SMS Group has secured a contract to supply a state-of-the-art 185-ton Alternate Current Electric Arc Furnace (AC-EAF) and its auxiliaries to Saarstahl in Volklingen, Germany. This installation supports SHS’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.
Set to be built in a designated brownfield area, this EAF will be one of the world’s strongest, featuring a transformer capacity of 300 MVA. It will handle a flexible mix of up to 100pct scrap or 80pct Cold Direct Reduced Iron (CDRI) and 20pct scrap. With a 9.3-meter shell diameter, the largest ever built by SMS Group, the furnace will have an annual capacity of 1.9 mln tons of liquid steel.
This investment aligns with SHS’s strategy to utilize 70-85pct natural gas and 15-30pct hydrogen as energy sources by 2030, significantly reducing carbon emissions. Phase I will commence in October 2024, with the first heat expected in September 2028, producing various steel grades, including bearing steel and spring steel.
The EAF will incorporate SMS Group’s innovative Condoor slag door, enhancing safety, productivity, energy efficiency, and environmental impact. The system will automate operations, minimize power-off time, and reduce NOx emissions.
Additional features include a comprehensive material handling system, liquid steel handling, water treatment, energy recovery, and advanced X-Pact automation for enhanced operational efficiency. Innovations like X-Pact Sense for leakage detection and Genius CM for predictive maintenance will further improve safety and performance.
