After around two years of construction and assembly work, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe has implemented major strategic investments at the Duisburg location. With the core facilities now completed, Germany's largest steelmaker has modernized and optimized its production network at key interfaces.
The new continuous casting line 4, the extensively modernized hot strip mill 4 with two new walking beam furnaces, and fully automated slab logistics are at the center of the major project. The modernisation was carried out by plant manufacturer Primetals. This means Thyssenkrupp Steel possesses one of the most modern plant networks in the European steel industry. The new units will replace the 20-year-old casting rolling line as a means of meeting increasing customer expectations and satisfying the highest material requirements in the future. At around 800 million euros, this is one of the largest investment projects in the history of thyssenkrupp Steel.
Dennis Grimm, CEO of thyssenkrupp Steel, emphasizes: "This project is a decisive milestone in strengthening our leadership in technological and quality terms, while meeting the increasing expectations of our customers. Despite a very challenging economic environment, we are able to invest around 800 million euros to further improve our competitive position. This is a strong signal for steel and the Duisburg location. The future is being created here."
High-tech facilities for stable processes and high-quality customer supply
The new units are located at the interface between upstream operations and hot strip production, making them a core feature of the integrated production network in the northern part of Duisburg. According to Thyssenkrupp steel, the reconfiguration that has now been completed will not only raise quality by increasing casting and rolling capacities, but will also improve capacity utilization of the upstream basic oxygen steelmaking plant 1. This will increase the overall performance of the production network even more at a central point – with lasting positive effects on the security of supply for customers, the company said.
The new continuous casting line 4 replaces the casting section of the old casting rolling line and will ensure flexible and efficient slab production with high levels of precision. The system is also characterized by enhanced degrees of purity, improved shape accuracy, and surface quality.
The downstream hot strip mill 4, which is designed for around 3 million metric tons and underwent extensive modernization, has been equipped with two new walking beam furnaces that ensure more precise rolling accuracy and, above all, optimized surface quality. State-of-the-art control systems ensure the narrowest thickness tolerances, while optimized cooling processes further improve the material properties of the hot strip. The mill-edged slabs used can also be produced in significantly more flexible dimensions while allowing for an expanded product range, for example with regard to high-strength grades as well as dynamo and transformer steels.
The completely newly created slab logistics represents the link between the two units. It ensures fully automated, largely digital process handling. State-of-the-art control systems allow around 1.7 million metric tons per year to be synchronized in real time. This ensures maximum flexibility and efficiency in the process flow within the new system network.
According to the company, all new systems are characterized by a high degree of automation and state-of-the-art con-trol systems, for example enabling real-time monitoring of the production press through the use of digital twins. This also serves to ensure consistent and continuously optimized product quality.
The major investment will also strengthen the entire integrated site in the north of Duisburg, repositioning Thyssenkrupp Steel efficiently and gearing up the business to overcome future challenges, the company said.
Dennis Grimm: "The new linked plant components are a rejuvenation treatment for key elements of our production network. We now possess one of the most modern production networks in the European steel industry. This will enable us to optimize our slab and hot strip qualities significantly with the aim of further developing our product portfolio in line with future requirements, particularly in the case of multi-phase steels, high-strength steels, and grades for electric mobility and the energy turnaround. With a more value-oriented portfolio, we can sustainably strengthen our earnings quality in the long term while expanding our competitive position. Additionally, we will provide our customers with the products that help them in their competitive environment."
Source: Thyssenkrupp Steel
