ABM Week Drives Innovation and Competitiveness in Brazilian Mining and Steelmaking with a Focus on Sustainability.
Brazil, possessing vast mineral wealth, holds 98% of the world’s global niobium reserves (SGB) and the planet’s second-largest rare earth reserves (Jornal USP), estimated at 22 million tons.
The nation, therefore, holds an abundance of critical minerals, increasingly necessary for the global energy transition and the production of advanced electronics. In addition to these strategic elements, the country remains a major producer and holder of metals such as aluminum, iron, and others. However, to leverage this natural advantage fully, it is essential to explore these resources competitively and innovatively.
Efforts to improve the extraction of these ores, reduce costs, and enhance product quality and purity, thereby increasing national competitiveness, are already underway in the Brazilian market.
These solutions will be the focus of the panel “Innovation, Partnerships, and Competitiveness in Mining and Steelmaking,” a highlight of ABM Week 10. The debate will take place on September 8, starting at 11 AM, in the Gerdau Auditorium.
Strategic Dialogue for the Industry’s Future
José Murilo Mourão, coordinator of ABM‘s Technical Commission on Mineral Agglomeration and responsible for organizing the event, emphasizes the importance of the debate:
The panel will feature a ‘state-of-the-art’ presentation of the mining and steelmaking sector and how companies in the field are working in research, development, and, consequently, innovation and partnerships. The sector’s trends and challenges will be on the table, stimulating the development of studies and plans for the segment.
Innovation Translated into Tangible Results
According to Paulo Assis, a professor at the Escola de Minas de Ouro Preto (UFOP) and moderator of the meeting:
The panel will not only discuss new technologies but also how these innovations can transform knowledge into concrete results: lower costs, better quality, reduced environmental impact, and, consequently, greater competitiveness for processes associated with steelmaking.
Paulo Assis argues that the discussions can help business leaders foster innovation within their organizations and unlock new opportunities in the sector.
More efficient processes can reduce energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions, decrease waste generation, and mitigate other environmental impacts. A smaller environmental footprint allows access to new markets and makes ores more attractive to international clients, who have increased their environmental demands. In other words, the combination of low cost, high quality, and reduced impact strengthens the position of national companies against competitors from other countries.
Leadership Visions for a Stronger Sector
José Murilo Mourão explains:
We have invited three highly qualified speakers from the areas of iron ore mining, steelmaking, and ferrous technology. Each will present their perspective on the panel’s theme, followed by a discussion with the audience.
In addition to moderator Paulo Assis, Alexandre Salomão, Agile Portfolio and Innovation Manager at Vale, will also be present on the panel, giving a presentation titled “Innovation and partnership in mining.”
Also participating is Sérgio Nascimento Leal, Engineering Manager at Gerdau, who will speak on “Innovation and partnership in ironmaking.”
The event will also feature the insights of Thiago Campos, Head of Green Steel Metallurgy at SMS group, with his presentation “Innovation in ironmaking technologies and partnership with brazilian steelmakers.”
Paulo Assis also states that the experts’ perspectives can benefit a diverse audience with varied interests.
For students, for instance, the panel ensures future professional readiness by providing a systemic view: mining and steelmaking will increasingly rely on technology, sustainability, productivity, and emission reductions.
Service Information | Innovation and Competitiveness Panel
- Date: September 8, 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:40 PM
- Location: Gerdau Auditorium
Service Information | ABM Week 10
- Date: September 8-10, 2026
- Location: Pro Magno Event Center – Av. Professora Ida Kolb, nº 513, Jardim das Laranjeiras, São Paulo (SP)
- More information: Link
About the 10th ABM Week
Held from September 8 to 10 at the Pro Magno Event Center in São Paulo, ABM Week is Latin America’s leading technical-scientific and business event focused on the metallurgy, materials, and mining sectors.
The program brings together congresses, seminars, symposiums, roundtables, panels, technical sessions, and spaces dedicated to innovation, connecting companies, academia, and specialists to discuss the industry’s main challenges and trends.
The 10th edition of ABM Week is hosted by Gerdau and sponsored by the following companies:
- ArcelorMittal
- DME Engenharia
- Primetals
- SMS group
- Ternium
- Usiminas
- Vale
- Bruker
- Shinagawa
- Acre
- Aperam
- Aplan
- Carboox
- Danieli
- HWI – a member of Calderys
- Ibar
- Tecnosulfur
- Reframax
- RHI Magnesita
- Vesuvius
- Aldak Tenologia
- Autron
- AVB
- Beda/Lechler
- BRC
- BRX Sistemas
- Clariant
- Contemp
- Danfoss
- EnergyTech
- GE Vernova
- GMI
- Harsco
- Jenike & Johanson
- JK Global
- Kaefer RIP
- Kuttner
- Lhoist
- Maud Group
- Nalco Water
- NSK
- Nouryon
- Phoenix Global
- Polytec
- Ramon
- Yantai Refra
- Rimac
- Russula
- Tractian
- Vika Controls
- Wisdri
- ABB
- AçoKorte
- Atomat
- Belge
- Camet
- Cemi
- CISDI
- Cordstrap
- DANTAN
- Data Engenharia
- Ducon
- Densit/Densyx
- Direxa
- Durag
- Eirich
- Evcomx
- Fluke
- Fosbel
- Furnace Solutions
- Gervasi
- Hastec
- Heidenhain
- Heraeus Electro-Nite
- Herkules Group
- IMS
- Industrial Scientific
- Instron
- Intelbras
- IRF South America
- JT & Partners
- KMD
- Koppern
- Lumar Metals
- Malvern Panalytical
- Rijeza
- Ringspann
- Sage
- São Joaquim Laminação
- SMS Mill Services
- SNF
- Solenis
- Spraying Systems
- Suncoke Energy
- Terresis/Magna
- Tmeic
- Togni
- TotalEnergies
- Utis
- Veolia
- Vixteam
- Waelzholz Brasmetal
- Weir
