PSI and qoncept Sign Strategic Partnership to Enhance Product Portfolio for the Metals Industry

Berlin, November 19, 2024 - PSI and qoncept technology GmbH, an Austrian software development and digitalization company, have entered into a strategic partnership. As part of this, the next generation raw materials optimization software qontrol maps will be integrated into PSI's product suite to advance digitalization and decarbonization in liquid metals production. This will enable PSI to offer customers a comprehensive product portfolio tailored to the evolving needs of the metal industry.

qontrol maps will be seamlessly integrated into the PSImetals Service Platform as a standard business component. Specifically designed for metals producers, the software qontrol maps offers real-time scrap quality assessment, automated charge mix optimization for melting furnaces and optimized alloying strategies across the complete steelmaking process from melting to casting. It also enables the optimization of entire production campaigns by taking into account fluctuating energy prices, availability of raw materials, and other critical production parameters.

The steel industry faces mounting pressure to control scrap quality and optimize the total raw material input for their transition towards more sustainable production methods, such as electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. In addition to managing energy consumption, these changes are crucial for reducing CO2 emissions. With the new qontrol maps component, PSImetals addresses these needs by incorporating deep metallurgical insights, e.g. related to EAF and basic oxygen furnace processes, including usage of DRI, hot heel operations, as well as chemical energy and slag control, without the need to install additional sensors.

"We recognized that qoncept provides a highly advanced solution for our customers. By integrating it into our product portfolio, we reinforce our commitment to offering a flexible, comprehensive portfolio through the PSImetals Service Platform, which readily supports the implementation of third-party solutions. This tool strengthens PSI's market position, as the additional asset complements our portfolio aimed at decarbonizing metals production for our customers," says Rubén Pérez Sobrino, Partner Manager at PSI Process Industries/Division Metals.

By integrating it into our product portfolio, we reinforce our commitment to offering a flexible, comprehensive portfolio through the PSImetals Service Platform, which readily supports the implementation of third-party solutions.

"PSI is a well-established company with a proven track record in providing software solutions for the metals industry. We have been interested in partnering with PSI since our foundation in 2018. By forming a partnership with PSI, we have achieved one of our key strategic objectives, namely to identify a multiplier partner for our solutions with a view to expanding our customer base. We are eager to work together on projects where, in addition to software implementations, we can leverage our experience and metallurgical competence to help our customers achieve their goals quickly and efficiently," adds Dr. Stefan Griesser, Head of Sales and Business Development at qoncept technology GmbH.

We are eager to work together on projects where, in addition to software implementations, we can leverage our experience and metallurgical competence to help our customers achieve their goals quickly and efficiently.

qoncept delivers advanced software and engineering solutions for the steel industry, driven by a passion for metallurgy. With a head office in Leobon, Austria, it supports global clients with Industry 4.0-compliant software, engineering to enhance safety and productivity, and expert consulting. With about 40 employees, qoncept enables intelligent, efficient and optimized production through in-depth know-how and innovative process management.

The PSI Group develops software products for optimizing the flow of energy and materials for utilities and industry. As an independent software producer with more than 2,300 employees, PSI has been a technology leader since 1969 for process control systems that ensure sustainable energy supply, mobility and production by combining AI methods with industrially proven optimization methods. The innovative industry products can be operated on-premises or in the cloud.