Danieli Automation

What Danieli Automation does

Danieli Automation S.p.A. is an Italian industrial automation specialist that designs, manufactures, and integrates electrical equipment, process control systems, and engineering services for global metals producers. Founded in 1969 in Buttrio, Italy, the company serves primarily steel mills and metal processing plants worldwide, with a stated installed base of more than 400 plants and more than 640 automation and process control systems delivered across steelmaking, flat products, and long products operations. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A. (founded 1914) and is organized into six business units covering Steelmaking, Flat Products, Long Products, Instruments & Robotics, Power Systems, and Customer Assistance.\n\nThe company's product architecture centers on the Q3-Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) suite — an integrated software platform with modules for Production, Quality, Logistics, Energy, Analytics, and Platform — together with proprietary instruments (hot metal detectors, profile gauges, optical sensors), robotic systems (Q-ROBOT family), and power electronics such as the Q-ONE Digimelter, QDRIVE medium-voltage drives, and QHEAT induction heating. Systems are designed around the company's "3Q" concept (Quality, Quantity, Quickness) and increasingly incorporate domain AI capabilities, including predictive metallurgy models, cobble and breakout detection, computer vision for safety and scrap classification, and obstacle-avoidance algorithms for robots operating in dynamic plant environments. The Digi&Met business unit, established in 2016 with a co-located research laboratory at the University of Udine's LAB VILLAGE, anchors the company's Smart Factory and Industry 4.0 positioning for metals.\n\nDanieli Automation generates revenue through a mix of large one-time turnkey contracts (automation and electrical systems bundled with engineering, installation, commissioning, and proprietary software), standalone technological-package upgrades, and recurring after-sales services including Teleservice remote assistance, E-Service, E-Deal refurbished equipment, spare parts, and training. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to plant scope, with no public pricing disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by regional subsidiaries in Italy (HQ and engineering centers in Buttrio), the United States (Danieli Taranis), India (Danieli India, headquartered in Kolkata), and China (Danieli China, Changshu), and demonstrated customers include Nucor, JSW Steel, Hydro, Ezz Steel, Tokyo Steel, MMK Metalurji, Gruppo Riva, and Roofings Rolling Mills.

Name

Danieli Automation

Legal name

Danieli Automation S.p.A.

Website

https://dca.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Danieli Automation S.p.A. provides electrical systems, process control software, and engineering services to global steel and metal producers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche, it operates across more than 400 installed plants worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Systems for Metals Manufacturing

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88) (IMAGABAH), Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Industrial process automation
• Steel plant control systems
• Manufacturing operations management
• Metals industry automation
• Electrical engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Buttrio

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Electrical and Automation Equipment Sales: Design, manufacture, and supply of electrical and automation equipment including PLC systems, Level 2 process control systems, sensors, robotics, and power systems for steelmaking and metal processing plants.
2. Turnkey Electrical Systems: Complete turnkey solutions for the steel industry including electrical distribution systems, installation engineering, and plant-wide automation.
3. Engineering and Integration Services: Engineering services including design, construction, erection, commissioning, and software development for industrial automation systems.
4. Customer Assistance and Support: Worldwide support services including Teleservice remote assistance, E-Service, training, spare parts, revamping, and maintenance services for automation systems and electrical parts.
5. E-Deal (Used & Refurbished Equipment): Sale of used and refurbished automation components and systems, with up to 12 months guarantee.
6. Technological Packages: Advanced technological improvements and upgrades for existing plants, applicable to any kind of plant for more competitive layout concepts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Danieli Automation designs, manufactures, and integrates electrical and automation equipment, sensors, robotics, power electronics, and process control software for the metals industry. Its offering includes turnkey automation systems across the full plant lifecycle from ore processing to finished long and flat products, organized around six business units (Steelmaking, Flat Products, Long Products, Instruments & Robotics, Power Systems, and Customer Assistance) and anchored by the Q3-Manufacturing MOM suite. The company also delivers worldwide engineering, commissioning, support, and remote-assistance services.

Product overview

Danieli Automation provides electrical and automation equipment, engineering, and process control systems for the metals industry, covering the wide spectrum from refining iron ore to processing long and flat products. The company operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture with Q3-Manufacturing as the core Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) suite, supported by specialized business units for Steelmaking, Flat Products, Long Products, Instruments & Robotics, Power Systems, and Customer Assistance. Digi&Met serves as the Smart Factory/Industry 4.0 business unit. The product portfolio includes Technological Packages (Q-series solutions like Q-ONE, Q-CROP, Q-ROBOT MELT), cross-product solutions (Q3 MET MES, Q3 INTELLIGENCE, Q3-DEMS, Q3-DMMS, Q3-DCMS, Q3-DYMS, iSTAND), and services (E-Service, E-Assistance, Remote Support, E-Deal, TELESERVICE, SAFESTAR). Systems are designed based on the 3Q concept: Quality, Quantity, and Quickness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digi&Met: A brand new business unit to fully exploit the potentials of the Smart Factory and to implement Industry 4.0 specifically for the metal industries.
• Q3-Manufacturing

Products and services

• Q3-Manufacturing MOM Suite Integrated Manufacturing Operations Management suite enabling real-time control and coordination of Production, Quality, Logistics, and Energy across the entire plant, with cross-domain KPIs and Analytics for the metals industry.
• Digi&Met Smart Factory Business Unit Smart Factory and Industry 4.0 offering that fully exploits digital innovation, servitization, and outcome-economy principles for metal-industry customers, bundling Q3-Manufacturing solutions such as Q3 INTELLIGENCE and Q3 MET.
• Steelmaking Solutions Automation and process control solutions covering iron ore reduction, steelmaking, secondary metallurgy, continuous casting, and thick and tin slab casting for the metals industry.
• Flat Products Solutions Hot strip and plate rolling, cold strip rolling, and strip processing line automation and control systems for flat steel production.
• Long Products Solutions Automation systems for seamless tube, hot rolling, cold finishing, and forging and extrusion operations for long steel products.
• Instruments & Robotics Sensors for dimensional control, surface quality control, and process control, together with robotic applications for hazardous areas in steel plants.
• Power Systems Power distribution, analysis and furnaces, drive systems, induction reheating, and installation engineering for steel industry applications.
• Q-ONE Digimelter Efficient energy source for electric furnaces through a high-performance power unit for steelmaking operations.
• Technological Packages Modular advanced technological improvements covering steelmaking (C-DRIVE, C-HAWK, Q-SHRED, Q-REG, Q-MAP, Q-COOL, Q-CORE), flat products (Q-CROP, D-ATS, D-REC, Q-MPE, Q-LIVE), long products (LWEAR, SYHEAT, HOT CUT OPTIMIZATION, INTELLIGRIND, Q-LONG), and robotic instruments (Q-ROBOT MELT, Q-ROBOT CAST, Q-ROBOT ZINC, Q-ROBOT ROLL).
• SAFESTAR Geo-localization and hands-free communication system for safety supervision of operators inside production areas, with emergency alarm capabilities for steel plants.
• E-Service Remote Technical Assistance Remote technical assistance for resolving technical plant problems without on-site engineer visits, with continuous plant activity monitoring for steel plants.
• E-Assistance Support Service 24/7 global assistance service that receives and forwards customer requests to qualified personnel to resolve customer problems in the shortest possible time.
• Remote Support Services On-demand remote support including Remote Control, Remote Support, and Remote Access via web browser for immediate technical or sales assistance.
• TELESERVICE Worldwide Remote Assistance Worldwide remote-assistance service for steelmaking plants enabling fast remote intervention of specialists to reduce causes of stop and downtime for automation systems.
• E-Deal (Used & Refurbished Equipment) Sale of used and refurbished automation components and systems, with up to 12 months guarantee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cold Reversing Mill reached contractual rolling speed of 1,100 m/min during first three weeks of commissioning at Roofings Rolling Mills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Danieli TaraniscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanieli Taranis provides electrical engineering and automation/process controls for the metals industry in North America. Together with Danieli Automation SpA, Buttrio (Italy), Danieli Taranis supports the needs of North American steel producers with innovative products and systems on the cutting edge of technologies such as LV/MV drives, induction heating systems, special gauges and sensors, and advanced process control systems.
• Daco LTDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanieli Automation Company Ltd (DACO) is a Danieli Automation-owned subsidiary offering complete electric motor repair, refurbish, rewind and rebuild services. As part of Danieli Group, DACO provides design and engineering of electrical apparatus.
• Danieli SystecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a Computer Engineering and Process Automation company, SYSTEC in partnership with DANIELI Automation has obtained a respectful position in steel making plants market. Capabilities have ranged from small size automation units through to sophisticated complete plant automation and special client requests for existing plant upgrading.
• Danieli RotelecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal pioneer and world leader in the design and manufacture of electromagnetic systems and induction heaters, Danieli Rotelec offers electromagnetic stirrers for conticasters and induction bar edge heaters for hot strip mills, combining metallurgical process know-how with expertise in designing and self-manufacturing equipment.
• Danieli IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanieli India Limited (DIL) is a fully owned subsidiary of Danieli & C. with Indian headquarters in Kolkata and branch offices in Mumbai and Chennai. The state-of-the-art factory in Sri City manufactures all critical mechanical equipment for steel plant applications as per DANIELI design, engineering and stringent quality standards.
• Danieli ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanieli China is one of the most important engineering, manufacturing and R&D centers of the Danieli Group in Asia, located in Changshu near Shanghai. Backed by an expert team in Automation Engineering with quick response in automation software design for PLC, Scada-based systems and Level 2 process control.
• UNIUD LAB VILLAGE (University of Udine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIGI&MET Laboratory is a multidisciplinary research center of Danieli Automation housed at the UNIUD LAB VILLAGE. The center works in close contact with the university, combining advanced research and know-how in metals manufacturing process in fields of advanced automation, robotics, process control, numerical modelling, artificial intelligence, and power electronics.
• Italian and Foreign Universities and Polytechnic InstitutescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanieli Academy establishes structured partnerships with universities, polytechnic institutes and research centers as part of its mission to strengthen organizational culture through innovation and skill development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB (Process Industries): ABB provides process automation, drives (ACS), and control systems widely used in steel and metals plants (ABB Ability System 800xA). Its metal-industry offering competes directly with Danieli Automation's Level 1/2 controls, QDRIVE drives, and Q-ONE power electronics.
• Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric's AVEVA and EcoStruxure platforms provide MES/SCADA competing with Q3-Manufacturing, and its drives portfolio overlaps with Danieli's QDRIVE. Schneider is a broad automation incumbent serving many verticals versus Danieli's metals focus.
• Honeywell Process Solutions: Honeywell's Experion/Forge platform competes with Q3-Manufacturing in metals plant MES and advanced process control. Honeywell brings broader cross-industry scale and connected plant software but has a less metals-specialized footprint than Danieli Automation.
• Emerson (DeltaV / Ovation): Emerson's DeltaV/Ovation distributed control and PACSystems compete with Danieli's Level 1/2 control offerings in metals plants. Emerson is a broad process automation incumbent, while Danieli is specialized in metallurgical process control.
• Siemens (Digital Industries / Metals): Siemens is a broad industrial automation incumbent whose SIMATIC PCS 7/SCADA and MES offerings compete with Danieli Automation's Q3-Manufacturing stack in metals plants. Both serve steel producers with PLC, drives, and process automation, but Siemens spans many verticals versus Danieli's metals specialization.

Emerging players

• Cognex Corporation: Cognex provides machine vision and industrial barcode reading used for surface inspection and dimensional control — overlapping with Danieli's proprietary sensor and machine vision applications (e.g., profile gauges, X-ray, optical detection) for steel processing lines.

Direct peers

• SMS group: SMS group is a German-based direct peer offering mechanical equipment, electrical and automation systems for steel and non-ferrous metals plants. SMS competes with Danieli Automation on turnkey metallurgical plant projects and process automation packages for flat and long products.
• Mitsubishi Electric (e-F@ctory): Mitsubishi Electric's e-F@ctory and MELSEC platforms compete in metals plant automation, drives, and SCADA. It serves similar steel and aluminum customers with integrated control solutions, particularly in Asia where Danieli also operates.
• Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation's Logix/FactoryTalk platform competes with Danieli Automation in PLC, SCADA, and plant-level control for metals processing. While Rockwell serves many industries, its process automation and drives portfolio overlaps with Danieli's QDRIVE and Level 2 systems.
• Primetals Technologies: Primetals Technologies (formerly Siemens Metals Technologies/VAI) is a direct peer, providing turnkey equipment, electrical and automation systems for steelmaking, continuous casting, and rolling mills. Both companies compete head-to-head on integrated plant contracts for steel producers globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danieli-digi-met
• Instagraminstagram.com/danieligroup

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Danieli Automation