AMU
June 18, 2026
Final Thoughts: Two for one
Written by David Schollaert
We’re just in the early stages of summer, but before you know it, the dog days will be in full effect, and we’ll be just weeks away from the flat-rolled steel industry descending on Atlanta.
More than 800 steel industry professionals from nearly 300 companies and over 15 countries have already registered to attend the SMU Steel Summit this August.
Our agenda is taking final shape, but we’ve added even more content to equip steel professionals at every level to navigate what’s next. And more speakers are confirmed daily.
Highlights from the agenda include:
- A dynamic service center panel with Jodi Parnell, Ilse Henne, and Geoff Gilmore
- The outlook for steel with Josh Spoores, Timna Tanners, and John Anton
- Fireside Chats with leaders from SA Recycling, Ryerson, SDI, Zekelman, Nucor, and more
- Keynote by Lawrence D. Burns on how the future of automobiles could impact the steel industry
- Economic outlooks with Dr. Anirban Basu and Taylor St. Germain
But wait, there’s more. We’re bringing more excitement, insights, and content this year than ever before!
AMU Aluminum Summit
If you haven’t heard, SMU’s nonferrous sister publication, Aluminum Market Update (AMU), and its inaugural Aluminum Summit will join the party in Atlanta this August!
The big can’t-miss annual party just got even better!
It’s what we call: One ticket. Two conferences. One journey to gather insights into steel and aluminum.
Everything you already love and more
The AMU Aluminum Summit will take place alongside the SMU Steel Summit on Aug. 24–26, with a single registration granting attendees access to both events.
Honestly, it’s a no-brainer. As we’ve seen and heard regularly from our service center friends, the synergies are unmistakable, as are the shared industries.
For companies working across mutual end markets such as automotive, construction, appliances, packaging, and transport, this offers broader market insight, stronger networking, and better commercial value from a single trip.
AMU Aluminum Summit is a new, commercially focused conference for the US aluminum market, designed for a time of changing procurement priorities, trade uncertainty, and growing pressure for better downstream market visibility.
Running alongside the market-leading SMU Steel Summit, it creates a distinctive platform for buyers, producers, processors, traders, manufacturers, and service providers whose decisions are shaped by both metals.
With separate agendas for steel and aluminum, attendees can focus on the sessions most relevant to them while benefiting from crossover across the wider industrial metals value chain.
Why attend?
We think it’s simple: get the unparalleled quality and value you’ve come to love and expect from SMU Steel Summit, now also for the US Aluminum market. Not to mention:
- One registration, two conferences
- Separate steel and aluminum agendas
- Networking across both markets
- Broader downstream relevance
- Commercial insight on trade, sourcing, recycling, demand and pricing dynamics
Even if your primary focus is steel, your registration still gives you the full SMU Steel Summit experience with the added opportunity to explore aluminum market developments and make additional connections across related markets.
Again, both conferences run from Monday, Aug. 24, to Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in Atlanta.
Register once—either here for AMU or here for SMU—to attend both Summits, and join us in Atlanta!
We hope to see you there!
