Ljubljana, 15 September 2026 – TMProSim, a digital twin for advanced hot steel processing developed by SIJ Acroni, has received a Silver National Innovation Award at the 24th CCIS (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Awards for the Best Slovenian Innovations.

The TMProSim (Thermomechanical and Microstructural Process Simulator) innovation is a digital twin for advanced modelling of hot steel processing at SIJ Acroni. It supports the green transition in production by focusing on material and energy efficiency.

The hot steel processing has a key impact on the microstructural and mechanical properties of steel. During processing, complex physical processes take place in the steel that cannot be measured directly due to the varying temperatures and loads across the cross-section of the steel plate. As a result, the improvement of production processes, process control and the development of new products still rely largely on industrial trials. “The TMProSim digital twin, based on two physical models (thermomechanical and microstructural), makes it possible to achieve something that was previously not possible – gaining insight into the physical processes taking place during hot processing of steel. The solution’s greatest innovation lies in combining the simulation of the production process and the simulation of microstructural evolution into a single multilevel approach. By simulating different processing options, it enables the behaviour of new and existing materials to be predicted accurately without the need for additional industrial trials. The innovation makes an important contribution to more reliable prediction of steel properties, improved homogeneity and quality of steels, and the development of new steel grades. It also helps reduce the number of heat treatments, which, in the steel industry – an energy-intensive industry – has a significant direct impact on reducing energy consumption and, consequently, the environmental impact,” said Dr Mojca Loncnar, Sustainable Development Project Coordinator at SIJ Acroni and project manager, about the innovation.

“The competitiveness of an energy-intensive industry such as the European steel industry is highly dependent on the efficient use of energy and the successful decarbonisation of production. At SIJ Acroni, we are addressing both challenges through innovation and modern energy-efficient Industry 5.0 technologies, such as the TMProSim tool. The TMProSim digital twin is therefore not only a technological innovation, but also part of our efforts to reduce our environmental impact by developing steels with a lower carbon footprint, while also strengthening our competitiveness through lower energy consumption. It confirms the strength of our research culture and the power of collaboration between industry and knowledge institutions,” said mag. Branko Žerdoner, Managing Director of SIJ Acroni.

An interdisciplinary team of 20 experts from SIJ Acroni, C3M and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of Ljubljana was involved in developing the innovation. Bringing together industrial expertise with research and digital competencies proved crucial to the successful development of the TMProSim solution.

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SIJ – Slovenian Steel Group is one of Europe's leading producers of stainless steel and special steels. We are committed to global and European climate goals and operate in line with circular economy principles. With our steel and steel products, we are the right partner for facilitating the green transition in Europe. We confirmed our sustainability credentials by achieving certification to the stringent ResponsibleSteel standard in 2024. This positions us as one of the world's most responsible and sustainable steel producers. Our two largest companies are modern recycling steelworks, and our steel is recycled because it is made from steel scrap. With 3,500 employees, we are one of the largest employers in Slovenia and a pillar of the Slovenian steel sector. We are one of Slovenia's leading exporters. About 85% of our revenue is generated in foreign markets.

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SIJ – Slovenska industrija jekla, d.d.

Mag. Sara Wagner, Head of Corporate Communications

Corporate Communications

Phone: +386 1 242 98 27

Mobile: +386 41 313 532

E-mail: sara.wagner@sij.si