Saeed Zarandi, CEO of Mobarakeh Steel Group, at the 12th International SteelPrice Conference with the theme “Advanced High Value-Added Steels and Innovation in Manufacturing Engineering”, emphasized: “Given the necessity of a fundamental transformation in the country’s steel industry, innovation is the only path to survival in global competition. This industry is no longer at the stage of recommendations and slogans; it has entered the era of practical action. While appreciating the organizers of the SteelPrice Conference, it must be said that the environment created in this event reflects a correct and future-oriented approach.”
He added: “Today, all industry leaders speak of innovation, but the reality is that the steel industry has moved beyond the stage of merely needing innovation. The only way to continue global competition is through serious and structural movement in this field. The future path of Mobarakeh Steel is outlined on three main pillars: sustainability and green steel, digital transition and smart industry, and the development of advanced materials and special steels with high added value.”
The CEO noted: “In the field of sustainability and green steel, we have focused on developing clean processes, reducing emissions, circular economy, and alignment with global requirements. In the field of digital transition and smart industry, we are moving toward smart factories, data-driven approaches, and new technologies to enhance quality and productivity. These areas will be the heart of Mobarakeh Steel’s transformation in the coming decade.”
He continued: “Mobarakeh Steel, in cooperation with the University of Isfahan and several international institutions, has defined more than 50 to 60 technology topics, where delays will widen the country’s ‘technology gap’ with the world. The global market for special steels is the only segment expected to show positive growth over the next five years. Major global companies such as ArcelorMittal dedicate 30% of their production to special steels, practically moving away from general commercial products—where quality, material composition, and performance advantages replace traditional criteria such as production volume.”
Zarandi stressed: “If we continue to consider production volume as the sole measure of success, we will be eliminated from global competition. The future of the industry depends on producing smarter, lighter, and higher value-added products. Mobarakeh Steel has so far developed 10 new products and will soon unveil more. The company’s main focus is on producing special steel grades—products that not only create competitive advantages but also provide clear answers to the needs of the automotive industry, renewable energy, and lightweight structures.”
He stated: “The pickling line and continuous cold rolling project at Mobarakeh Steel has made significant progress, providing the infrastructure for producing a new range of advanced steels. One of the reasons for our deep technological gap with leading countries is sanctions, but the lack of infrastructure and sustainable international interactions is an even greater obstacle.”
The CEO emphasized: “All major global companies have extensive networks of global R&D centers, foresight centers, and academic collaborations. To avoid being excluded from the cycle of knowledge acquisition, we must design new mechanisms. Establishing advanced technology centers and global R&D hubs is a strategic necessity for Iran’s steel industry.”
He added: “Future-oriented trends in metallurgy are among the critical issues that require special attention. ‘NGI,’ as an emerging model in materials design, is of great importance—a concept first introduced in the United States that revolutionized product design from the ground up. Mobarakeh Steel is striving, in cooperation with one of the country’s leading universities, to establish the first Materials Genome Laboratory based on artificial intelligence and rapid synthesis of new compounds. This laboratory will be capable of synthesizing more than 170 new materials, reducing processes that traditionally took 3 to 10 years to less than one year—or even three months. This will be a technological revolution in Iran’s steel industry.”
Zarandi concluded: “Leading industries worldwide in energy, aerospace, medicine, and steel entered this phase years ago. Despite the severe challenges of gas and electricity shortages this year and the pressure of energy supply, we managed to maintain production stability by reducing costs and focusing on high value-added products. Therefore, in the second half of this year, Mobarakeh Steel, relying on advanced products, will perform better than last year.”
MNA
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