| 2024 | Mr. Donald P. Lorento | In recognition of his nearly half-century dedication to the steel industry and his advancements in the continuous casting process. Involved in the early days of thermal modeling of the mold and secondary spray cooling of continuous casters, Lorento's work is known industrywide through various patents, including his innovative WAVE mold design. While perfecting the explosion reforming technique of tubular molds through his work at Accumold, Lorento endeavored to improve mold performance via the quality, type, and structure of the plating process of mold coatings. His understanding of solidification assisted many steelmakers with mold tapers, cooling water rate and mold length for increased cast speed, all focused on improving steel quality and cost-efficient casting. |
| 2023 | Dr. Martin W. Pei | For his instrumental role in promoting the development of Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology (HYBRIT), an innovative and transformative process for reducing iron ore using green hydrogen. Pei has guided the HYBRIT initiative from the laboratory to a successful pilot-scale plant and shown the global steel industry a commercially viable path toward decarbonization. As steelmakers increasingly invest in hydrogen DRI technology, Pei's visionary work is defining the future of sustainable steelmaking. |
| 2022 | Dr. Pravin C. Mathur | Recognized for pioneering coherent jet technology for supersonic oxygen injection to reduce power consumption and improve melting productivity in the electric arc furnace. This breakthrough technology, now deployed throughout the world, represents a significant advancement for preheating, melting and decarburizing via chemical energy injection. With 10 patents and multiple awards, Dr. Mathur's technical acumen and relentless pursuit of excellence represent ideal attributes for engineering success in the steel industry. |
| 2021 | Mr. William H. Emling | For his ongoing commitment and contributions to the steel industry and AIST. In a career spanning roles as producer, maintenance provider and supplier for SMS Group Inc., Emling has been involved with developing several technological advances and disseminating that knowledge. His key contributions include researching steel quality, his early involvement with thermocouple-based breakout prediction and developing coatings for continuous casting molds. |
| 2020 | Mr. Giovanni Arvedi | In appreciation and recognition of his exceptional vision, keen intellect, passion for improvement, resolute determination, and insightful know-how that has spanned a stellar career of more than 55 years in the steel industry. In his pursuit of excellence, Giovanni Arvedi has overcome all obstacles in his quest to improve the processes that continuously produce high-quality steel products. ARVEDI ESP is the acronym for his endless cast-rolling steel strip production process; the result of a vision he pursued relentlessly for over 20 years, so as to finally achieve in 2010 a paradigm-altering method of hot-rolled strip production, encompassing levels of compactness, production rate, quality, product flexibility, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness previously thought to be unattainable in a single production line. |
| 2019 | Dr. Raul G. Quintero Flores | For his contributions as co-developer and champion of the HYL direct reduction process for more than 40 years. A holder of five international patents related to direct reduction technology, Quintero-Flores' work has led to greater energy efficiency and higher productivity for the utilization of DRI in steel plants and around the world. |
| 2018 | Mr. Gianpietro Benedetti | In recognition of more than half a century of engineering contributions in the advancement of process equipment for steel manufacturing. Throughout his remarkable career with Danieli, Mr. Benedetti's passion for innovation is evident with more than 90 patents bearing his name, which not only span the entire steel manufacturing process but also have improved plant efficiencies worldwide. Through perseverance, expertise and strategic vision, he has guided the company to achieve global prominence by striving to lead the technological evolution of the steel industry. |
| 2017 | Mr. Joseph Hollman | For his instrumental role in the development and promotion of the Paul Wurth Bell-Less Top blast furnace charging system, presently utilized in 60% of global hot metal production. His wealth of knowledge and equipment innovation has played a key role in blast furnace design and optimization. |
| 2016 | Dr. Kenneth E. Blazek | For innovative engineering contributions to the science and technology of steelmaking and continuous casting, including his work in breakout avoidance, solidification modeling and cooling theory to link steel research with high-quality steel production. Throughout his outstanding career, Dr. Blazek has been an influential teacher and mentor, always willing to share his knowledge to help others develop a more profound understanding of steelmaking processes and products. |
| 2015 | Dr. Frank L. Kemeny | For outstanding contributions to the steel industry through the development of innovative process sensors and process control systems leading to process improvement and furthering process understanding. |
| 2014 | Dr. John G. Speer | For the development of the quench and partitioning process, an innovative and transformative concept for the production of advanced high-strength steels. |
| 2013 | Mr. David C. Meissner | For their instrumental roles as pioneers and promoters of the MIDREX® Direct Reduction Process, providing an alternate ironmaking process previously unavailable to some developing economies. Mr. Kelley is an expert in catalysts and reforming, while Mr. Meissner’s contributions are in iron ore characterization and development of the FASTMET® process. Both have achieved reputations as respected leaders in the industry. |
| 2013 | Mr. Bruce Kelley | For their instrumental roles as pioneers and promoters of the MIDREX® Direct Reduction Process, providing an alternate ironmaking process previously unavailable to some developing economies. Mr. Kelley is an expert in catalysts and reforming, while Mr. Meissner’s contributions are in iron ore characterization and development of the FASTMET® process. Both have achieved reputations as respected leaders in the industry. |
| 2012 | Mr. James T. Shapland | For his work in 1969 to develop the slidegate system (originally patented in 1885) into a commercially available tool for efficient flow control of molten steel. His exceptional contribution has resulted in virtually every ladle, and most tundishes, in the steel industry today being outfitted with slidegate systems. |
| 2011 | Mr. J. Kevin Cotchen | For advancing steelmaking technology as an AIST committee member and chair, and for dissemination of knowledge as a prolific author, lecturer, process engineer and trainer. |
| 2010 | Mr. Gerald R. Heffernan | For pioneering the implementation of continuous billet casting in 1954 at Premier Steel in Edmonton, Alta., and thus starting the minimill evolutionl. He advanced his novel concept by building Lake Ontario Steel in 1964 which attracted the attention of Willy Korf, and then North Star Steel in 1968, Sheerness Steel in 1970, Chaparral Steel in 1972, and Raritan River Steel in 1975. Nucor’s Ken Iverson studied the new process at North Star and the rest is minimill history. |
| 2009 | Mr. John A. Vallomy | For his vision and entrepreneurial spirit as one of the most innovative people in modern-day steelmaking. Through the invention of the Consteel process, he has made a significant technological impact on the electric furnace method of steelmaking. |
| 2008 | Dr. Hisahiko Fukase | For their dedication and vision to the development of the Castrip process over the last 18 years, instrumental in making it the first commercially viable carbon steel strip casting process. |
| 2008 | Mr. Walter Blejde | For their dedication and vision to the development of the Castrip process over the last 18 years, instrumental in making it the first commercially viable carbon steel strip casting process. |
| 2007 | Dr. Millet L. Wei | For his specialized expertise and knowledge in troubleshooting of various integrated steel plant problems which have required significant interdisciplinary knowledge in the fields of structural, mechanical, metallurgical and ceramic engineering. |