America Has A Steel Start-Up. Yes, Really - EP 47 Laureen Meroueh

In this episode of Core Memory, Ashlee Vance interviews Laureen Meroueh, the founder of Hertha Metals, about her innovative approach to steel manufacturing. Meroueh details how Hertha Metals is revolutionizing the industry by making steel in a single step using natural gas instead of coal, which reduces costs and emissions. She explains the traditional four-step steelmaking process and how her company's FlexHERS technology streamlines it while also being more flexible in the types of iron ore it can use. The discussion covers the potential for reindustrialization in the US, the challenges of scaling up new technologies in a capital-intensive industry, and the importance of securing domestic supply chains for materials like rare earth magnets. Meroueh also shares her personal journey, the inspiration behind the company's name, and her vision for revitalizing the US steel industry.