Big River 2: The Mill that Learns
March 25, 2026
What if a steel mill could learn? At Big River Steel Works in Osceola, AR, that future is already unfolding.
In this episode of Steel Stories, host David Kirkpatrick talks with Chris Crowley, CIO of Big River Steel, about how artificial intelligence, thousands of sensors, and autonomous systems are transforming steelmaking.
Big River 2 was designed as a “learning mill”, a facility that continuously analyzes its own data to improve quality, efficiency, and safety in real time. From autonomous coil yards and AI-powered safety monitoring, steel production is entering a new era. The result? A steel mill that doesn’t just produce, it learns.
Listen to the Director's Cut on YouTube to hear Chris share a vision for the future, one where customers can track their steel orders like a pizza delivery and engineers can design entirely new grades of steel using digital simulations: https://youtu.be/cl9e-25hwHI
At Big River Steel, the future is already taking shape.
In this episode of Steel Stories, host David Kirkpatrick sits down with Chris Crowley, CIO of Big River Steel, to explore how AI, real-time data, and thousands of sensors are transforming one of the world’s most traditional industries.
Big River 2 was designed as a “learning mill", facility that continuously analyzes its own performance to improve quality, efficiency, and safety in real time. From autonomous coil yards and predictive maintenance to AI-powered safety systems and digital twins, this is steelmaking reimagined.
Chris shares how AI is helping teams work smarter, reduce manual tasks, and unlock new levels of performance, while also offering a glimpse into the future, where customers can track their steel orders with the same visibility as a pizza delivery.
This isn’t just about technology. It’s about what’s possible when an industry evolves.
Listen to the Director's Cut on YouTube to hear Chris share a vision for the future, one where customers can track their steel orders like a Domino’s pizza and engineers can design entirely new grades of steel using digital simulations: https://youtu.be/cl9e-25hwHI
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