A new Era of Rail Production

On January 31—5 days ahead of the schedule announced in November last year—, the hot commissioning of voestalpine’s new rail rolling mill in Leoben-Donawitz, Austria took place. The total investment in the new plant, which represents the world’s most modern rail rolling mill, amounted to EUR 66 million. It offers unique technologies like “ultra-flexible rolling” (UFR) which allows for just-in-time production of rails, in addition to a further considerable reduction of tolerances. The rail rolling mill has been built together with the Italian plant supplier Danieli.
The first rails produced have been in UIC 60 section, all from the very beginning within the tough rail tolerances. “We are very happy about this success, we have precisely realized what we have announced,” says Hans Pfeiler, Chairman of the Managing Board of voestalpine Schienen GmbH. “Our team has worked in close cooperation with the Danieli experts day and night from the shut-down of the old mill 2 months ago. Following a detailed activity plan, the old line has been removed and replaced by the new mill in a record time. We can actually say that with the successful start of hot operation, a new era of rail production has just begun. The customer benefit is more than ever in the center of all our activities.”

voestalpine Schienen GmbH, a company of the Division Railway Systems of the listed voestalpine AG, is the leading producer of rails in Europe. Based on advanced technologies (such as the largest available family of premium rail steel grades), comprehensive system competence (for example life-cycle cost strategies) and target-focused service orientation, voestalpine has a worldwide reputation for leadership in customer benefit.