ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel producer, is investing €88 million in modernizing and increasing the competitiveness of its production sites in Germany. The company's four German plants produce over seven million tonnes of steel, accounting for 20% of the group's European crude steel production. The investments include remodeling two strands at the steel mill in Bremen, converting the continuous casting line in Duisburg, improving the pulverized coal injection system at blast furnace 5A in Eisenhüttenstadt, and completing ongoing investments in Hamburg. ArcelorMittal also publishes a sustainability report for its German sites, outlining its progress and objectives for 2015.
For the world's largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal, its sites in Germany remain very important. More than seven million tonnes of steel are produced in the group's four German plants in Bremen, Duisburg, Eisenhüttenstadt and Hamburg – this is about 20 per cent of the group’s European crude steel production. Following investments of €630 million made over the past five years, the group continues investing in the Federal Republic this year. Around €88 million euros will be spent on modernising and increasing the competitiveness of the group’s production sites in Germany. "Germany is a good location for the production of high value added products. With our investments, we aim to further increase the competitiveness of our sites", says Frank Schulz, CEO of ArcelorMittal Germany Holding.
The sites at a glance
Around €10 million will be invested in the remodeling of two strands at the steel mill in Bremen. New modern moulds will be installed – a system that contributes to increasing the performance of the continuous casting plant and also leads to qualitative benefits.
In Duisburg, ArcelorMittal will invest a total of €6.5 million by mid-2015 in the conversion of the continuous casting line to a symmetric format, in order to align the system to the demands of the future and to enhance flexibility for further product segments. Following the construction of the new wire rod mill for €135 million since 2010, the further investment will increase the site’s competitiveness once again, leading to higher flexibility and and new segments in the automotive market.
At the Eisenhüttenstadt site in the federal state of Brandenburg, the group will invest around €34 million this year. This includes a performance improvement of the pulverized coal injection system at blast furnace 5A, the preparation of repairs at the same blast furnace and the installation of a new indoor crane in the hot rolling mill. The modernisation concept at galvanizing line 1 will be continued with a new preheating furnace.
In 2015, numerous ongoing investments will be completed in Hamburg – including a new analyser container in the steel plant, the commissioning of a new charging crane and the construction of an additional wire rod warehouse. Last year, the seal gas compressor in the reduction plant has already been renewed. As a result, the CO2 emissions of energy production in the power plant have been reduced by around 1,700 tonnes. In addition, the power consumption – referring to a production time of 8,100 hours per year – was reduced by three million kilowatt hours per year.
Sustainability report Germany
Beyond continuous investments, ArcelorMittal publishes a sustainability report for its German sites. “This report provides information about our local engagement in Germany. We keep on improving our processes and products as well as our social engagement at our communities”, comments Frank Schulz.
In the brochure, ArcelorMittal Germany describes the progress and developments it made in 2014 with regard to sustainability, as well as outlining its objectives for 2015. This includes modern, energy-efficient facilities as well as a responsible handling of natural resources and employees. Furthermore, the report provides examples of sustainable actions on a local level – for instance in the fields of health and safety or education and training, as well as in a social context or in steel production. The sustainability report is aligned to the core requirements of the internationally recognized standards G4 of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and is available online at http://germany.arcelormittal.com/Nachhaltigkeit/. An English version is planned to follow in May 2015.