London-headquartered engineering and plant construction company Primetals Technologies recently announced Yoshiharu Ikeda as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He succeeds Satoru Iijima, who will remain as Fellow Advisor and Director of the Board. In addition to his decades of experience in the metals industry, Ikeda has demonstrated success in leadership positions within the machinery business sector, as well as in commercial and strategic roles.
Satoru Iijima said, “Yoshiharu Ikeda has spent decades advancing organisations within the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, and we are thrilled to welcome him as the new CEO of Primetals Technologies. He is an exceptional leader who will support our vision of being the pioneer and global leader in the metals industry.”
Who Is Yoshiharu Ikeda?
In the mid-1980s, Yoshiharu Ikeda began his career at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. He has since held a number of international positions, such as CEO of Primetals Technologies USA and Manager of Global Sales for Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Primetals Technologies.
Yoshiharu Ikeda said, “The metals industry is in an interesting and, at the same time, challenging phase. Working with customers around the world, our role is to innovate the industry and redefine how sustainable metals are produced. This applies not only to the upstream area and projects like HYFOR and Smelter, but also to the downstream area, including the electrification of furnaces in rolling mills and processing lines, as well as our groundbreaking Arvedi ESP technology. Additionally, digitalisation is an essential part of our innovation efforts. We are innovating in areas such as digital decarbonisation, emissions monitoring, robotics, and process optimisation – just to name a few.”
“Primetals Technologies is an international community of more than 7,000 metals engineers and specialists. Together, we take on these challenges, and I really look forward to being part of this endeavour,” he added.
Effective April 1, 2025, Yoshiharu Ikeda will be succeeded as CFO by Andreas Weinhengst, who has served as CFO of Primetals Technologies Austria since 2018. Weinhengst began working in the metals industry in Austria and overseas in the early 1990s, holding a variety of executive roles in controlling, accounting, and commercial sales. He has previously held positions at Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, the forerunner of Primetals Technologies.
The appointment of Karl Purkarthofer to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Primetals Technologies will also take effect with the company’s new fiscal year. In this role, Purkarthofer will oversee global functions such as supply chain, turnkey projects, manufacturing, project management, engineering, quality management, and environmental, health, and safety. Individual projects will continue to fall under the purview of the corresponding business divisions.
Karl Purkarthofer has held global leadership roles in Austria, the United States, and the United Kingdom for several decades. These roles include Executive Vice President and Head of Global Business Unit Services at Primetals Technologies and Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy and M&A at Siemens VAI. Purkarthofer was appointed CEO of Primetals Technologies Austria in April 2024 and will continue in this role.
Primetals Secures Crucial Indonesia Deal
T Gunung Raja Paksi Tbk (GRP), Indonesia’s largest privately owned steel manufacturer, has signed a landmark deal with Primetals Technologies. GRP’s steel mill will become Asia’s first such facility outside of China to meet Europe’s growing demand for zero-carbon hot rolled coil (HRC) steel. GRP will integrate Primetals Technologies’ Arvedi ESP concept, a technology that directly links casting and rolling processes operating in endless mode.
“The aforementioned technology also allows the production of thin and ultrathin gauges well below one millimetre in thickness. It is the first of its kind to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in steel production, reducing direct greenhouse gas emissions to zero,” reported Jakarta Post on the pact.
Primetals will also supply the complete technological equipment package, including a high-speed caster, a three-plus-five stand rolling mill, and a full suite of electric and automation solutions to complete the ESP integration. Production activities are set to begin by 2027, aligning with the launch of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and supporting GRP’s plans to double its current production to 2.5 million tonnes of low-carbon steel. Over 50% of the steel produced will be traded into the European Union. The deal also represents GRP’s latest milestone in its industry-leading “Project Green Dragon” initiative.
Additionally, the operational efficiencies achieved through the use of Arvedi ESP’s advanced digital solutions, such as AI learning tools, at plants like GRP demonstrate how the “Internet of Things” (IoT) is revolutionising the steel production industry and bringing cutting-edge innovation to the Asia region.
Image Credits: Primetals Technologies