FINOCAS Group bridges multiple perspectives

FINOCAS’s research centre OCAS, OnderzoeksCentrum voor de Aanwending van Staal (in English: research centre for the application of steel), was founded in 1991 by the former Sidmar, ALZ and ARBED as bridge between steel producer and customer. This is still strongly reflected in its head quarter building in Zelzate.

OCAS is active in metallurgy, coating and application development, in particular by processing, characterizing and testing of metal-based samples. OCAS provides services and solutions, to metal processing companies worldwide.

Since day one, OCAS supports academic research and continually invests in high level PhD’s and post-docs at universities worldwide, bridging industry and university. As Arcelor and Mittal merge to become one of the biggest global steel and mining companies, OCAS’s perimeter expands from European to global.

The project approval “Steel-friendly Flanders” was a major milestone in anchoring knowhow in Flanders and expanding research activities. FINOCAS carries out a bridge function between industry and government.
The joint investment company FININDUS of ArcelorMittal and Flemish Region providing early-stage financing and growth capital to innovative companies across the industrial value chain, ensures the bridge function between a global steel group and start-ups.

By joining forces with ENDURES and BIL Industry, the research activities of the FINOCAS Group embrace intertwined competences.

Multi-disciplinary competences for a world in transition
FINOCAS focuses on society’s needs: energy, durability and environment. The unique ecosystem powered by FINOCAS Group subsidiaries allows to combine competences on topics such as renewable power generation, green mobility, lifetime prediction and extension, environmentally friendly coatings, and provide a multi-disciplinary service offer for a world in transition. Whereby materials’ selection is underpinned with performance testing.
FINOCAS supports the transition towards a carbon neutral society by its CO2 competence centre. FINOCAS contributes to converting the ambition of the steel industry to reduce its CO2 footprint (following the 2030 and 2050 climate targets set by the EU) into reality.  This includes partnerships with technology providers and coupling projects to other industries and relevant players, including identifying and incorporating technically and economically feasible solutions.
FINOCAS has a highly skilled staff of >180 employees, houses >20.000 m² labs in Zelzate (BE), Zwijnaarde (BE) and Den Helder (NL) to serve its >100 customers worldwide, active in various industrial sectors. FINOCAS has a network of >180 scientific and academic institutes.
OCAS
OCAS
OCAS is active in metallurgy, coating and application development, in particular by processing and testing of metal-based samples.
OCAS is active in metallurgy, coating and application development, in particular by processing and testing of metal-based samples.
ENDURES
ENDURES
Expertise center for Corrosion, Antifouling, MIC and Damage research
Expertise center for Corrosion, Antifouling, MIC and Damage research
FININDUS
FININDUS
Finindus helps early stage and growth companies to bring innovative smart and green industrial technologies to market.
Finindus helps early stage and growth companies to bring innovative smart and green industrial technologies to market.
BIL VZW
BIL VZW
Structural partner. Belgisch Instituut voor lastechniek VZW.
Structural partner. Belgisch Instituut voor lastechniek VZW.

A joint venture

FINOCAS is a joint venture between the Flemish Region and ArcelorMittal Belgium. OCAS and Endures are the research centres of FINOCAS, having a structural partnership with BIL Industry, a joint venture between FINOCAS and Belgian Welding Institute, while FININDUS is FINOCAS’ investment company.

Member of Flanders Metals Valley

Flanders Metals Valley (FMV) is a bottom-up initiative launched by companies and institutions active in the metallurgical sector in Flanders.