With Paul Wurth now entirely under the SMS group roof, the company’s Luxembourg headquarters will be expanded SMS group’s research and development center for decarbonization and recycling. 

The two also will pool research and development efforts, making a SMS and Paul Wurth a one-stop shop for all carbon reduction technologies in existing steel mills; hydrogen-based, CO₂-free direct reduction of iron ore; and Power-To-X technologies for producing synthetic fuels and downstream products. 

“This disruption in the global steelmaking market means the time is right for Paul Wurth and SMS Metallurgy to form a single solution provider,” said Edwin Eichler, chairman of SMS group GmbH.

“In the coming decades, decarbonizing technologies will replace the traditional blast furnaces and coking plants in integrated steel plants. Therefore, the energy balance at the steel plant will have to be reconsidered and reorganized. Our customers will require fully integrated solutions to bring about this change.” 

Concurrent with the acquisition of Paul Wurth’s remaining equity, SMS group has agreed to a strategic partnership with the University of Luxembourg to strengthen scientific research and development of hydrogen technologies at the Luxembourg site.

The agreement continues an existing relationship with the university — with financial support from Paul Wurth, it previously established a chair for energy process technology.     

“Green Steel means an enormous transformation for our customers. SMS and Paul Wurth have been setting technological standards in the steel industry for 150 years and have already worked together very successfully in recent years. By combining our competencies, we are ensuring that SMS and Paul Wurth will remain synonymous with innovative and sustainable solutions,” said Georges Rassel, chief executive of Paul Wurth SA.