Exploring new pathways for green steel technology cooperation with Shougang Group

John Cockerill Industry CEO, François-David Martino, leads delegation to visit Shougang Group.

On January 23, 2026, François-David Martino, CEO of John Cockerill Industry, led a senior delegation to visit Shougang Group for high-level exchanges on green steel technology cooperation. Wang Jianwei, Deputy General Manager of Shougang Group, warmly received the delegation, accompanied by Wu Liyun, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Beijing Shougang International Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. (BSIET).

During the meeting, both sides held in-depth discussions on consolidating past cooperation and expanding future collaboration. A series of strategic consensuses were reached on green steel technology research and development, as well as industrial-scale deployment, injecting new momentum into low-carbon collaboration between Chinese and international steel industry leaders.

Wang Jianwei welcomed François-David Martino and his delegation and introduced Shougang Group’s concrete achievements and long-term commitment in green and low-carbon transformation. Green development and emissions reduction remain at the core of Shougang’s corporate strategy, with sustained investment in low-carbon metallurgy, circular economy solutions, and innovative industrial applications. As a benchmark enterprise in China’s steel industry transformation, Shougang has delivered notable results in near-zero-carbon buildings and the deployment of advanced low-carbon metallurgical technologies.

Wang Jianwei noted that following earlier technical exchanges, Shougang Group highly recognizes John Cockerill’s technological capabilities and innovation track record. He expressed confidence that the deepened cooperation will accelerate the industrialization of new technologies, improve production efficiency, and contribute meaningfully to the steel sector’s carbon reduction objectives. He further emphasized the value of partnering with John Cockerill an industrial group with more than 200 years of heritage and deep expertise in high-end metallurgical technologies to jointly establish a benchmark for green steel cooperation.

François-David Martino outlined the historical legacy of the John Cockerill Group, headquartered in Seraing (Belgium), and founded in 1817. With more than two centuries of industrial development, the Group combines strong historical foundations with continuous innovation. He then presented the new green development strategy of John Cockerill Industry, designed to align closely with global decarbonization targets and address the structural challenges facing the steel industry.

Centered on the principle of “technology enabling decarbonization and innovation driving transformation,” the strategy integrates upstream and downstream capabilities to establish a full value-chain solution encompassing green ironmaking and high-efficiency processing. Two breakthrough technologies Volteron and Jet Vapor Deposition (JVD®) form the cornerstone of this approach.

In downstream processing, Jet Vapor Deposition (JVD®) introduces a breakthrough technology which uses the deposition of zinc in a vapor state under vacuum. JVD offers many OPEX, productivity & strip quality advantages compared to  Hot Dip Galvanizing Lines (HDGL) or Electro Galvanizing Lines (EGL) and will become the new standard.

In addition to the common advantages such as better corrosion resistance for the same coating thickness, better weldability, less powdering, better zinc yield (99.5% vs 93% in HDG), better flexibility (coating on demand on one or 2 faces) the most significant gains are obtained for :

• Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) or Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) where coating of 2000Mpa Martensitic products without H2 embrittlement (EGL) or bad coating due to alloying elements (HDGL),
• Exposed products for Automotive thanks to the outstanding surface aspect when comparing to HDGL or EGL,
• Galvanizing on hot rolled products since coating is performed at low temperature which provides significant energy gains vs HDGL,

Since conventional galvanizing line speed limitation, which was 200 mpm can be easily doubled, the JVD can be coupled to a Continuous Annealing Line to optimize the productivity. JVD can also be used as a stand-alone line with products coming from CAL, Batch Annealing Furnaces or Hot Rolled Pickling Line to provide optimum flexibility.

Volteron, John Cockerill’s breakthrough ironmaking technology, enables carbon-free iron extraction through low-temperature iron electrowinning. By producing high-purity iron plates directly from iron ores using green and renewable electricity, Volteron eliminates the need for coal, natural gas, or hydrogen and represents a significant step toward truly carbon-free steel production. The technology offers outstanding performance in energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and emissions mitigation, aligning closely with BSIET’s strategic focus on green and low-carbon development.

François-David Martino noted that John Cockerill is actively seeking strategic partners to accelerate the industrial deployment of Volteron technology. Both sides agreed to take Volteron as a core focus, jointly advancing technology adaptation, scenario validation, and early implementation by leveraging Shougang’s R&D strengths and industrialization capabilities. Through this collaboration, the partners aim to accelerate green ironmaking solutions while contributing tangibly to carbon reduction commitments in China and globally.

The meeting highlighted the shared determination of John Cockerill and Shougang Group to drive transformation through green steel technologies. By combining Volteron and JVD with John Cockerill’s integrated industrial capabilities and Shougang’s proven transformation experience, the two sides are well positioned to develop deep collaboration in low-carbon metallurgy, high-efficiency processing, and next-generation steel production pathways.