Virpi Leinonen advances sustainable development in metallurgy at AFRY
Major steps are being taken in the sustainable transition of metallurgy
Technology Manager Virpi Leinonen specializes in examining the opportunities for the mining and metallurgical industries to utilize and commercialize different raw materials. She is also dedicated to developing refining possibilities for these materials. Virpi is thrilled to be part of AFRY’s work in an ongoing transition where the industry is rapidly advancing towards greener solutions. Over the past 20 years, she has had the privilege of observing this industry transformation from different professional perspectives.
During her high school years, Virpi was torn between two career paths for further education—studying to become a youth worker or pursuing a technical field. Inspired by her interest in mathematics, she ultimately chose the University of Oulu to study process engineering, with metallurgy as her major during her master’s degree.
“Growing up, I had the chance to watch my father working with steel structures and my mother as a math teacher. Ultimately, my career choice was most influenced by my lifelong curiosity about how things are constructed and how they function,” Virpi explains.
A diverse career path builds a strong foundation for consultancy
After finishing her degree, Virpi began her career as a researcher at the university, where she focused on the use of by-products from nickel and copper production. Transitioning from academia to industry, she started working at Outokumpu's Tornio facility in Finland in 2008. "Practical work in process development in the industry broadened my research-oriented perspective. Furthermore, I was able to participate in bringing new products to production and improving quality."
From stainless steel, Virpi moved to a completely different environment in 2017, starting as a project manager at a startup company developing patented drying technology for process industries. This role allowed her to handle diverse tasks ranging from funding negotiations to technical implementations. Virpi views her time with the startup as a turning point in her career. "If I had only worked in metallurgy, my expertise would be narrower. Working at SFTec gave me a broad perspective from various industrial sectors, which I can now apply in my consultancy role," Virpi reflects.
AFRY excels in groundbreaking metallurgy projects
Virpi joined AFRY in Northern Finland in 2022 as Technology Manager in the mining and metals business unit. She works as a project manager, responsible for coordinating process design in various engineering projects.
Virpi is involved in pioneering projects in the metallurgical field. "The projects I am part of involve engineering processes that have not yet been implemented on an industrial scale." A great example of this is the much-discussed green steel production, where hydrogen is used to replace fossil carbon and energy sources to reduce CO2 emissions in the steel industry.
The metallurgical industry is undergoing a transformation where traditional processes are being revamped for greener and more sustainable production methods. “During my studies, sustainability was mostly discussed in theory and PowerPoint slides. Now, it’s being implemented in practice,” Virpi observes.
AFRY plays a significant role in this transformation. "Within AFRY, we have a remarkable depth of metallurgical expertise on a European scale, covering the entire metals value chain from mining and refining to pyro- and hydrometallurgical processes. We have the privilege of participating in numerous major transformation projects," Virpi explains.
Industrial projects advancing sustainability and material efficiency
Virpi has been involved in projects aimed at developing and designing handling solutions for industrial side streams and waste. These solutions enable the use of existing new types of raw materials instead of virgin resources. “Innovative ideas and development work carried out together with customers and technology providers enable the utilization of side streams and waste,” Virpi explains.
The development of side stream and waste management solutions provides an opportunity to use existing raw materials more efficiently, thus enhancing the utilization rate of natural resources—one of the core goals of a circular economy.
Virpi has also been involved in preliminary design work for a planned green steel production facility. "The next major transformation in the steel industry is the integration of hydrogen into the production chain as a reducing agent and energy source to cut carbon dioxide emissions. I’ve had the opportunity to work on that in this project."
Finding her place in AFRY’s mining and metals unit
Virpi feels she has found her place at AFRY. "A good atmosphere is something that I value greatly at this stage in my career, and we have a very close-knit team in the mining and metals unit in Oulu. We openly share our experiences from projects, and colleagues are always willing to help."
Virpi finds her work meaningful and fascinating. "Because the content varies from project to project, as a consultant, I get to do a wide range of things and continuously learn something new."
She is particularly satisfied with her role at AFRY, as it allows her to influence how natural resources are utilized. Virpi is motivated by the fact that the projects she has been part of involve significant investments in the future and will deliver benefits for decades to come. "Additionally, we now have the opportunity to design things in completely new ways, possibly even better than ever before," Virpi says.