Ville-Valtteri Visuri

Ville-Valtteri Visuri works as a Research and Development Manager at Outokumpu. Driven by the potential of digitalisation and circular economy, he leads the development and use of modelling tools to improve the material and energy efficiency of Outokumpu's steelmaking processes. The modelling department, which is based in Finland and Germany, not only uses models but also develops them internally and with external partners. He is also Outokumpu´s representative in the National Expert Committee on Metallurgy.

Maintaining a close link to academic research, Visuri works also as a part-time Senior Research Fellow in the Process Metallurgy Research Unit at University of Oulu, serving as the Deputy Head of the Research Community for Steel Production, Fabrication and Applications. Visuri´s research is focused on the chemical and physical fundamentals of steelmaking processes. He has authored over 100 publications (including 50+ peer-reviewed ones) and served as an instructor in several finished or on-going doctoral theses. To secure funding, Visuri has contributed actively to shaping several large research projects funded by the Business Finland and the European Union. Visuri has also received several competitive personal grants, including a funded position at the National Graduate School in Chemical Engineering, PostDocs in Companies grant, and Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher Grant.

Alongside his main occupations, Visuri serves as the Chairman of the Board in the Division of Metallurgical Engineers, which is with its 1100 registered members the largest division of the Finnish Association of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. Visuri is also affiliated with three SMEs: Luxmet Oy, Teknoventure Oy, Hannu Luukinen Oy.

He holds the Title of Docent in Process Metallurgy, a doctorate (with distinction) in Process Engineering as well as master's (with distinction) and bachelor's degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management; all from University of Oulu. Visuri has conducted two research visits at the RWTH Aachen University with a total duration of 1.5 years. During his undergraduate studies, he spent an exchange semester studying Business Administration and Corporate Finance at the Technical University of Munich and had trainee positions at Rautaruukki Oyj (steel), Nokia Siemens Networks Oy (telecommunications) and Mutual Insurance Company Turva (insurance). He has also completed coursework at Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and Åbo Akademi University.

His professional working languages are Finnish, English, and German (for which he holds the Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom), but he also speaks some Swedish and elementary Russian. In his free time, Visuri is enthusiastic about sports (roadcycling and skiing), home-brewing, short films, and history.

Areas of expertise

• Methodology: mathematical modelling, computational thermodynamics, physical modelling, high-temperature experiments
• Processes: hot metal desulphurisation, ferrochrome manufacturing, electric arc furnace, converter metallurgy, ladle metallurgy, continuous casting