Primetals Technologies, in partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation, Rio Tinto, and voestalpine, entered into a cooperation agreement on April 1, 2025, to accelerate the development of innovative fluidized bed and smelter technologies. The collaboration aims to establish an industrial-scale prototype plant that will demonstrate a groundbreaking process designed to achieve potential net-zero CO2 emissions in ironmaking.

The hydrogen-based facility will be constructed at voestalpine's site in Linz, Austria, with operations expected to commence by mid-2027. This strategic partnership brings together Primetals Technologies' engineering expertise, Mitsubishi Corporation's strategic capabilities, Rio Tinto's mining and materials knowledge, and voestalpine's advanced steel production experience to address one of the steel industry's most significant environmental challenges.