Industeel Belgium, part of the ArcelorMittal Group, has commissioned SMS group to modernize its walking beam furnace at the Charleroi plate mill, aiming to cut fossil fuel consumption by around 25pct. Installed in 1969, the furnace reheats steel plates for further processing and will now be upgraded for greater energy efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.
The revamp includes complete furnace relining, installation of a high-performance heat recuperator, and integration of SMS’s RADFlame HY2 and flat flame roof burners, along with the X-Pact Prometheus combustion control system. The new burners allow flexible operation with natural gas and up to 70pct hydrogen, reducing CO2 and NOx emissions while improving heating consistency.
Premium refractory materials and advanced air preheating will further optimize energy use and product quality. SMS tailored the design using 3D scanning and modeling to ensure minimal downtime during installation.
The modernization is scheduled for completion in summer 2026, with work to be carried out during a six-week maintenance shutdown to minimize production disruption.
