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In the February issue of Iron & Steel Review, an interview was conducted with Ernesto Bottone, Chief Executive Officer of POMINI Long Rolling Mills Srl. With a rich background in industrial plant engineering and a deep commitment to innovation, Bottone shares his professional journey and the significance of POMINI’s role in the steel industry.

The following is an edited excerpt from the interview, which appears in Iron & Steel Review’s February issue.

POMINI has a long-standing reputation for engineering excellence in long rolling. Could you start by sharing your professional journey and what motivated you to take on a global leadership role within POMINI Long Rolling Mills Srl?

For several decades, I have worked in the field of industrial plant engineering. My experience spans sectors such as petrochemical, oil & gas, and the steel industry, across the various stages of the production cycle. Throughout my career, I have worked extensively in several countries, including Nigeria, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran.

It is a great honour for me to hold the role of leading POMINI Long Rolling Mills Srl, a company that represents a milestone in the history of Italian industry. In fact, in this very 2026 we celebrate the company’s 140^thanniversary! During this long journey, the company has designed and built hundreds of plants worldwide, introducing engineering solutions, innovations, and patents that have revolutionised the steel rolling sector.

I firmly believe that we don’t just sell machines and plants, but also promote the company’s culture and traditions.

How would you describe POMINI’s current global presence in the long-rolling sector? Which regions are currently the strongest markets, and where do you see the highest potential for long-term growth?

Let’s start by saying that POMINI Long Rolling Mills Srl (PLRM henceforth) has a base of more than 500 installed plants in the world, which means a significantly strong activity in the global market, especially in the PRC, Indian region, where we successfully completed some 20 projects, in the Far East, in Europe and in the Mediterranean region. Obviously, we strive to further expand our presence. For greenfield projects, we currently see good opportunities in the UAE and in the North American market; in fact, we established a branch in the USA. On the other hand, in Europe, there’s room for interesting brownfield projects.

Sure enough, though we highlight India and the Indian subcontinent as the market which appears to have the most promising development perspectives in the years ahead.

With specific reference to long products, it is reasonable to state that India currently offers the most compelling prospects for global market development. Indian steel long product output increased by approximately 70% between 2012 and 2021, and forecasts suggest that production will surpass 100 million tons per year by 2030. This growth corresponds to a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 5-6%, supported by rising consumption across all steel sectors — primarily in carbon grades, as well as in quality and special steels.

In light of these dynamics, we firmly believe that India will remain a strategic focus market for PLRM over the next decade and beyond.

CONTENTS

“India will remain a strategic focus market for PLRM over the next decade and beyond”

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