BlueScope Steel Research Laboratories

Overview

Our BlueScope Steel Research Laboratories in Port Kembla conduct research for our flat products and coated products business. We also undertake technology development for our global steel businesses.

Achievements

We have made significant achievements in the past 40 years:

The adoption and refinement of the technology to produce ZINCALUME® steel;
The growth and continuing improvement of COLORBOND® steel;
The invention of the mini-galvanising process line, which has been licensed to a number of operators in South East Asia and the Indian sub-continent;
Assisting in the development of strip casting of plain carbon steel; and
The development of model-based control tools for operating blast furnaces more efficiently.

Research Teams

The majority of our research work is in five main areas; ironmaking and steelmaking, rolling and metalworking, metal coatings, polymer coatings and product applications. The common objective in all areas is the improvement of existing processes and products and the development of new ones.

Research & Development Activities

The starting point for research and development projects may be a perceived market demand for a new product, overseas experience requiring adaptation to Australian conditions, investigation of a customer's problem, or the need to make a production process quicker, safer or more efficient.

Information & Intellectual Property

We maintain a close relationship with others working in related fields both in Australia and overseas, and results of research are regularly published. We also provides training for scientific graduates and technical staff, provide a library and information service for the whole company, and assist with patent and trademark filing.