Danieli Group, a global leader in plant and machinery for the metals industry, is setting new benchmarks for carbon-neutral and highly competitive steel production through its cutting-edge technologies and intelligent systems.
Danieli Group leads the green steel revolution with smart, zero-emission technologies
With decades of sustained investment in research and development, Danieli Group now offers the most comprehensive suite of solutions for sustainable steelmaking, balancing the lowest total CapEx, OpEx, and CO₂ tax. At the heart of the company’s innovation is its hydrogen-ready Energiron Direct Reduction (DRI) technology, which enables steel producers to drastically cut emissions while maintaining productivity. Alongside this, Danieli Group provides integrated solutions for scrap handling and processing, ensuring optimal metallic input for Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) and enhancing material circularity. In the meltshop, Danieli’s Digimelter is redefining electric steelmaking. Featuring the hybrid-ready Q-One power feeder, continuous scrap charging, and the Q-Melt suite, it enables operations powered by renewable energy sources. These innovations are central to the Danieli Minimills and Hybrid Minimills, known for their flexibility, energy efficiency, and minimal environmental impact. On the rolling side, Danieli Universal Endless (DUE) casting-rolling lines for flat (QSP-DUE) and long (MIDA-QLP) products ensure high productivity and reduced energy use. All production phases are controlled by Danieli Automation’s Q3 process technologies, leveraging AI and big data for fully automated, man-free operations with consistent high-quality outputs. Intelligent automation extends beyond the shop floor. Automated cranes and plant logistics systems manage scrap yards, billet storage, and finished product handling with minimal human intervention, improving safety and operational efficiency. The Q-SYM2 system further enhances scrap optimization, while Danieli Centro Recycling integrates in-line shredders, shears, and separation lines for comprehensive materials recovery and reuse. When it comes to heating, Danieli Group is pioneering zero-emission solutions. The Danieli Hydro Series burners, adaptable for 100% hydrogen use, eliminate CO₂ emissions entirely. Through flameless combustion technology, they also keep NOx emissions at levels comparable to natural gas, ensuring both environmental and regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, electric tunnel furnaces have been engineered to hold billets at 1,250°C without the use of fossil fuels, setting new standards for green reheating processes.
Danieli Group looks to the future with strategic partnership
Danieli Group has taken a bold step toward the future of decarbonised manufacturing by partnering with Newcleo, a UK-headquartered nuclear technology company. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 10 March 2025 to explore the integration of Newcleo’s Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) technology with Danieli’s advanced green steel processes. This agreement marks a pivotal development in the transformation of the steel industry, traditionally one of the most energy-intensive and polluting sectors. By harnessing both the electricity and high-temperature thermal energy produced by LFRs, the collaboration aims to power Danieli Group’s next-generation technologies such as the Digimelter, designed to melt metallics more competitively and cleanly. Additionally, the high-temperature output of LFRs could play a key role in green hydrogen production, essential to fuel Energiron direct reduction plants for ore pellet processing. Danieli also plans to integrate hydrogen burners across its systems, reinforcing its commitment to fossil-free operations. This strategic move aligns with the European Union’s broader decarbonisation agenda. In February 2025, the EU Commission launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Steel Sector and adopted the Clean Industrial Deal, pledging over €100 billion to support clean, EU-made manufacturing. The Danieli–Newcleo partnership is ready to profit from this momentum, offering a scalable model for clean steelmaking that supports both industrial competitiveness and climate goals.
