Book excerpt: This unique book presents an in-depth analysis of all the emerging ironmaking processes, supplementing the conventional blast furnace method. Various processes for producing solid and liquid iron are discussed, including important features such as process outline, techno-economics, and process fundamentals. The present global status of each process is examined, projections for the future are made, and processes are compared. Beyond the Blast Furnace is valuable reading for process developers, because it gives them a complete picture of various process options. Conventional iron- and steelmakers as well as researchers and practitioners working in the area of alternative processes of ironmaking will also benefit from this ready reference. The book is an ideal text for undergraduate and postgraduate students in metallurgy.