Primetals and voestalpine reach milestone in largest transition program
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – In January 2024, voestalpine awarded Primetals Technologies a contract to supply and implement an EAF Ultimate electric arc furnace at its site in Linz, Austria. The project has now achieved an important milestone with the delivery by ship of several major pieces of core equipment to Linz, including the transformers, each weighing approximately 160 tons, and the electric arc furnace shell. Civil and construction work began in late 2024 and is progressing on schedule.
Austria’s Largest Green Initiative
greentec steel is the clear strategy of the globally leading steel and technology group voestalpine for the transformation of its steel production: in the first step of this phased approach, one electric arc furnace (EAF) powered by green electricity will be built at each of the sites in Linz and Donawitz, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2029.
This corresponds to annual savings of almost 4 million tons of CO2, or nearly 5 percent of national emissions. That makes greentec steel Austria’s largest climate protection program.
“In every green steel transition program, strong partnerships and collaboration are critical success factors. Effective and timely project execution is instrumental, and this is something we at Primetals Technologies take pride in achieving,” said Paul Pennerstorfer, Head of Upstream Technologies at Primetals Technologies.
“voestalpine’s EAF Ultimate is no exception—the project is progressing as planned, marking important milestones along the way. Most importantly, staying on track means voestalpine is moving closer each day to realizing its vision of decarbonized steel production.”
EAF Ultimate: Maximum Performance in Quantity and Quality
Powered by green electricity, the EAF in Linz will produce 1.6 million tons of steel annually and is scheduled for startup in the first half of 2027. Primetals Technologies is supplying the complete EAF Ultimate equipment, a dedusting system, a waste-heat recovery system, a power supply solution, and material handling for alloying materials and additives.
The order also includes full Level 1 and Level 2 automation, a power supply system featuring a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) for optimized grid stabilization, and the LiquiRob robotic system, as part of a wide array of automation solutions, enhancing efficiency and occupational safety.
The advanced Level 2 automation system will enable superior process control and allow for precise calculation of the plant’s carbon footprint
Aluminium Duffel reopens recycling furnace in Belgium
Aluminium Duffel has reopened its Greenmelt recycling furnace in Duffel, Belgium. During an event at the site earlier today (September 23rd), Rafael Carbonell, Aluminium Duffel CEO, officially started the furnace in the presence of numerous stakeholders.
Catherine Goos, VP Business Planning and R&D at Aluminium Duffel, said: “The future of aluminium will be built through innovation, recycling, and collaboration across the value chain.
“This event is an opportunity to show our customers and suppliers the progress we are making in Duffel, and to work together on the opportunities ahead.”
Aluminium Duffel already incorporates internal production scraps and pre-consumer scrap into its production process.
The investment aligns with the growing demand for aluminium with a lower carbon footprint and supports the broader transition to a more circular economy.
In addition, Aluminium Duffel said it marked an important milestone as the company celebrates its 80th anniversary.
