Outokumpu Has Released New EvoMaterials Brand
The company launched a metal-extraction technology aimed at improving resource efficiency.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Materials Science
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Outokumpu has introduced its EvoMaterials brand to advance metal production through a specialized sulfidation-based process. The technology extracts metals from side streams and waste, increasing chromium content and the chromium-to-iron ratio.
Why it matters
This initiative seeks to significantly lower carbon emissions and bolster material resource efficiency. It leverages research begun in the U.S. in 2021 to transform previously discarded materials into functional metal products.
The process uses a sulfidation-based method, with research currently based at a laboratory in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The technology aims to scale from a 1 kg laboratory test to a 1 ton target capacity at the new pilot facility.
The players
Outokumpu
This is a global leader in sustainable stainless steel production that operates the Kemi mine in Finland.
MIT
This is a private research university that holds the patents for the sulfidation-based metal extraction technology.
The details
Outokumpu utilizes a non-exclusive patent license from MIT to refine its metal-recovery techniques. By focusing on the Kemi mine, the only chrome source within the EU, the firm aims to optimize the chromium-to-iron ratio for higher industrial utility.
Timeline
Development of the underlying technology began in the U.S. in 2021.
A pilot plant in Londonderry, New Hampshire, will be operational in the first half of 2027.
An industrial-scale plant is expected to reach operational status in 2030.
The Big Picture
The deployment of this method relies on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology metal extraction patent portfolio to advance its processing capabilities. Outokumpu utilizes a non-exclusive license from this portfolio to commercialize its proprietary metal recovery method.
This process could eventually lower costs for high-grade chromium and other metals by utilizing recycled waste streams. Over the coming decade, these advancements may lead to more sustainable manufacturing inputs for global supply chains.
The takeaway
The move demonstrates a shift toward circular manufacturing by reclaiming metals from previously disregarded industrial side streams. Companies that successfully implement such recovery technologies may significantly reduce their reliance on traditional mining output.
What happens next
A pilot plant is scheduled to become operational in Londonderry, New Hampshire, during the first half of 2027, followed by an industrial-scale plant in 2030.
Further reading
For more on the latest advancements in the field, explore the Materials Science section.
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