INNOVATION
Good ideas are only the beginning
At Midrex, research and development is the driving force behind the world’s most successful direct reduction process and the company that bears its name.
Our focus is on helping the steel industry imagine and build what comes next.
For more than 55 years, Midrex has led innovation in direct reduced iron (DRI) technology by turning research into practical, efficient solutions. Our approach combines scientific research, engineering excellence and real-world operating experience to help steel producers reduce CO₂ emissions, improve performance, and prepare for the future of iron and steelmaking.
Imagining and building what comes next
Having good ideas is not enough. Leadership in iron and steel technology comes from converting ideas into systems that perform reliably in the real world.
Midrex research and development focuses on delivering flexible, future-ready solutions that anticipate the evolving needs of steelmakers. As a result, Midrex is the partner of choice for producers seeking proven pathways to low-carbon ironmaking and hydrogen-ready steel production. At Midrex, innovation is measured by the number of plants operating successfully around the world.
World-class research facilities and capabilities
Our dedicated Research and Development Technology Center serves as the principal facility for ferrous and non-ferrous reduction technology development for Midrex Technologies, Inc. and Kobe Steel, Ltd.
The R&D Technology Center supports a wide range of development activities that allow Midrex to move efficiently from research to validation and industrial application.
These capabilities include:
• Pilot and demonstration-scale operations
• Pelletizing, briquetting, and melting
• Fabrication, electrical, and instrumentation work
• Analytical operationsBench-scale testing
PILOT & DEMONSTRATION-SCALE OPERATIONS
PELLETIZING, BRIQUETTING & MELTING
FABRICATION, ELECTRICAL & INSTRUMENTATION WORK
ANALYTICAL OPERATIONS
BENCH-SCALE TESTING
A renewable approach to technology development
Innovation is both our heritage and our future.
Midrex’s development philosophy is built on a renewable technology model, a continuous cycle that blends research, engineering and operational feedback to improve and expand MIDREX technology over time. This closed-loop approach ensures that DRI research remains grounded in practical performance and continuously evolves to meet industry demands.
Research and Development creates and refines knowledge, testing new concepts and proving feasibility through experimentation and modeling
Engineering converts this knowledge into practical products and systems tailored to specific customer needs
Technical Services and Global Solutions support operating plants, diagnose issues and implement improvements in the field
Operational insights are fed back into R&D to renew, refine and expand the technology base
Innovation does not happen in isolation
Midrex collaborates with global technology, engineering, mining and materials partners to advance low-carbon ironmaking and steel production. Hear from a Midrex partner on what collaboration looks like in practice.
Hydrogen-based DRI research and low-carbon ironmaking
The transition to sustainable steel production requires innovation that is both ambitious and practical. Midrex has made hydrogen-based DRI research a central focus of its development efforts.
Innovation priorities include:
Direct reduction systems that allow a gradual transition from natural gas to hydrogen
Fully hydrogen-based ironmaking configurations designed to achieve deep CO₂ cuts
Integration of carbon capture and electric heating to eliminate fossil fuel reliance
Midrex’s step-by-step approach considers real constraints, such as hydrogen costs, infrastructure availability, regulatory timelines and ore quality, and enables steel producers to move forward with confidence while managing technical and commercial risk.
Engineering excellence powered by people
What ultimately differentiates Midrex innovation is how people apply technology to solve problems and deliver results. Engineers, researchers, and technologists work together with a shared purpose: sustaining the technical excellence and commercial relevance that define MIDREX technology.
Research and development remain central to the Midrex business model because ironmaking technology cannot stand still. It must be continually reviewed, refined, and advanced to remain relevant, reliable, and safe.
Interested in joining this outstanding team?
Latest Innovation
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
JUNE 2026
The Strength Within: Revealing the Mechanical Properties of DRI
Read more
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
JUNE 2026
Iron Ore for Direct Reduction: The Challenge Updated
Read more
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
JUNE 2026
The Strength Within: Revealing the Mechanical Properties of DRI
Read more
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
JUNE 2026
Iron Ore for Direct Reduction: The Challenge Updated
Read more
