Abstract: The development of the rotary hearth furnace (RHF) ironmaking process at home and abroad was introduced. Emphasis was paid on elucidating the achievement and experience on the course of the research on RHF technology by University of Science and Technology Beijing. Based on chinese conditions and policies, the combined process of RHF pre-reduction and melting-gasifying furnace should be considered as the orienta-tion to develop RHF technology, which should be mainly applied to supplying hot metal to EAF, recovery of dust from these iron and steel plants, and comprehensive utilization of special ores etc.