Rolling Process Researcher

Context

Isbergues Research Center is the laboratory dedicated to the study of stainless steels for the European manufacturing plants of the APERAM group. There are around eighty people whose activity consists of defining, developing and assisting the commercial development of new stainless steels. As such, it is the APERAM reference Research Center in terms of stainless steel metallurgy, their in-use properties and their manufacturing processes as flat products.

The Process R&D team is responsible for providing technical support to production plants in order to optimize process routes to meet productivity, quality, capability, energy and environmental needs. It also feeds the Innovation Process processus in order to offer disruptive solutions to prepare the manufacturing processes of tomorrow. As part of this activity, a regular presence on the production sites is to be ensured in order to collaborate with the local teams and to deepen the understanding of the manufacturing processes.

APERAM is highly committed to the transformation of stainless steel production in relation to environmental and economical / competition challenges. APERAM is the first stainless steel producer to obtain the Responsible Steel label. Very ambitious targets have been defined to reduce CO2 emissions, water consumption and waste landfilling in the coming years via, for a part, a strategic optimization of the industrial facilities. The proposed position will be part of the team dedicated to downstream process.This will go through the development of a very close network with industrial teams and CTO organization to develop key competencies in link with following thematics: Surface quality of cold rolled stainless steel, mechanics of cold rolling: flatness management, thickness capability and regulation, cold rolling strategy. Parallel thematics related to tribology / lubrication could also be included.

Missions

Within the Process team, you will be required to:

Be regularly present in APERAM plants (located in Gueugnon, Isbergues, Genk and Châtelet)

Presence on site (estimated ~20%)

Development of network & strengthening of relationships with internal customers

Feedback of information and needs from the production site

Develop and secure the “Cold Rolling” competency

Building a technical community with APERAM specialists / experts in this domain

Development of a network of academic partners, participate to conferences, spread Aperam culture for R&D and technology

Development of Isbergues Research Center experimental methods (such as tribological tests)

Development of process modeling by in-house developed models and/or using classical tools for simulation (Abaqus)

Active participation to the identification of strategic knowledge to be developed in HR & CR Process area

Manage and ensure the good progress of R&D projects in your perimeter

Definition of working programs & deliverables, coordination of internal / external studies with other researchers / partners

Regular reporting (hierarchy, program owners, internal customers)

Proposal for industrial trials / optimization and support for local teams

Capitalization, publication of technical reports and scientific writings. Publish papers and articles

Propose disruptive ideas / solutions (Innovation)

Participation in scientific congresses / conferences

Technical watch, bibliographic reviews, ...

Actively participate in the Safety pillar

Active participation in "lab life" and in the Safety action plan

Exemplarity and shared vigilance

The technical missions will include, among others, the study of:

Flatness management of rolled stainless steel

Strip profile, flatness of Hot Rolled strip (influence of Roughing & Finishing Mill, cambering, …)

Strip profile, flatness of Cold Rolled strip - Fine identification of actuators, good practices in terms of rolling strategy, etc… to avoid flatness defect generation

Leveling Operations - How to correct flatness defect generated during Cold Rolling

Strip centering and scrolling on industrial annealing lines - Influence of strip profile given by Rolling operations

Rolling Mill capabilities

Reduction of minimal thickness that can be achieved

Development of new models, improvement of existing ones

Surface Quality - Hot & Cold rolling related defectology

Participation in the resolution of defects finding their origin in the hot and cold rolling process (identification of mechanism, proposition of improvements & industrial trials, …)

Cold rolling strategy

How rolling strategies are defined (number of passes, reduction rate, roll change practices, speed, …)

Impact of rolling parameters on final products (surface quality, metallurgical state, flatness…)

Is there a way of progression ?

APERAM Footprint - Optimisation of process route and existing tools

Support in the transfer of products from the industrialization of new process route

Support for new Cold Rolling process design

Profile

BAC + 5 level with first experience or BAC + 8 (PhD), graduated from an Engineering school in Materials Science, Industrial Engineering or Mechanics, the candidate must have the following skills:

Natural ease and taste for the presence on the shopfloor,

Strong knowledge in Materials Science, Mechanics or Process Engineering,

Knowledge and technical background in tribology is a plus,

Ability in coding (Python or C, SQL); knowledge of commercial simulation tool as “abaqus” is a plus

Good presentation & communication skills,

English proficiency,

Ability to write technical reports and minutes,

Initiative and autonomy,

Ability to work in a team and with a certain versatility

Safety mindset

Driving license mandatory

About the company

Aperam is a global leader in stainless, electrical, and specialty steels, as well as recycling and renewables, serving customers in over 40 countries. Our business is structured into four segments: Stainless & Electrical Steel, Services & Solutions, Alloys & Specialties, and Recycling & Renewables.

We have a flat stainless and electrical steel production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes in Brazil and Europe, and we lead in alloys and high-value specialty products. Our industrial network includes 16 production facilities across Brazil, Belgium, France, the United States, India, and China. Aperam operates an integrated distribution, processing, and services network, with a unique ability to produce low-carbon stainless and specialty steels using biomass, stainless steel scrap, and high-performance alloys scrap.

Through BioEnergia, we produce charcoal from our own FSC®-certified forests, and with ELG - Aperam Recycling, a global leader in stainless steel and high-performance alloys recycling, we place sustainability at the core of our business, enabling our customers to thrive in the circular economy.

Join us and be part of a dynamic team where technology and innovation meets industrial transformation. Your talent and energy will help drive smarter, more sustainable solutions for a global company committed to be a leading value creator in the circular economy of infinite, world-changing materials.

Visit https://www.aperam.com/ to learn more - and let’s build what’s next, together.