Rho (Milan), 7 May 2025 – “Industry & Steel” is the title of the new initiative launched by siderweb – The Steel Community, officially presented today at Made in Steel. The international event dedicated to the steel supply chain—currently taking place at fieramilano Rho and organized by siderweb—has drawn participation from 387 companies representing 25 countries, with an internationalization rate of 34.5%. 

The siderweb strategic vision project aims to explore the scenarios the steel industry may face over the next 25 years. A series of meetings—both public and private—will be held with selected members of the Steering Committee, composed of leading entrepreneurs and industry professionals, and the Scientific Committee, tasked with providing independent, rigorous validation of the insights generated. The objective of the initiative is to develop a forward-looking perspective on the steel market in light of ongoing challenges and transformations, culminating in the publication of a comprehensive report. 

The second meeting, held this morning in the Made in Steel 2025 siderweb Conference Room and titled “Industry & Steel 2050: Looking to the Future”, presented the project to attendees of the International Conference & Exhibition dedicated to the steel supply chain. The discussion addressed the potential impact of artificial intelligence, the influence of geopolitical dynamics on global steel trade, the reconfiguration of international production hubs, and the strategic role that Europe and Italy could play in the evolving global landscape. 

Francesca Morandi, External Relations Manager at siderweb, noted that “the steel sector faces numerous short- to medium-term challenges, and innovation—in all its forms—must be a top priority.” She continued, “Today, we had the rare opportunity to collectively revisit the key themes gathered yesterday, on the opening day of Made in Steel, through the voices of MEPs, the presidents of leading national steel associations such as Assofermet and Federacciai, and stakeholders from across the supply chain. We asked industry professionals to reinterpret these insights with a forward-looking perspective during this live session, which reinforced Made in Steel’s role as a hub of ideas and strategic dialogue.” 

Lecturer and strategic advisor Mario Mazzoleni emphasized that “the challenges ahead cannot be addressed through hasty predictions, but by forging a deliberate and informed path. The future of steel will undergo a profound transformation, shaped by three key forces: environmental sustainability, automation, and artificial intelligence.” He stressed that AI should not be feared but embraced: “It is not a replacement for humans, but a tool that enhances human capabilities, creating a ‘hybrid’ model that blends computational precision with human intuition. A sector historically geared toward mass production is now discovering that specialization and niche markets are becoming essential to competitiveness,” he concluded. 

During the round table, moderated by Francesca Morandi (External Relations Manager at siderweb), Roberto de Miranda (Executive Board Member of ORI Martin) emphasized that “the most pressing challenges today lie outside the steel industry itself—such as demographic shifts, European regulations, global competition, and geopolitical instability.” He underscored the “need for innovation at every level, particularly through the adoption of artificial intelligence, to meet the demands of an increasingly complex market and to counter the competitive pressure from non-European producers.” 

Camilla Benedetti, President of ABS, stated that the group is already advancing innovative and sustainable production models. One such example is “the Hybrid Digital Green Plant—a facility that integrates renewable energy, digitalization, and energy recovery, all managed from a single control room where diverse expertise operates in synergy. Steel will thus remain a key resource for the future: quiet, sustainable, and highly adaptable.” 

Francesco Manni, Vice President of Manni Group, emphasized that the future will be defined by integration: “Innovation is not limited to improving products and processes—it also requires rethinking the entire business model. Our group has already developed groundbreaking models of collaboration, demonstrating the importance of overcoming internal conflicts within the supply chain to enhance margins and strengthen competitiveness.” 

Luigi Cuzzolin, CEO of Pipex, highlighted the absence of “a clear and coherent industrial vision at the European Union level. Mounting energy pressures are making investment increasingly unfeasible. A strategic shift is essential—Europe will only maintain a meaningful role on the global stage if it can forge intelligent alliances while avoiding excessive expansion of production capacity.” 

This was followed by a dialogue between Franco Bernabè, President of the University of Trento and former Chairman of Acciaierie d’Italia, and Antonio Marcegaglia, President and CEO of Marcegaglia Steel, focused on the current geopolitical landscape. 

Franco Bernabè highlighted the challenges of forecasting in a volatile global environment: “It is extremely difficult to make predictions in an increasingly unstable world. The unpredictable actions of global leaders—such as Trump—have cast doubt on the post-war role traditionally played by the United States. Protectionist policies carry uncertain and often harmful consequences for the global economy. Yet, this instability could also serve as an opportunity for Europe, which possesses untapped resources and expertise, including an industrial heritage that can be revitalized with a renewed strategic vision.” Bernabè further noted that “Europe has recognized the need to change course. Its initial approach to ecological transition was overly ideological and failed to grasp the complexity of the transformation required. Nevertheless, a major obstacle remains: bureaucracy. An ever-expanding web of laws and regulations continues to stifle entrepreneurial activity.” 

Echoing the urgency for decisive change, Antonio Marcegaglia emphasized the need for “Europe to rediscover cohesion and boldness. The challenges confronting the steel sector are profound and structural, stemming not only from industrial policy decisions but also from raw material shortages and a bureaucratic, overly ideological approach to decarbonization—an essential but complex goal. Without a strategic course correction, Europe faces the very real risk of a significant decline in its production capacity.” President Marcegaglia therefore called for “greater regulatory clarity and more efficient governance capable of delivering effective industrial policy. Europe must embrace a strategic vision without succumbing to the temptation of excessive protectionism—otherwise, we will seriously undermine the competitiveness of our industry.” 

 

Press Office
press@madeinsteel.it

  

Made in Steel is the leading international Conference & Exhibition for the steel industry, organized by siderweb – The Steel Community, Italy’s premier platform for information, analysis, and consulting in the steel sector. Made in Steel is Conference & Exhibition. Combining business opportunities with in-depth discussion, the event offers a dual function: trade fair and cultural forum. Through conferences, panels, and round tables, it fosters “competitive cooperation” and knowledge sharing—essential levers for corporate growth. Since 2023, the event has been ISO 20121 certified for sustainable event management. 

siderweb – The Steel Community is Italy’s only online media outlet exclusively focused on the steel industry. Known for its objective and analytical style, it is a benchmark for industry professionals. Since 2009, it has tracked weekly prices for raw materials and steel products on the domestic market—now exceeding 60 price points—using a methodology certified by the Laboratory of Statistics, Data, Methods and Systems at the University of Brescia. Since 2022, it has published 5 weekly indices covering scrap, carbon steel, long and flat products, and stainless steel. Since 2005, it has organized Made in Steel—the international Conference & Exhibition dedicated to the steel supply chain—curating its content, including conferences, interviews, and market outlooks.