en.Wedoany.com Reported - Germany's Goldschmidt company, through its Elektro-Thermit division, is participating in the GreenSteel4Rails project to verify the thermite welding performance of next-generation environmentally friendly high-performance rails, supporting the application of this new rail type in European railway networks.

Goldschmidt's Thermit® welding specialist, Elektro-Thermit, is involved in the EU co-funded GreenSteel4Rails research project. The core mission of this project is to develop and demonstrate advanced, recyclable rail steel grades with lower carbon dioxide emissions, focusing on the practical application and demonstration of next-generation iron-based alloys on freight tracks, all produced in environmentally friendly electric arc furnaces.

The GreenSteel4Rails project brings together 11 industry and academic partners from five European countries. With a budget of approximately 11 million euros and a duration of 4.5 years, continuing until July 2030, it directly responds to the EU's strategic direction on climate-neutral transportation and enhanced material circularity.

Located in Halle, Germany, Elektro-Thermit operates the world's largest and most technologically advanced Thermit® production facility, developing and manufacturing Thermit® welding processes and innovative equipment for around 50 countries globally.

Within this project, the Elektro-Thermit Development and Application Technology team, including Project Manager Daniel Liebenthal, Christof Gaßmann, and Dr. Jörg Keichel, is responsible for verifying the thermite weldability of the newly developed rail steel grades. The verification includes confirming that the weld metal complies with current railway standards (such as ISO 23300-2 and EN 14730-1), and collaborating closely with research institutes to support scientific studies analyzing the characteristics of Thermit® welds under the specific conditions of these innovative alloys. To ensure efficient and reliable testing of the rail welded joints in the project, the team provides state-of-the-art testing facilities to achieve the comprehensive documentation and performance verification required for next-generation rails. Through its participation in the GreenSteel4Rails project, Goldschmidt is supporting the transition of railway networks towards a sustainable, future-oriented direction and helping ensure that advanced materials and rail joining technologies can complement each other.