Metalshub Summit 2025 Recap: Insights, Highlights, and Perspectives

On 21 & 22 May, over 100 leaders from across the global raw materials space gathered at Zeche Zollverein in Essen, Germany, for the Metalshub Summit 2025. Across two focused days of dialogue, the event brought together steelmakers, recyclers, battery material producers, traders, technology providers, and researchers to engage in a collective effort: to define how digitalisation and sustainability can be implemented, not just discussed.

Hosted at a former industrial icon turned UNESCO World Heritage site, the summit’s location embodied its purpose. The Zeche Zollverein complex—once Europe’s largest coal plant—stood as a visible reminder of the industrial past, while the conversations inside pointed to the systems, data, and leadership needed to shape what comes next.

The summit opened with a call for clarity: in markets, emissions, and collaboration.

On Day 1, industry experts unpacked Europe’s raw material dependencies, the volatility of critical metal markets, and the growing regulatory demands reshaping procurement. As one speaker put it, “Change management is no longer optional.”

Participants discussed how supply chains are redefined by two parallel forces: the push for transparency and the need for resilience. Both require not just better data, but better integration of data into everyday decisions. LCA tools, digital tendering, and emissions accounting were explored as methods for simultaneously unlocking operational and environmental performance.

On Day 2, the tone shifted toward execution. Case studies from the steel and automotive sectors revealed how companies are embedding sustainability into procurement workflows and supplier relationships. Discussions moved from theoretical alignment to practical governance: how emissions and material data are collected, verified, shared, and applied to strategic decision-making.

Across both days, the message was consistent: digital infrastructure is no longer a future ambition but a present requirement. Traceability, transparency, and accountability are now core expectations in procurement.

Rather than repeating familiar narratives, the summit focused on pressure points, where transformation efforts are often most tested, and how companies are addressing them. Several presentations and panels sparked critical reflection:

• Roland Gauß of EIT RawMaterials provided a comprehensive overview of Europe’s raw material vulnerabilities, reinforcing the need to build stronger, more resilient supply chains across the continent. His perspective underscored the urgency for industrial self-reliance and regional collaboration in the face of shifting geopolitical and environmental realities.
• Tatiana Lengrand of Eramet argued that low-carbon manganese alloys are not only available but also underutilised in steel decarbonisation strategies. Her presentation reframed manganese as an essential tool for reducing Scope 3 emissions in steelmaking.
• Robert Pell of Minviro provided insight into how digital LCA and PCF data can reduce procurement risk and improve decision-making, particularly in early supplier assessments.
• Peter Hannah of Albemarle presented the complexities of the lithium market, where volatility, low storability, and information asymmetry continue to create challenges. His presentation on digital price discovery using Metalshub offered a real-world view into how transparent bidding processes can reduce uncertainty and establish benchmarks in emerging markets.
• Christianne Canavero of CBMM demonstrated how sustainability can serve as a growth engine when embedded into corporate strategy. Her talk connected ESG investment with long-term market positioning.
• Ricardo João Dominguez of RHI Magnesita presented a detailed look into how digitalisation supports RHIM’s growth strategy. His presentation covered lessons learned around agile development, change management, product governance, and integrated supply chain design.
• John Eastwood of Anglo American showcased how the company uses Metalshub to digitalise its enquiry-to-order process, manage inventory visibility, and strengthen buyer engagement.

• Alexander Becker of GMH Gruppe spoke about using vertical integration to achieve sustainable steel production, demonstrating a multi-level commitment to decarbonisation across operations.
• Philipp Horner of Voestalpine emphasised that sustainability is becoming a competitive advantage in speciality steel production, highlighting how decarbonisation, circular economy practices, and social impact are being embedded into the business model.
• D.P. Deshpande of BigMint illustrated how Indian steelmakers are rapidly evolving their charge mix and carbon strategies, providing a learning opportunity for European stakeholders.
• Markus Moll of SMR delivered a thought-provoking dinner speech, tying together market dynamics, decarbonisation pressures, and the structural shifts in stainless and speciality steel. His insights, rooted in decades of experience, offered a broader market lens on the industry’s future direction.

The panel discussions built on the foundations laid by earlier presentations, offering deeper engagement and multi-stakeholder perspectives on shared challenges.

Panellists from ScrapAd, Lang Recycling, and tozero discussed recycling and its challenges, including the persistent disconnect between volume and system maturity. Max Lang’s comment resonated throughout the session: “Securing access to critical raw materials through recycling is essential—not just for climate goals but to reduce strategic dependencies in a changing world.”

The discussion on digitalisation brought together leaders from Norsk Hydro, Aurubis, Outokumpu, and McKinsey. Participants discussed where digital transformation efforts often fail, highlighting the importance of cross-functional alignment and clarity in ownership. Thomas Schöler of Norsk Hydro challenged a common assumption in digital transformation projects that technical experts should design the processes themselves. “Don’t let experts define processes,” said Schöler. “They tend to overcomplicate expectations. Let them explain the process, but have others define it.” Such comments sparked immediate interest and pushed participants to reconsider how digital change should be structured internally.

Interestingly, the panel discussion on “Decarbonisation in the Automotive Supply Chain” drew one of the most engaged audiences. Featuring experts from the London Metal Exchange, Lech-Stahlwerke, and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, it addressed the collision between EV growth, emissions accountability, and economic pressure. The speakers shared multiple views on the pace and scope of decarbonisation across the automotive value chain, sparking a strong audience engagement on whether Europe’s current policies are adequate to sustain industrial competitiveness while meeting climate targets.

Recurring insights revealed a growing demand for simplicity, clarity, and action. Many speakers and attendees stressed the need to reduce complexity in digital implementation, arguing that over-engineering too often derails transformation before it starts. Execution was prioritised over aspirational statements, with a shared recognition that the industry needs measurable steps, not just strategic intentions. One of the most echoed themes was the shift in how emissions are treated: no longer just a reporting requirement, but increasingly a commercial lever tied directly to procurement, supplier engagement, and customer expectations.

Ultimately, the summit reinforced that execution is now the industry’s clearest differentiator.

Throughout the event, Metalshub was positioned not only as a software provider but also as an active ecosystem connector. The team moderated panels, showcased platform use cases, and participated in strategic discussions around market design, trust, and digital implementation.

Attendees engaged with the Metalshub team to better understand how digital workflows support procurement and supply chain transformation, from emissions tracking and data confidentiality to price discovery and supplier collaboration.

Metalshub also previewed upcoming features related to AI-supported data entry and data structuring, aimed at reducing manual work and improving the accuracy of procurement and sales data, signalling a continued commitment to user-centric innovation.

The summit made visible what the Metalshub platform enables: structured, transparent interactions between companies that need to move fast, stay compliant, and build resilience under growing pressure.

Zeche Zollverein provided more than a backdrop. It created a sense of continuity between the past and future of industrial Europe. Tours of the coking plant gave attendees a close-up view of the legacy systems that once defined the industry. The symbolism was not lost on participants.

Feedback throughout the event was consistently positive. Attendees valued the quality of the speakers, the structure of the programme, and the openness of the discussions. Several highlighted the strength of the audience itself as a key part of the event’s success. As one participant noted, “It never got boring. The quality of the conversations was incredibly high.”

The Metalshub Summit 2025 created a shared space to confront hard questions and explore workable solutions. It brought transparency, collaboration, and accountability to the forefront, not just in language, but in lived exchange.
The next edition of the summit will take place in 2027. In the meantime, Metalshub will continue to support the industry through its platform, a series of topic-driven webinars, and ongoing collaboration with stakeholders across the value chain.

For those who joined us, thank you for shaping the conversation. For those who missed it, we look forward to welcoming you next time.

For more information, visit our Metalshub Summit page.

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