University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute Unveils First-of-Its-Kind DRI Simulator to Future-Proof Domestic Steel Production

The University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) is set to deliver a major new technological capability to the Iron Range with a pilot-scale Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Simulator in Coleraine. The globally unique research platform will give domestic iron ore producers and steelmakers advanced testing capabilities to optimize iron formulations and de-risk major industrial investments.

Developed with foundational support from the Minnesota State Legislature, key backing from the state through the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (DIRRR), federal investment from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and direct input from major steel industry leaders, the facility equips Minnesota to lead the evolution of domestic industrial manufacturing.

The new simulator will allow researchers and industrial partners to replicate real-world shaft furnace conditions across a wide range of temperatures, pressures and gas mixtures. By enabling pilot-scale testing of new feedstock blends, the platform helps safeguard the long-term competitiveness of Minnesota’s iron resources and strengthens the region's industrial economy.

“Driving innovation and economic opportunity across Minnesota is foundational to our mission as Minnesota’s land-grant university,” said University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham. "This project brings together the best of the University and NRRI to deliver economic strength to, and drive future industrial innovation in, Minnesota. We are proud to be a vital part of this new capability, which will significantly benefit Minnesota, our nation and world.”

"The DRI Simulator represents exactly the kind of research infrastructure and delivery that NRRI was created by the legislature for the state of Minnesota to build — capabilities that partner with industry to solve complex challenges while strengthening Minnesota's and the nation’s long-term competitiveness and security," said Dr. Rolf Weberg, executive director of NRRI. "By providing a testbed for industry and other stakeholders to test, validate and accelerate next-generation iron technologies, this platform helps reduce risk, speed innovation and position Minnesota as a national leader in the future of iron and steel manufacturing."

The Simulator and other capabilities at the Coleraine site are foundational to the Midwest Industrial Transformation Initiative (MITI), providing a key platform for industrial deployment and partnership development. They also underpin IMPACT, a joint research alliance between NRRI and DOE’s National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), which advances translational research, testing and demonstration to accelerate technology commercialization.

"The DRI Simulator is an important addition to the capabilities available through our partnership with NRRI," said Dr. Jud Virden, NLR director. "Through IMPACT, it provides another platform for translating research into technologies that can support the future of industrial manufacturing."

The initiative also highlights strong alignment with state economic development goals, leveraging regional research to bolster long-term competitiveness across the Iron Range.

"This investment reflects our commitment to ensuring the Iron Range remains at the forefront of mining and steel innovation," said Ida Rukavina, commissioner of the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “By supporting world-class research and technology development at NRRI, we are strengthening our regional economy, supporting good-paying jobs and positioning Minnesota to lead the next generation of iron and steel manufacturing."

NRRI will mark the milestone with key project partners this month before advancing into final equipment calibration and research trials. Once operational, the simulator will allow researchers and industry engineers to run pilot-scale testing under real-world operating conditions.

News Media Note: Images of the DRI Simulator will be available upon request. For more information on research capabilities and project updates, visit nrri.umn.edu.

About the University of Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute
The Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) is an applied research institute of the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office, hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth. NRRI maintains three sites in northern Minnesota with a mission to deliver integrated research solutions that value our resources, environment and economy for a sustainable and resilient future. For more information visit our website.