Recently, the awarding results of the 2025 Metallurgical Science and Technology Award jointly issued by the China Iron and Steel Association and the Chinese Society for Metals were officially announced. The Awards Committee of the Metallurgical Science and Technology Award decided to confer the 2025 Metallurgical Science and Technology Award on 141 projects, including 3 special prizes, 28 first prizes, 38 second prizes, and 72 third prizes. This year, China MCC has won a total of 25 awards, including 1 special prize, 5 first prizes, 9 second prizes, and 10 third prizes. The number and level of awards continue to rank among the top in the industry.
The "Development and Application of Complete Technology for Ultra-Thick Curved Slab Continuous Casting Machines" led by CERI won the Special Prize. Jointly completed by CERI, Northeastern University, Jiangyin Xingcheng Special Steel, etc., this project addressed the major demand for high-performance ultra-thick plates (≥100 mm) by developing key technologies and complete sets of equipment for curved ultra-thick slab continuous casting with a thickness of ≥450 mm, pioneering a new efficient and green production process for ultra-thick plates. A world's first 450 mm-thick curved ultra-thick slab continuous casting production line was built at Xingcheng Special Steel, and the technology has been promoted and applied in 5 enterprises. It has replaced processes such as die casting, realizing full coverage of high-end ultra-thick plates for marine engineering, energy and other fields. The product has been used in national key projects including the Baihetan Hydropower Station and Haiji No.2 Offshore Platform, and have also been supplied to the Belt and Road Initiative key project-the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia. The R&D team has won honors such as the "National Workers' Vanguard" and "National Advanced Worker". The R&D of this project has significantly enhanced the support capacity for key metal materials and high-end equipment manufacturing, and promoted technological innovation and leading development of major equipment.
The "Innovation and Application of Green and Low-Carbon Blast Furnace Ironmaking Technology" project led by CERI addresses issues in traditional blast furnace ironmaking such as the inability of conventional blast furnace profiles and furnace body structures to adapt to high smelting intensity and diversified burdens, low gas utilization efficiency, and incomplete treatment of vented gas. With the goal of achieving high efficiency and low emissions in blast furnace ironmaking, the project has innovatively developed key ironmaking technologies covering blast furnace body, gas treatment, and efficient utilization. This technology has been successfully applied to 82 blast furnaces at home and abroad, and numerous core technologies have been included in the recommendation catalogs of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the China Iron and Steel Association, and the Chinese Society for Metals. This technology has been applied to the blast furnace project of HBIS. After commissioning, the project has achieved advanced performance indicators: the monthly maximum proportion of pellets reaches 64%, the gas utilization rate can reach 52%, and the blast furnace operates stably and smoothly. The successful application of this project at Indonesia's Krakatau Steel and Malaysia's Eastern Steel has contributed to the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and enhanced the international competitiveness of China's iron and steel industry.
The "Research and Application of Intelligent Electromechanical Construction Technology for Hydrogen-Based Shaft Furnace" led by Shanghai Baoye was spearheaded by Qian Guo, a Shanghai Chief Technician and China MCC's Chief Technician. In the absence of a standard for the construction of hydrogen-based shaft furnace, he deeply integrated traditional electrical construction technology for metallurgical projects with modern information-based and intelligent technologies, and drew on existing smart construction concepts and technologies. Starting from the needs of engineering practice, he aimed at enhancing intelligence level and ensuring safety and quality, and developed intelligent installation technology for electromechanical equipment of hydrogen-based shaft furnace, intelligent welding technology for hydrogen-based shaft furnace, and intelligent operation and maintenance technology for electromechanical equipment. This achievement has been successfully applied in the Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron and Steel Project, delivering remarkable economic, social and environmental benefits.
China MCC's scientific and technological work has always fully implemented its development strategy. Centering on the "One Core, Two Subjects, Five Characteristics" business system, it has strengthened technology R&D and tackling of key issues, made continuous efforts in the layout and cultivation of major scientific and technological achievements, extensively carried out in-depth industry-university-research cooperation, and fully promoted the popularization and transformation of major achievements. It has served the green and intelligent transformation and upgrading of the metallurgical industry, and aimed at the "One Innovation, Two Tops, Five Strengths" striving goal to provide high-quality scientific and technological innovation impetus for promoting the company's further transformation and upgrading.
