SmartSteel

Purpose and goal

The goal of the project to identify and initiate collaborative activities to develop the SmartSteel concept has been successfully reached. In particular, different ways of identifying individual steel products were studied, including modification of some material properties locally, by adding a physical label, or by measuring specific material properties that are unique and robust to subsequent material processes. During phase 1, activities were also conducted to strengthen the relationships between Swedish and Finnish industry and innovation actors, such as PiiA and DIMECC.

Expected results and effects

The SmartSteel concept has been developed during phase 1. New technologies for identifying individual steel products have been tested with promising results. New services and business models have been developed in collaboration with stakeholders along the value chain, focusing on creating added value for the steel industry´s customers by enabling them o optimize their processes based on the information gathered during the production of steel products. Smart Steel phase 2 will build on results and the experiences that were created in phase 1.

Planned approach and implementation

Seven work packages were initially planned, ranging from the development of the SmartSteel concept to marking technologies, data collection and infrastructure, data analysis and visualization, and pilot tests. The project plan was successfully updated during the course of the project to focus more on critical activities, such as the identification of added value for customers of steel producers, the development and evaluation of a pilot, the development of labelling technologies, and the organisation of an open innovation competition to identify new potential partners.