Successful INFACON Conference
News from 2021
Successful INFACON Conference
The 16th International Ferro-alloy Congress – INFACON XVI - was arranged as a digital conference on the 27th to 29th September from Trondheim. The intention of INFACON is to stimulate technical interchange on all aspects of silicon/ferroalloy production. The vision for the three-day conference was "CO2 free ferroalloy production". The presentations reflected the vision with a major focus on decreasing CO2 emissions, clean technologies, recycling including energy efficiency, modelling, emissions (reduce the PAH exposure risk etc.) and Markets.
The presentations covered the major and most of the minor ferroalloys with scientific results from fundamental/lab scale work to implementation in pilot/Industrial scale. Several Key note speakers contributed to strengthen the industrial aspect. Nic Barcza’s presentation was particularly highlighted for giving an overview of development of different technologies for production of ferroalloys which is important background for further discussion. It was extensive and created interest.
Metallurgical Research and Development continues to play a critical role in supporting the advancement of existing industrial operations and the application of improved technologies. INFACON provides a valuable forum to exchange ideas on these important initiatives and their implementation in the best interests of the Ferroalloy industry and the downstream uses. INFACON’s great strength is the combination of industrial and academic perspectives on projects at all technology readiness levels.
A special session on Market with speakers from the International Manganese Institute, Roskill and CRU, gave an extensive overview of trends and forecasts for the ferroalloy products.
The conference was hosted by SINTEF, NTNU and FFF (The Norwegian Ferroalloy Producers Research Association) and organized in cooperation with the International Committee on FerroAlloys (ICFA). Members from SFI Metal Production played a vital part in organizing and implementing the conference. Due to the still ongoing pandemic situation INFACON was organized as a fully digital conference, excellently facilitated by NTNU Conferences PCO. All sessions were live sessions where participants could interact with speakers and meet other attendees and sponsors in the meeting hub.
Congratulations to Professor Gabriella Tranell for receiving the special award from Elkems Research Fund. The winner of the award was presented at the opening of the INFACON XVI conference. Tranell receives the award because of her broad research and contribution to the Ferrosilicon/Silicon industry.
The 17th International Ferro-Alloys Congress (INFACON XVII) will be held in China in 2024. Congratulations to China - we are looking forward to meeting up again, hopefully physically, in China.