Thyssenkrupp Steel has completed the modernization of continuous slab caster No. 4 at its Duisburg site, with Primetals Technologies issuing the final acceptance certificate in April 2026.
The upgraded two-strand caster has annual capacity of 2.3 mln tons and is designed to improve slab quality and production flexibility, enabling Thyssenkrupp Steel to produce more demanding grades including multi-phase and high-strength steels as well as high-silicon grades for e-mobility applications.
The project separated the former combined casting and rolling line into two units by upgrading the caster and modernizing the hot-strip mill. The change is expected to improve upstream melt shop utilization, process efficiency and flexibility in slab logistics and process control.
The new caster incorporates advanced mold-width adjustment, hydraulic oscillation and automation systems, while its cooling technology enables slabs to reach the required temperature for direct rolling. This can eliminate reheating and reduce energy consumption, while also lowering maintenance requirements.
The project was completed under a tight schedule with minimal disruption to ongoing production. At peak construction, up to 1,000 workers were involved at the site.
The modernization is part of a broader Thyssenkrupp Steel investment programme with Primetals Technologies that includes a reversing cold mill, hot-strip mill and two thick-slab casters.
Thyssenkrupp Steel produces around 11 mln tons of crude steel annually and employs around 26,000 people worldwide. The company aims to produce 5 mln tons of CO2-neutral steel per year by 2030 and achieve climate-neutral production by 2045.
Thyssenkrupp Steel is Germany’s largest flat steel producer, serving the automotive, machinery, packaging and household appliance sectors. The company operates an integrated steelmaking network centered in Duisburg and produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated flat steel, electrical steel and tailored automotive blanks.
