As the 10th “China Brand Day” approaches, in line with the “Quality Improvement and Brand Innovation” initiative launched by the China Iron and Steel Association, Capital Engineering & Research Incorporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as CERI) remains committed to deeply integrating quality improvement with brand development. Focusing on high-end, intelligent, and green development, the company is dedicated to building a world-class metallurgical engineering brand with global competitiveness. 

PART 01: Building an Integrated Development Pathway for "Quality and Brand" 

CERI deeply understands that quality is the foundation of a brand, and a brand is the embodiment of quality. To this end, we will adhere to a brand development strategy focused on high-end, smart, and green initiatives, and make the requirements of the "Quality Improvement and Brand Innovation" initiative the core driving force behind CERI’s development. 

Promote the integration of quality and innovation. In recent years, CERI has used technological breakthroughs to enhance quality standards and has incorporated innovation outcomes into these standards, thereby creating a virtuous cycle in which "innovation drives quality, and quality fosters innovation". From hydrogen metallurgy demonstration projects to the technology of hydrogen-rich fuel gas injection onto the sinter bed, from domestically produced reducing and sizing line to pickling line and tandem cold mill... Every breakthrough in core technology is accompanied by the establishment of rigorous quality standards. 

Appearance of the hydrogen-rich fuel gas injection device 

Promote the integration of sustainability and branding. CERI integrates green and low-carbon principles throughout the entire brand-building process to establish its core "Green Steel" brand. We will enhance our brand value through green technologies, green projects, and green services, help our clients achieve a low-carbon transition, and work together to build the "Green Steel" brand. 

Promote the integration of specialized expertise with the broader context. While strengthening its overall brand, CERI continues to refine its specialized brands in general layout, steel rolling, and other areas of expertise, creating a brand matrix characterized by “overall excellence and specialized depth”. In particular, the general layout discipline serves as the driving force behind the initiative. By optimizing layouts and logistics to the utmost, it achieves carbon reduction and efficiency gains right from the planning and design stage, establishing itself as a distinctive hallmark of CERI’s green brand system. 

PART 02: Synergy among the "Three Initiatives" Builds the "Green Steel" Brand 

Focusing on high-end, intelligent, and green development, CERI has achieved comprehensive improvements in product competitiveness, technological innovation, green and low-carbon development, and social responsibility through breakthroughs in key core technologies, full-chain quality coordination, and brand management. 

Achieving a breakthrough in high-end development by leveraging core technologies to create world-class projects. CERI is committed to independent innovation, driving the advancement of metallurgical equipment and engineering toward high-end and self-reliant development— 

In the field of reducing and sizing lines, CERI has independently developed the CMM series of ultra-heavy-duty wire rod reducing and sizing lines, pioneering a new "1+1+2" process model that achieves a stable operating speed of 115 m/s and a dimensional accuracy of ±0.1 mm. The related technological achievements have won the First Prize of the Metallurgical Science and Technology Award and have resulted in more than 40 patents. 

CMM Series Reducing and Sizing Line Used in the Xiangtan Steel 3# High-speed Wire Rod Project 

In the field of pickling line and tandem cold mill, CERI independently developed China’s first 1,550 mm wide high-speed silicon steel pickling line and tandem cold mill, with a maximum rolling speed of 1,500 m/min, thereby putting an end to China's reliance on imported equipment for high-end silicon steel production. Subsequently, a 1,780 mm wide line and an ultra-high-speed line capable of 1,800 m/min were introduced, with products catering to high-end sectors such as automotive panels and silicon steel. 

In the field of hydrogen metallurgy, the world’s first zero-reforming shaft furnace hydrogen metallurgy project using coke oven gas-developed by HBIS Zhangxuan Tech with support from CERI- achieves a hydrogen-to-carbon ratio exceeding 8:1 and a product metallization rate of ≥94.5%, meeting international Class I standards. 

Hot Test Scenario of the World's First Hydrogen Metallurgy Green Automotive Panel Continuous Casting Production Line 

Intelligent upgrades drive improvements in both quality and efficiency through digital transformation. CERI is driving quality improvements through digital transformation and has established an integrated smart production system combining "intelligent control and digital twins"- 

Experimental Setup for Conveying in the New DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) Hot-Loading and Hot-Feeding Technology 

In the field of one-step steelmaking, CERI has achieved full automation and unmanned operation of the entire BOF smelting process through intelligent control models, machine vision, and AI algorithms, thereby improving product consistency and shortening the smelting cycle. 

In the field of digital twin factories, HBIS Tangsteel Plant-China’s first fully integrated digital twin steel plant, constructed by CERI- has achieved a 25% reduction in design rework and a six-month reduction in construction time. 

In the field of intelligent acid rolling and reducing/sizing control, the pickling line developed by CERI is equipped with a fully automated intelligent control system, achieving a thickness control accuracy of ±0.5 μm. For the reducing/sizing line, a "drive + automation" dual-loop tension model has been developed, which limits the length of non-conforming rolled pieces to within three coils, significantly improving the yield rate. 

In the field of intelligent environmental protection management and control, CERI’s ecological and environmental protection management and control platform-developed using 5G technology-has increased data upload bandwidth by 10 times, enabling real-time, visualized environmental protection management and control. 

Transitioning to a green economy and establishing a comprehensive low-carbon technology system. CERI has integrated green and low-carbon principles throughout the entire chain of technology R&D and engineering design, establishing a number of flagship green brands that have had a significant impact on the industry- 

In the field of pioneering disruptive green technologies, CERI is developing a technology of hydrogen-rich fuel gas injection onto the sinter bed. To address the challenges associated with hydrogen-rich gas-such as its tendency to escape, ignite easily, and produce uneven injection-CERI has independently developed a hydrogen-rich gas mixing system, an interlocking control system, and a staged injection technology, enabling safe, stable, and high-volume injection. CERI has spearheaded the development of a hydrogen metallurgy demonstration project, helping HBIS Zhangxuan Tech establish the world’s first 1.2-million-ton-scale hydrogen metallurgy demonstration facility. Compared to traditional blast furnaces, this project reduces annual CO2 emissions by 70% and cuts SO2, NOX, and dust emissions by 30%, 70%, and 80%, respectively. Building on this success, HBIS Zhangxuan Tech’s “HyMEX®” green steel brand has secured the world’s first 10,000-ton export order. CERI is pioneering ultimate energy efficiency technologies; its low- and medium-temperature waste heat recovery technology for BOF flue gas has increased steam recovery per ton of steel by more than 55%, while its high-efficiency waste heat power generation technology for coke ovens has boosted power generation efficiency by more than 30%. 

HBIS Zhangxuan Tech Hydrogen Metallurgy Demonstration Project 

When it comes to end-to-end quality coordination and the development of the "Green Steel" brand, CERI's support extends beyond individual technologies to encompass the entire "raw materials-production-services" value chain. On the raw materials side, CERI has scientifically planned raw material warehouse and transportation routes and established a strict raw material acceptance mechanism. On the production side, CERI provides core hydrogen metallurgy technologies and integrated general layout solutions, optimizes spatial layouts, and equips facilities with intelligent monitoring equipment to ensure fully enclosed, low-emission production. On the server side, CERI assists in establishing a technical service system to provide customized solutions for downstream clients, ensuring that the brand values of “green, reliable, and efficient” are integrated throughout the entire product lifecycle. Through the seamless integration of "technology, products, services, and ecosystem", CERI has evolved from a technology provider into a builder of green ecosystems, working together to help traditional industries establish benchmark practices for "Quality Improvement and Brand Innovation". 

In terms of source-based planning and comprehensive management, CERI focuses on reducing carbon emissions at the source. Through meticulous site planning and logistics optimization, CERI has achieved a floor area of just 0.53 square meters per ton in the HBIS Tangsteel New Area, reaching internationally leading standards; the HBIS Shisteel New Area adopts a minimalist linear layout, with a floor area of only 0.74 square meters per ton. By reducing material handling and energy consumption at the source and minimizing fugitive emissions, CERI focuses on ultra-low emissions and solid waste utilization. Technologies such as baghouse dust removal for blast furnace gas and ultra-low emissions for BOF primary flue gas have stabilized dust emissions at below 10 mg/Nm³; the synergistic utilization of metallurgical dust and sludge reduces energy consumption by 60% to 80% compared to traditional sintering processes, while achieving a 100% resource utilization rate for smelting slag. 

PART 03: Building a World-Class Green Metallurgy Brand 

Guided by its brand development strategy, CERI will continue to deepen its "Quality Improvement and Brand Innovation" initiative to promote the coordinated development of quality enhancement and brand value. 

Focus on quality improvement. CERI will refine its full-lifecycle quality management system, promote the use of digital twins and AI-driven quality control, and achieve transparency and traceability across the entire "design-procurement-construction-operation and maintenance" chain. Focusing on key metrics such as energy consumption per ton of steel and solid waste utilization rates, we develop comprehensive solutions for steel plants that maximize energy efficiency. 

Focus on standard-driven development. CERI will actively participate in the development of national and industry standards for hydrogen metallurgy, general layout design, ultra-low emissions, smart steel plants, and green steel production. By transforming its technological and quality strengths into standard-setting advantages, the company aims to define global quality standards through Chinese standards. 

Focus on innovation-driven development. CERI will continue to increase investment in research and development, focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as pure hydrogen shaft furnaces, the large-scale application of green hydrogen, CCUS, and low-temperature rolling, to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces and maintain its leading edge in core technologies. 

Focus on service value-added. CERI will upgrade its full-lifecycle service system and optimize its featured services, such as remote intelligent operation and maintenance and customized solutions, to strengthen its brand competitiveness through exceptional service. 

Panorama of HBIS Tangsteel New Area