2025 Retrospect
With record-breaking numbers of exhibitors and visitors, the 2025 Stainless Steel World Conference & Expo,
which took place on 18 – 20 November 2025, was a thrilling experience packed with networking and knowledge exchange. In addition to the conference and expo, visitors made the most of exciting extras, such as the Sustainability Day, CBAM Conversations, networking receptions and even a visit from an astronaut!
When the doors swung open on November 18 for the first time, the buzz of conversation drowned out the sound of thousands of footsteps as exhibitors, delegates, speakers and visitors thronged into the MECC exhibition centre in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The highly anticipated event drew a record number of exhibitors, had the largest floor space and welcomed the highest number of attendees in the history of Stainless Steel World. Following are just some of the main highlights from this world-renowned event.
Exhibition
The Stainless Steel World expo floor was a buzz of activity throughout the three-day event. With a record-breaking 319 exhibitors from 50 countries present, this international gathering literally united the world of stainless steel!
“The key to successful business is customer proximity.
And we can’t think of a better place on the calendar than the Stainless Steel World event”
– Benoit van Hecker, Aperam
Event sponsors
Conference
The Stainless Steel World conference brought together delegates from over forty countries for three days of high-level presentations and networking. Under the leadership of Conference Chairman Sayee Raghunathan, the program featured keynote speakers ranging from Carbon Capture & Storage and space travel to fusion energy, the Chinese market, and the role of stainless steel in hygienic applications and sustainability.
Sessions explored many topics, including corrosion in seawater, surface and material optimisation, additive manufacturing, and the role of AI and automation in materials and manufacturing. Aerospace and renewable energies were popular topics, as were fabrication and material selection, energy transition, and welding sessions. Lively discussions continued in the conference arenas and exhibition hall, where speakers and delegates used breaks to exchange ideas and explore the latest industry developments.
CBAM Conversations
With the European Union’s CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) policy about to take effect from 1 January, the Stainless Steel World community was keen to hear from experts how this will impact their business. CBAM puts a price on the carbon emissions of certain imported goods, acting as a carbon tax on imports to prevent “carbon leakage” and encourage cleaner production outside the EU by creating a level playing field with EU producers.
(The panel discussion ‘CBAM Conversations – From policy to practice’ looked at how the policy will reshape trade and climate policy. Panellists (left to right) Tom Lord from Redshaw Advisors, Gabrial Rozenberg from CBAMBOO and Christophe Lagrage from EURANIMI explored the CBAM policies, practical implementation strategies, and compliance insights.)
Focus on sustainability
Sustainability Day opened with Shell’s Marc Wilms highlighting the role of stainless steel in carbon capture and storage, clarifying that pure CO₂ is not corrosive and that dense or liquid phases are key for efficient transport. In his keynote, Jason Sebastian of QuesTek showed how integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) is enabling burn-resistant alloys for reusable rocket engines. Together, the talks underlined how smart alloy design and correct material selection support long-term, low-carbon technologies.
“This was three inspirational days on stainless steel and sustainability ”
– Marc Wilms, Shell.
Out of this world! Keynote by astronaut Dr André Kuipers
It’s not every day you shake hands with an astronaut!
A highlight of this year’s event was the keynote address by ESA astronaut and Earth Ambassador, Dr André Kuipers. Andre shared his experiences of being in space and how it changed his perspective of how we treat the planet. His inspiring talk encouraged us to be aware of how our work and private lives impact the planet, and that we need to preserve the natural world for generations to come.
His presentation was followed by a networking reception, where he was mobbed by visitors eager to snap a selfie and have a few words with him. The Stainless Steel World team thanks Dr Kuipers for his inspiring talk and the time he spent with our community.
“By driving knowledge exchange, these events strengthen competitiveness while promoting stainless steel’s role in reducing environmental impact across the sector ”
– Hilal Karakaya, Outokumpu
Sustainability Day was sonsored by:
This is an excerpt of Stainless Steel World Magazine, December 2025.
For the full 2025 program, see the full Stainless Steel World Conference & Expo 2025 Catalogue here!
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