The BFI

For more than 50 years we have been proposing and developing solutions to meet your current and future challenges. We see ourselves as your research partner, putting our special expertise and long experience at your service in translating new findings into industrial practice.

As a non-profit research institute we maintain close contacts with the process industry.

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Core compentencies

The BFI focuses on four key areas that are of outstanding importance for the entire steel and process industry. In order to actively help shape the present and future, we not only react to developments, but also drive them forward across all departments in the four key areas. This is how innovative ideas become concrete applications and knowledge becomes economic performance.

CO2 reduction and energy efficiency

Reducing energy requirements and emissions such as CO2 are important political climate targets that we want to achieve together with the process industry and plant engineering through new solutions.

Digitisation and process measurement technology

Supporting the implementation of end-to-end digitalisation in the process industry is important to us. The development of innovative process measurement technology forms the basis for this in many areas.

Circular economy

Material efficiency and recycling of solid and liquid operating materials as well as residual and recyclable materials are the basis for sustainable development in Europe. We work with you to develop cost-effective solutions for your business.

Process optimisation

We develop optimisation potential for you in individual operational processes and process chains and focus on resource efficiency, quality, productivity, cost-effectiveness and environmental aspects.

News

Important milestone in ‘H<sub>2</sub>Stahl’ - research project for hydrogen-based direct reduction in Duisburg
02/13/2025

Important milestone in ‘H2Stahl’ - research project for hydrogen-based direct reduction in Duisburg

The engineering for the construction of a direct reduction test plant, including HAZOP, has been successfully completed and the core components were ordered for manufacturing. This means that the build-up of the test plant, as well as the special investigations which are already underway in the BFI's technical centre, are on schedule despite challenging times.

7th ESTAD 2025
09/24/2025

7th ESTAD 2025

We’re excited to announce that BFI will be represented with 11 presentations at the ESTAD 2025, taking place from October 6–9, 2025 in Verona, Italy.

Key result in the SynErgie project
06/09/2025

Key result in the SynErgie project

As part of the Kopernikus project "SynErgie", funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the project partners Kanthal GmbH, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG, VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH and WS Wärmeprozesstechnik GmbH have reached an important milestone.

Meeting at Spectral Industries
06/06/2025

Meeting at Spectral Industries

As part of the DiGreeS project (Demonstration of Digital twins for a Green Steel value chain) a meeting was hold on 5th June 2025 at Spectral Industries in Delft/Netherlands focused on the discussion of technical details regarding the sensors used in Use Case 1, specifically targeting on the verification of heavy melting scrap (HMS).

Project
05/30/2025

Project "MiningWater": field trial at phosphate mine

As part of the project “MiningWater” in the Middle East Regional Water Research Cooperation Program (MEWAC), BFI has set up successfully together with the technology provider CERAFILTEC Germany GmbH for ceramic flat sheet filtration and the Jordan water treatment plant builder Irshaidat Co. a field trial at a Jordan phosphate mine.

Commissioning of the pilot plant for membrane distillation at the BFI water technology center
01/23/2025

Commissioning of the pilot plant for membrane distillation at the BFI water technology center

A pilot plant for membrane distillation from EvCon was put into operation at the BFI Water Technology Center on 22.01.2025. This technology can be powered by low-temperature waste heat (60-85°C). As a result, the previously unused energy potential in the steelworks could be used for water recovery.