AIST to honor leaders who advance steelmaking process

18 April 2024


The Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) will recognize individuals for their achievements and contributions to the industry at the President’s Award Breakfast at AISTech2024 on May 7. The AIST annual Board of Directors Awards and Recognition Program honors those who have improved and advanced the steelmaking process, judged by industry peers.

This year’s winners are:

  • AIST Steelmaker of the Year Award - this recognizes contributions of a prominent individual to the steel industry who has demonstrated successful leadership through continuous improvement, technological innovation, strategic planning and creating a strong corporate culture. Charles Schmitt, President, SSAB Americas
  • Hunt-Kelly Outstanding Paper Award (AIME) This award recognizes the author(s) of the best published paper from AISTech conference proceedings or Iron & Steel Technology of the previous year.
  • First Place
  • Richard Osei, Peaslee Steel Manufacturing Research Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Dmitry Tsvetkov, Steel Dynamics – Flat Roll Group Columbus Division
  • Anthony Bader, Steel Dynamics – Flat Roll Group Columbus Division
  • Simon Lekakh, Research Professor Emeritus, Peaslee Steel Manufacturing Research Center, Dept of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Ronald O’Malley, F. Kenneth Iverson Chair Professor of Steelmaking Technologies and Director, Peaslee Steel Manufacturing Research Center, Dept of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • These authors were selected to receive this year’s honor for their paper “Effect of Mold Powder Residue on Thin-Cast Slab Scale Structure Evolution During Reheating and Descaling.”
  • Second Place
  • William Ross Edmond, Senior Engineer, Primetals Technologies.
  • Rainer Klock, MD, Thyssenkrupp AT.PRO tec
  • Bartosz Smaha, Team Leader Technology Ore and Iron - Reduction Metallurgy, Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe
  • Hauke Bartusch, Senior Expert and Deputy Head of Dept, VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut.
  • These authors were selected to receive this award for their paper “Improving Blast Furnace Efficiency and Reducing Carbon Emissions With Blast Furnace Oxygen Pulsing Technology.”
  • Third Place
  • Sebastien Flament, Program Leader, CRM Group
  • Hugo Uijtdebroeks, Activity Manager, CRM Group
  • Gisele Walmag, Expert, CRM Group
  • Zafer Koont, Program Leader, Flat Processing Group, ArcelorMittal Global R&D – Hamilton
  • These authors were selected for their paper “Importance of Roll Oxide to Increase Roll Life in a Hot Rolling Mill.”

AIST William T. Hogan, S.J. Lecture Award. This honorary lecturer is selected in recognition of individual outstanding leadership to the iron and steel industry, with selected lectures covering trade, economics, steel industry operations, developments or forecasts. Máximo Vedoya, CEO, Ternium

AIST Tadeusz Sendzimir Memorial Medal.

This distinguished award was established in 1990 to perpetuate the memory of Dr. Tadeusz Sendzimir’s achievements and engineering contributions in developing process equipment for the steel industry. The award is presented in recognition of an individual who has advanced steelmaking through the invention, development or application of new manufacturing processes or equipment. Don P. Lorento, Retired, Accumold

AIST Distinguished Member and Fellow Award - presented to an AIST member who has attained eminent distinction in advancing the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel and/or related activities of the industry and has performed meritorious service to the association.

AIST Merger “Pioneers”:

  • William P. Barker, Retired
  • Ian Sadler, Manager Product Development, MCC International
  • Joseph A. Rutkowski, Retired, Nucor Corp.
  • Thomas W. Goettge
  • Thomas L. Berringer II, Business Development Manager, Gantrex.
  • Michael S. Dudzic, Retired, ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P.
  • Petrus Christiaan Pistorius, POSCO Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and Co-Director, Center for Iron and Steelmaking Research, Carnegie Mellon University
  • Sridhar Seetharaman, Professor and Vice Dean of Research and Innovation, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University

John F. Elliott Lectureship Award - designed to acquaint students and engineers with exciting opportunities in chemical process metallurgy and materials chemistry. Sara A. Hornby, President, Global Strategic Solutions.

AIST Brimacombe Memorial Lecture and AIME Keynote Lecture - in honor of Dr. J. Keith Brimacombe’s accomplishments in the area of process metallurgy, his dedication to the steel industry and his profound effect on people. Sunday O. Abraham, Director R&D, SSAB Americas Abraham will present his lecture, “Integrating Physics-Based Modeling and Artificial Intelligence for Smart Manufacturing,” at AISTech.

Benjamin F. Fairless Award (AIME) - Established in honor of Benjamin F. Fairless, Chairman of the Board, United States Steel Corporation, for his interest in the technology and development of the iron and steel industry. This award recognizes distinguished achievement in iron and steel production and ferrous metallurgy. William H. Emling, Retired, SMS group.