Waelzholz Brasmetal receives award at ABM Week 2025

Waelzholz Brasmetal recently took part in the 9th ABM Week – the largest technical and scientific event in Latin America for metallurgy, materials, and mining – which was held from September 9 to 11 in São Paulo. In addition to exciting presentations, a joint research project conducted by Waelzholz Brasmetal and ArcelorMittal Tubarão received special recognition: The collaborative research project on high-performance steels for chainsaws was honored with the Família Meyers – Henri Meyers Award.

Organized by ABM (the Brazilian Association of Metallurgy, Materials, and Mining), the ABM Week is held annually in São Paulo with the aim of promoting knowledge sharing on innovative processes and products within the industry. In addition, particularly noteworthy research projects in various categories are honored with an award during the event. This year’s award in the category Rolling, Metal Forming, and Products went to a joint project between Waelzholz Brasmetal and ArcelorMittal Tubarão. The award-winning study is titled Development of High-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel (BW BL 50CrMo4) at ArcelorMittal Tubarão and Waelzholz Brasmetal for End Use in Chainsaw Guide Bars. The project team included experts from Waelzholz Brasmetal – Daniel Augusto Ferro, Marina de Lima Barroso, Maurício Bomfim, and Thomas Frank – as well as from ArcelorMittal Tubarão: Henrique Severiano de Jesus, Fernando Generoso Neiva Ferreira, Eduardo Alves Machado, Fabiano Almir Barbosa, Juliano Braz Possati, and Marcelo Urdapilleta Rodrigues.

Within the scope of the study, which married technical expertise with innovation in the production of high-performance steels, the researchers developed the high-carbon, low-alloy steel grade BW BL 50CrMo4. It is particularly well suited for end uses that require high tensile strength and durability. Thanks to a fine-tuned process chain specifically optimized for this material, the team succeeded in achieving a bainitic microstructure ideally suited to its end use. For customers, this eliminates the need for piece hardening in their own process, resulting in significant time and cost savings. The award highlights Waelzholz Brasmetal’s technical expertise and strong spirit of collaboration and underscores the Waelzholz Group’s focus on developing high-performance steel materials and forward-looking solutions.

Our Brazilian site didn’t just attend the event as an award recipient, however. As in previous years, Waelzholz Brasmetal actively contributed to ABM Week with two technical presentations. Thaiza Marques Silva Atilio, responsible for ESG management at Waelzholz Brasmetal, gave a presentation on product carbon footprints. In it, she outlined actions that can be taken to reduce emissions both at the company level and throughout the entire steel value chain. In addition, materials engineer Sérgio Augusto Barbosa da Silva spoke about the benefits and applications of zinc phosphate-coated steel strip. These two presentations rounded out Waelzholz Brasmetal’s participation in ABM Week, and the company plans to take part in the event again next year in order to share knowledge and ideas on current topics related to steel materials.