Greeting

MURAKAMI, Taichi
Chair of SynOre2026
Tohoku University

Currently, about 70% of the raw materials for blast furnaces worldwide are iron ore sinter, which is produced in large quantities using iron ore, limestone, and coke breeze. However, its characteristics vary greatly depending on the sintering process and are extremely complex, leading to an insufficient understanding of the material. While conferences for iron ore and pellets existed, such as IronOre in Australia and COREM in Canada, until 2022 there had yet to be an international conference primarily focused on iron ore sinter. In 2022, ISIJ hosted the first international symposium of iron ore agglomerates (SynOre2022) where academic discussions on the production and quality of sinter were held in Matsue, deepening collaboration among researchers in the field.

Since then, the world has moved rapidly toward carbon neutrality, making the decarbonization of ironmaking processes a critical issue. Vast amounts of fossil fuel-derived energy are used in the production of iron ore agglomerates such as sinter, and reducing this consumption is urgent. Moreover, discussions from a quality perspective are also necessary.

SynOre aims to provide an academic platform for researchers from industry and academia worldwide to discuss the production and quality of sinter and other agglomerates, such as iron ore pellet and carbon-iron ore composite, thereby contributing to the decarbonization of ironmaking processes and expanding resource flexibility. In addition, we hope this will help to build a robust research network.

SynOre2026 will be held at the International Conference Center in Toyama. Toyama, located in the Hokuriku Region of northern Chubu in Japan, has become easily accessible since the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in 2015. Selected by the New York Times as one of the "52 Places to Go in 2025," Toyama is a notable tourist destination. October, when the conference is held, is the time when the autumn leaves in the mountains are in full bloom, and the Alpine Route accessible by cable car or ropeway is a famous tourist attraction. We look forward to seeing you in October 2026.