construction and rehabilitation-Cementitious building products

• Packaged cement products for the retail and hardware sectors including Bunnings

To find out more about Independent Cement & Lime Group’s recent EPD on Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag, click here.

Construction of Holcim subsidiary

AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES CONSTRUCTING NEW CEMENT BLENDING PLANT

Aggregate Industries’ low-carbon manufacturing facility has started at The Port of Tilbury, Essex. The company said the primary objective of its ‘strategic investment’ at the site is to ‘fulfill the increasing demands for sustainable building materials within an evolving market’

The investment includes new plant equipment for manufacturing blended cements and lower carbon cement components, including GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag) and alternative raw materials from construction demolition materials.

Aggregate Industries aim is to support the global drive for low-carbon and circular construction materials and accelerate decarbonisation in the UK market.

Steve Curley, managing director at Aggregate Industries, said: “Already, our ECOPact range of low-carbon concrete delivers significantly lower CO2 emissions than standard concrete and our ECOPlanet range of green cement was recently added to our green offering.”

“By investing in this impressive facility within the Port of Tilbury, we will truly boost our sustainable offering and be more agile and efficient in the way we manufacture, transport, and supply our products across this region.”

The Tilbury site has five loading heads and will help Aggregate Industries to maintain its continuous supply of conventional, reduced CO2 and circular cementitious materials to London and South East England.

WE NEED YOUR CONTENT

Connections is produced twice a year for the benefit of ASA members and before each publication is drafted, an email is sent to all members urging them to contribute their stories.

The types of content we are looking for include:

We also have a Member Profile section, which is open to all member companies for contributions on behalf of the business in general, or a specific employee. So if you have an idea or content that you think might make an interesting article, get in contact with the Association today: publications@asa-inc.org.au