Special steel plant

The world’s most modern special steel plant

In the last few weeks, after five years of construction, the first melting in the electric arc furnace was successfully carried out in the new stainless steel plant. This means that the process from melting the scrap in the electric arc furnace to pouring the molten steel into the molds could be carried out for the first time. This step marks an important milestone in the hot commissioning of the new stainless steel plant. Over the next few months, further tests will be carried out and process steps optimized to ensure a stable production process in the future. With this state-of-the-art plant, which will produce special steels for the international aerospace, oil and gas, automotive and toolmaking industries, we are setting a technological milestone here at the site in terms of automation and sustainability.

New standards in digitalization

The ultra-modern system sets international standards in terms of digitized production processes. Around 8,000 pieces of process data are continuously recorded, converted and evaluated in parallel. The high level of digitalization requires highly trained specialists to control the machines and evaluate the data. An in-house competence center for digitalization is responsible for training employees in the areas of robotics, sensor technology and data analysis. In total, the new special steel plant will secure around 3,500 jobs at the voestalpine sites in Kapfenberg and Mürzzuschlag, Styria.

Use of sustainable future technologies

Another focus is on environmentally friendly and resource-saving steel production. The new special steel plant sets new global benchmarks in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency. This investment is therefore also a key component of the overall sustainability strategy. The electric arc furnace – the heart of the plant – is powered 100 percent by electricity from renewable energy sources. Thanks to closed cooling circuits, the amount of cooling water required can be reduced by up to 90 percent. In addition, an efficient recovery system ensures that the heat generated is reused within the plant and fed into the public district heating network.

Following the commissioning of the new plant, the existing plant will be shut down.

Technology & innovation leader “Most modern special steel plant in the world”

The special steel plant at the voestalpine Group company BÖHLER Edelstahl in Kapfenberg will be the most modern plant in the world. It is intended to further expand voestalpine’s leading international position as a technology and capital goods group with high-end products for the most demanding customer segments.