Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the European Metallurgical Conference (EMC 2025) in Hamburg. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry professionals and share our vision at QuantoLux GmbH for the future of slag analysis.
From Human Judgement to Data Precision
In my presentation titled "The End of Visual Slag Evaluation: Tomorrow’s Process Management Based on Analytical Data", I talked about the limits of traditional visual slag evaluation. For many years, operators have relied on experience and visual cues—but this approach can be inconsistent, especially in fast-moving industrial environments.
I explained how Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) is changing the game. With OES, we can:
Detect key elements like magnesium, aluminum, and silicon in real time—even in complex oxidic slags
Achieve much higher precision and repeatability than with subjective visual methods
Improving Process Control and Sustainability
I also showed how switching to OES enables real-time, in-situ control of the process. That means no more waiting until the end of a batch to evaluate results—we support immediate reactions, reducing energy use, processing time, and costs.
What excites me most is how this shift supports more sustainable production. With better data, we can use secondary raw materials more effectively and reduce waste—making our industry not only smarter but also greener.
The Conference Atmosphere
EMC 2025 was a vibrant event, full of inspiring talks and engaging discussions. With over 120 presentations from more than 320 authors, the program covered essential topics like sustainability, decarbonization, battery recycling, and digitalization.
The venue at Privathotel Lindtner in Hamburg-Heimfeld provided the perfect setting. I enjoyed the warm welcome evening, the dinner at Rheinischer Hafen, and a relaxing boat tour through Hamburg Harbour. These moments created space for informal conversations and new collaborations.
Our Role at QuantoLux
At the conference, I represented QuantoLux and shared how we are helping to shape the future of process control. Our OES platform delivers real-time slag composition analysis, giving operators clear, actionable data—moving us beyond visual inspection into a fully data-driven approach.
I had great discussions with industry leaders, researchers, and equipment manufacturers. Many were excited about the potential of OES in their own operations, confirming what I already believe: the industry is ready for this change.
Looking Ahead
For me, EMC 2025 was not just a conference—it was a turning point. I left Hamburg more confident than ever that we are moving toward a future where data replaces estimation and automation replaces uncertainty.
At QuantoLux, we remain committed to:
Integrating OES into metallurgical workflows
Working with partners to implement smart, data-based process control
Helping the industry achieve its sustainability goals through precision and efficiency
I want to thank GDMB for organizing such a high-quality event, and everyone who took the time to connect with me. I return to Ulm inspired and motivated to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in modern metallurgy.