Detective workinvestigating ore & iron

Between engineering, digitalization and sustainability

Starting early: Dr. Alexandra Hirsch established contacts with industry while she was still at university. As a research associate, she was already familiar with thyssenkrupp projects and, after completing her doctorate, continued her career at the company as a project engineer. Even today, in her role as Team Coordinator at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, Alexandra remains closely connected to engineering – something she greatly appreciates. After all, a lot is happening in this field: digitalization is advancing, driven by effective collaboration between people and machines. Alexandra is also motivated by the goal of becoming more sustainable. In the interview, she talks about what defines her work and why thyssenkrupp is more environmentally conscious than many people might think.

What is your main responsibility at thyssenkrupp?

“The name of my department says it all: we are called ‘Ore & Iron Technology.’ The reason is that steel production requires huge quantities of iron-bearing materials such as fine ores, lump ores or pellets. We are talking about 13 to 14 million metric tons per year. The team I coordinate inspects these bulk raw materials. We raise the alarm if they do not meet the quality standards we originally purchased. To assess the raw materials, we carry out metallurgical and physical examinations. If there are deviations in quality, we investigate the possible causes. It is great fun doing this kind of detective work. Quality assurance also always involves handling complaints, so we support our colleagues in raw materials purchasing with this as well.”

You started your career at thyssenkrupp as an engineer. Is engineering still part of your work today?

“Yes, fortunately! For our sinter plant, where fine ore is processed into lump sinter, we are currently testing a new measurement technology for the online analysis of particle size distribution. Using a measuring rod that extends into the sinter stream at a conveyor transfer point, the particle structure of the sinter can be determined solely from its acoustic characteristics. Smaller particles produce different sounds when they hit the measuring rod than larger ones. Until now, we have determined the particle structure once a day by sieving a composite sample. The disadvantage is that this only provides a snapshot at a specific point in time, so fluctuations over the course of the day cannot be detected. The new measuring rod works quite differently. It allows us to continuously determine the particle structure. This makes it possible to see online how fine or coarse the sinter particles are. It is much more precise and offers significant potential for process optimization.”

How do you notice that things are changing at thyssenkrupp?

“Definitely in engineering. Digitalization is playing an increasingly important role here. What matters is good interaction between people and machines. One thing is clear: thinking and interpretation remain human tasks. But machines can take over routine analyses – with a very high degree of accuracy and reliability. I also notice that sustainability is becoming increasingly important for us. In our production operations, we are continuously looking at where we can improve further. Recycling and the utilization of residual materials are particularly important aspects in our department.”

What do most people not expect from thyssenkrupp?

“We are a very environmentally conscious company. I think that is something many people do not realize. Especially at thyssenkrupp Steel, we are often seen simply as CO2 emitters. Yes, it is true that we generate emissions. But right now, we are doing everything we can to reduce them and become climate-neutral. By global standards, we have already reached a level that is commendable. And we have significant leverage to make a real difference. At the moment, we are driving nothing less than the transformation toward climate-neutral steel production.”