Dates:

Ad closing date: 20 February| Printing material: 22 February| Publication date: 11 March

Steel technology

Clean steel production: vacuum-tank degassing wins on RH process
Primary steelmaking transition, shortage or limited availability of the best raw materials for the electric arc furnace process – together with maximized flexibility to produce a wide range of different high-quality steel grades, at production costs – are key for a proper choice of secondary steelmaking technology. Compared to the RH process, vacuum-tank degassing offers better performances in desulfurization and nitrogen removal, and allows raw material flexibility, at lower efforts for investment and less operational expenditure.

HBIS starts up slab caster utilized for green automotive-exposed steel
Chinese steel producer HBIS XuanHua has set out to produce low carbon steel for the automotive industry. The company chose a 1-strand continuous slab caster as the main mechanical scope and a comprehensive automation solution. Supplied by Primetals Technologies the new plant started up two weeks ahead of schedule.

Interim results for a new roll grinding machine at ESW after two years of operation
In 2023, the Austrian ironworks Eisenwerk Sulzau-Werfen (ESW) put into operation a new ultragrind roll grinder. The new machine processes rolls of up to 10,000 mm length, 1,850 mm in diameter and with gross weights of up to 60 t. In addition, it is used to grind the faces and rotating surfaces of spin-casting moulds. The results after almost two years of operation show a significant increase in productivity combined with lower costs.

Colakoğlu Metalurji modernises hot strip mill to expand its product portfolio
The Turkish steel manufacturer is investing to enter the market for wear-resistant steels. The latest technology upgrade for the hot strip mill ensures a stable and almost autonomous rolling process, improves product quality and reduces maintenance costs in the finishing line.  Now that the laminar cooling section and the coiler have been modernised, the 1,850-millimetre hot strip mill will produce wear-resistant steels in future, which will be used, for example, to manufacture truck beds, excavator shovels and for applications in the mining industry.

Sequence Impulse Hydrogen research project for the decarbonisation of blast furnaces
A research project dedicated to carbon reduction in the iron and steel industry has received research funding totalling 1.8 million euros from the European Union via the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). The programme aims to develop a process that uses SIP technology to inject hydrogen into the blast furnace shaft. Additional funding contributed by the research partners will increase the total value of the project to 3.5 million euros.

TWINGHY project to promote hydrogen gas in industry
TWINGHY, a project co-funded by the EU, mainly aims to introduce hydrogen as a fuel to replace natural gas in reheating furnaces in the steel sector. The project will develop a digital twin to control furnace behaviour and optimize the hydrogen combustion process. By combining simulation and experimentation, the project aims to provide a deeper understanding of how the technology performs, safety aspects and environmental impact, to facilitate informed decision-making and promote the transition to sustainable energy practices.

A better inspection system increases efficiency in the production of rolled sections and tubes
Since the introduction of a new inline measuring system in the production lines, Store Steel Slovenia has been able to reduce technical downtime by just over 2%. The greatest savings were achieved in the set-up of the rolling stands during product changeovers. With the new contour measuring capabilities of the inline measuring system, operators can bring production to the desired tolerance faster, minimising the time and material waste associated with set-up. As a result, Store Steel has been able to significantly increase production capacity, generating millions in additional revenue.

Steel Distribution

Logistics company launches short-distance steel delivery with electric trucks in Sweden
The Scandinavian steel group SSAB Europe and the Swedish road haulage company Kuljettava Oy are working together on the electrification of heavy goods transport. Charging stations for HGVs have been installed at the SSAB plant in Hämeenlinna, and Kuljettava Oy has invested in two fully electric Scania trucks. In early January 2025, deliveries of steel products by electric trucks began to customers within a radius of up to 100 km from the Hämeenlinna plant.

Steel Processing

Production of electrical steel strip for energy-efficient electric motors
The commissioning of the new annealing and isolating line in Bochum, Germany is an important milestone for thyssenkrupp Steel Europe. The plant enables the steel company to produce high-grade non-grain-oriented electrical steel strip (NGO steel). This product is characterized by its special magnetic properties and low core losses, which are crucial for energy-efficient motors, generators, and applications in the electromobility sector. The technological core of the new line is the combined heat treatment and coating process in continuous operation.

and much more

Fairs | Exhibitions | Events

LogiMat Stuttgart/Germany - March 11-13, 2025
HANOVER fair/Hanover/Germany - March 31-April 4, 2025
IESSS, Achen/Germany - April 2025
Stainless, Brno/Czech Republic - April 2-3, 2025
Tube & Steel, Istanbul/Turkey - April 9-12, 2025