Outokumpu Launched Sustainable Metallurgy Brand
The company introduced a sulfidation-based process to extract chromium from industrial waste streams.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Materials Science
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Outokumpu has launched its EvoMaterials brand to commercialize a metal extraction technology developed in the U.S. since 2021. The research-stage method utilizes sulfidation to reclaim chromium from side streams.
Why it matters
By increasing the chromium-to-iron ratio in ferrochrome, the technology aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve resource efficiency in the metal production cycle. The move signifies a transition toward secondary metal recovery from materials previously considered waste.
The process uses sulfidation—a chemical reaction involving sulfur—to extract chromium from waste, shifting the current testing scale from 1 kg to a target of 1 ton per batch.
The players
Outokumpu
A global stainless steel producer focused on sustainable metal manufacturing and supply chain circularity.
MIT
A research university that provides intellectual property licenses for advanced material science and engineering technologies.
The details
The technology relies on a sulfidation-based process to increase the chromium content and chromium-to-iron ratio of ferrochrome. By extracting metals from industrial side streams and waste, the method aims to optimize the supply chain for the Kemi mine in Finland, the only chrome mine in the European Union. Outokumpu has secured a non-exclusive patent license from MIT to support this development, which is currently undergoing testing at a laboratory in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Timeline
2021: Development of the technology began in the U.S.
First half of 2027: A pilot plant in Londonderry, New Hampshire, is expected to become operational.
2030: An industrial-scale plant is planned to be operational.
2030 onward: The company intends to expand the technology to include nickel and molybdenum.
The Tech Race
The development follows a pattern set by the European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act by prioritizing local resource independence. It represents a significant step toward domesticating the metal supply chain through advanced extraction techniques rather than traditional mining.
This technology will initially affect industrial manufacturing supply chains rather than consumer-facing products. Further scalability for materials like nickel and molybdenum remains planned for 2030, pending the successful operation of the New Hampshire pilot site.
The takeaway
Outokumpu is betting that secondary metal recovery can reduce reliance on primary mining in the EU. Observers should track the 2027 pilot plant launch in Londonderry, as this milestone will determine if the sulfidation process can achieve viable industrial-scale throughput.
What happens next
The transition from the 1 kg laboratory testing in Haverhill to the 1 ton target at the Londonderry pilot plant is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2027.
Further reading
For broader trends in metallurgical recovery, read more in Materials Science.
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