The second day of the HARARE workshop, held on May 6th, brought students out of the classroom and into the heart of industrial operations with a site visit to Aluminium of Greece plant, one of the country’s largest metal production facilities. The visit was organized by METLEN and offered students an opportunity to experience metallurgy in action.

Upon arrival, participants were welcomed by Efthymios Balomenos and members of the METLEN team, who introduced the company’s activities within the HARARE project and its broader role in Horizon Europe initiatives. Moreover, students had the opportunity to discuss with METLEN’s HR department and explore job opportunities offered by METLEN for recently graduated engineers.

Equipped with full safety gear, the students toured the plant’s facilities– including the pilot plant- while operations were ongoing. They had the chance to observe key metallurgical processes, ask technical questions, and gain a deeper understanding of how research concepts are translated into real-world industrial applications.

For several students currently working on their thesis projects linked to HARARE processes, the visit brought valuable context to their research and allowed them to see first-hand the systems they are studying. For all participants, it was a powerful experience that enhanced their appreciation of the scale, complexity, and importance of metallurgical operations.

With this visit, the HARARE workshop concluded in success, not only educating but also empowering young metallurgists to envision their future roles in a sustainable innovative metallurgical sector.

A big thank you to Casper Van der Eijk (SINTEF), who documented the day through his lens and shared his photos with us.