November 11-12, 2025
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SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SXC) supplies high-quality coke to domestic and international customers. Our coke is used in the blast furnace production of steel as well as the foundry production of casted iron, with the majority of sales under long-term, take-or-pay contracts. We also export coke to overseas customers seeking high-quality product for their blast furnaces. Our process utilizes an innovative heat-recovery technology that captures excess heat for steam or electrical power generation and draws upon more than 60 years of cokemaking experience to operate our facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Brazil. Our industrial services business provides export and domestic material handling services to coke, coal, steel, power and other bulk customers, as well as mission-critical services to leading, global steel producing companies. The logistics terminals have the collective capacity to mix and transload more than 40 million tons of material each year and are strategically located to reach Gulf Coast, East Coast, Great Lakes and international ports. Additional industrial services include the removal, handling, and processing of molten slag at customer sites, as well as preparation and transportation of metal scraps, raw materials, and finished products.
At CPL we can tailor our ceramic welding products to suit any repair application. We have been the preferred choice of Coke Oven operators around the world for over 30 years. Whether it’s an isolated repair or a full battery life extension campaign, you can be assured that CPL’s ceramic welding system is the go-to solution to keep your operations on track.
Our experience in this field is unparalleled and we can work with you and your team to develop a fully optimized ceramic welding program.
Additionally, CPL has developed a portfolio of hard-wearing monolithic products designed specifically for applications in the harsh environments unique to the coke plant. Our technology is proven to reduce refractory breakdown and extend refractory life on your coke batteries and improve process.
CPL Refractories produces a large number of refractory products which include Ceramic Welding Powders, Zero Expansion Repair Modules, Fused Silica Bricks (to suit all battery designs), Mortars and Castables. CPL offers design/engineering services for coke oven brick design.
CPL Refractories has successfully completed repair campaigns across a wide spectrum of industries and with a quality that has always been of the highest standard, we are proud of our reputation as a leader in our industry.
Mitren Sukhram is a process specialist in the Pyrometallurgy practice at Hatch. He specializes in pyrometallurgical processes and works on all aspects of ironmaking including process engineering, repair planning, techno-economic assessments, campaign life assessment/extension, blast furnace blow-down, banking, and blow-in, and operational support for ironmaking furnaces located around the world. Mitren has also worked on concept and pre-feasibility studies for Direct Reduced Iron facilities. Mitren is a graduate from the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada where he completed Bachelor, Master's and PhD degrees in Materials Science and Engineering and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario.
Brian Jamieson is a Principal Scientist at Charm Industrial, where he leads efforts to scale pyrolysis products for heavy industrial applications. He holds a PhD in Materials Engineering from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. His background spans traditional iron and steelmaking processes including blast furnaces, direct reduced ironmaking, and electric arc furnaces. He has more than seven years of experience at the intersection of ironmaking, industrial decarbonization strategy, and techno-economic analysis assessing how traditional processes can be adapted and supported in the transition to net-zero.
Brian is a frequent contributor to the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST), where he has published on topics including bio-oil gasification and biochar utilization in ironmaking, and presented on topics such as the power demands of green hydrogen production. His work emphasizes practical, techno-economically viable pathways for industrial CO₂ abatement, with a focus on how carbon removal technologies can complement steelmaking on the path to true net-zero emissions.
Dr. John F. Quanci is SunCoke Energy’s Vice President of Engineering and Technology, and Chief Technology Officer. In his present position, Dr. Quanci is helping build critical competencies and improving/advancing SunCoke’s existing technology as well as leading the development of next generation coking technology for both US and international applications in the pursuit of global growth opportunities.
Dr. Quanci has over 25 years in US and overseas experience in process research, development, plant optimization and in plant manufacturing experience, and has managed a breadth of organizations internal and external to Petroleum industry such as Mobil Research, Mobil Oil, BP/Mobil, Exxon/Mobil, Sunoco, Rodel and Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials (now Dow Electronic Materials). Prior to SunCoke, his most recent position was Director, Corporate Technology within Sunoco’s Corporate Engineering & Technology organization in which he leads their initiatives to consolidate and leverage process technology/expertise across all of their business units.
Dr. Quanci earned a Ph.D. and Masters in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art and Science in New York City. Dr. Quanci is also a registered Professional Engineer and has over forty US and international patents and patent applications.
Dr. Yukihiro Kubota has over 20 years of cokemaking research and operation experience in Nippon Steel Corporation. He obtained his PhD from Tohoku University in 2012. He made significant contributions to the construction and initial operation of the SCOPE21-type coke oven at Nippon Steel Oita Works, which began operation in 2008. He served as the manager of the cokemaking plant at Yawata Works until 2014. His current role in NSC is the General Manager, Head of Coal & Coke Research Department, Ironmaking research Laboratory. He specializes in coal blending theory, coal preparation techniques, coke quality estimation, strength, size, and reactivity. His Keynote address at ICSCI 2025 focuses on Development of Technology for Improvement of Coke Strength for Low Carbonization in Blast Furnaces and/or Cost Reduction of Coke Production.
I serve on the Board of Directors of Appalachian Electric Cooperative and the Advisory Board of Fairview Technology Center and have authored papers published in respected journals.
I earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, an MBA, and an MS in Engineering Reliability & Safety from the University of Tennessee. I am currently working on my DBA doctoral dissertation on Manufacturing Leadership and Reliability. I also hold CMRP and CRL certifications.
I’ve achieved success in a range of executive capacities, including:
As Senior Training Instructor at global technology leader Emerson, I wrote and conducted 12 Machinery Health Monitoring Training courses, developed course demo equipment, and served as SME on CSI vibration systems.
As National Account Manager at AESSEAL, I provided clients like International Paper and Archer Daniels Midland with best-in-class mechanical seals for pumps and mixers.
As Founder & CEO of MAARS, Inc., I raised $1.2M startup capital, co-patented a signal conditioner for an online vibration system, and for 12 years manufactured innovative online machinery monitoring hardware and software.
At Computational Systems, Inc. (CSI) as Application Sales Engineer, then Midwest Regional Manager, I received multiple Salesperson of the Year awards and led their ‘Top Gun’ Business Development and Sales training.
Based in London, Singh is S&P Global Commodity Insight’s Associate Regional Pricing Director EMEA Metals leading the teams for steel, steelmaking raw materials and non-ferrous market coverage within the Europe Middle East and Africa region. She has spent close to two decades covering global commodities and equities markets. Prior to joining Platts in Singapore where she managed the Asia steel and scrap team, she was based in Beijing as Chief Correspondent, China Commodities & Energy at Reuters for three years, where she led a team of journalists covering the top consumer of commodities and energy such as metals, soybean, crude oil, gas, steel, pork. Previously, she was based in Singapore as Asia Editor at Fastmarkets and was responsible for non-ferrous, ores and alloys coverage in the Asian region for several years.
Dr. Kodukula is a mineral processing expert specializing in iron-making raw materials and carbon-neutral technologies, with over 30 years of experience. He has led breakthrough process initiatives for coal & coke, iron ore, and by-products in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Liberia and India. As an advisor, he recommends metallurgical and PCI coal for blast furnace operations worldwide and connects mines with iron and steel-making facilities. Dr. Kodukula combines deep scientific and technical expertise with dynamic market conditions, strategic leadership and global collaboration. He has received several recognitions, including the National Mineral Award (India), the Raman Research Fellow, and ArcelorMittal Global Performance Excellence Award.
He holds a Ph.D. in Geology/Mineral Processing and has authored a significant number of technical publications and technical reports.
Dr. Bristow has been actively involved in the steel and steelmaking raw materials industries for over 22 years. During this time, he has led numerous investigations in coal and iron ore technical and market research, minerals strategy development, and market planning for BHP’s coal business, and was Chief Analyst for BHP Billiton’s Carbon Steel Materials Group, leading the Market Intelligence Group in Singapore.
His key expertise in steel, metallurgical coal, iron ore, and manganese ore and ferroalloys, coupled with strategic vision and long term analysis on future directions in emerging markets, saw him as an early proponent of the rebirth of the global steel industry, the rise of China and of coal’s growth story, together with a strong belief in China’s emergence as a major seaborne metallurgical coal importer. He has been a strong advocate for India’s growing coal demand.
In April 2009, he formed H&W Worldwide Consulting, putting his strong market analysis and strategy skills to good use across bulk commodities, including iron ore and coal –for both coking and thermal.
As an internationally recognized expert in areas of steel and steelmaking raw materials, long term trends and scenarios, he has written and presented numerous publications at highly respected international conferences and meetings.
Dr. John F. Quanci is SunCoke Energy’s Vice President of Engineering and Technology, and Chief Technology Officer. In his present position, Dr. Quanci is helping build critical competencies and improving/advancing SunCoke’s existing technology as well as leading the development of next generation coking technology for both US and international applications in the pursuit of global growth opportunities.
Dr. Quanci has over 25 years in US and overseas experience in process research, development, plant optimization and in plant manufacturing experience, and has managed a breadth of organizations internal and external to Petroleum industry such as Mobil Research, Mobil Oil, BP/Mobil, Exxon/Mobil, Sunoco, Rodel and Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials (now Dow Electronic Materials). Prior to SunCoke, his most recent position was Director, Corporate Technology within Sunoco’s Corporate Engineering & Technology organization in which he leads their initiatives to consolidate and leverage process technology/expertise across all of their business units.
Dr. Quanci earned a Ph.D. and Masters in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art and Science in New York City. Dr. Quanci is also a registered Professional Engineer and has over forty US and international patents and patent applications.
Manager of Technology and Operations. Cokemaking, AK Steel Corporation 2005-2019
Senior Stuff Engineer. Cokemaking, AK Steel Corporation 1990-2005
Director of Research Laboratory . Eastern Coal and Chemicals Institute, Russia , 1985-1989
Senior and Principal Research Fellow. Eastern Coal and Chemicals Institute, Russia , 1973-1985
Over 40 years experience in all aspects of Cokemaking including R & D, Operations, Quality and Process Control, Environmental and Safety management.
20 publications and 2 patents, Russia, related to cokemaking, preheat charge technology, heat transfer in coke ovens and process optimization.
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Metallurgical Engineering. Eastern Coal and Chemical Institute, 1979 – 1985
MS, Metallurgical Engineering. Ural State Technical University, 1967-1973
AIST Cokemaking Technology Committee, Chair, 2014-2016
Dr Hardarshan Valia retired as a Staff Scientist at Inland Steel Research Laboratories (now Arcelor Mittal), and is currently the President of Coal Science, Inc. He has published more than 85 scientific articles and various book chapters including in “Making, Shaping, and Treating of Steel,” and in “New Trends in Coal Conversion,” and co-authored a book entitled “Indiana Coals and the Steel Industry,” and is a contributor to American Iron and Steel Institute’s web site. He has been honored with the Joseph Becker Award (Iron & Steel Society), the Joseph Kapitan Award (Association for Iron & Steel Technology), and the American Iron & Steel Institute Presidential Medal. He received his Ph.D. in Geology from Boston University.
Currently residing in Fernie, British Columbia. Attended University of Alberta and got a degree in Materials Engineering in 2007.
Began working at Fording River Operations as a Metallurgist with Elk Valley Coal company, which later became Teck Coal. In Teck I have worked as a Metallurgist at Teck’s Fording River Operations, Greenhills Operations, Line Creek Operations and its Lead-Zinc smelter. For the last 3 years I have been working with Technical Marketing for our Coal Business Unit.
