UMB Steel will restart its Otelu Rosu plant in Romania with the development of a new meltshop, supported by technology supplier Sarralle, as part of a project focused on modern, energy-efficient steelmaking.
The Bucharest-based company acquired the facility, which has been idle for 12 years, and plans to combine existing assets with advanced technologies to enhance productivity and sustainability.
Sarralle will supply and integrate mechanical, electrical and automation systems for the meltshop, which is designed to produce around 700,000 tons per year of rebar, wire rod and compact coils for construction applications.
The plant will feature an electric arc furnace (EAF) equipped with KR-MELT scrap preheating technology, enabling continuous feeding, improved energy efficiency and enhanced emissions control through a fully enclosed system.
Additional equipment, including ladle furnaces, a vacuum degasser and a high-capacity fume extraction system, will support improved steel quality, operational flexibility and environmental performance.
The Otelu Rosu site is one of Romania’s oldest industrial facilities, originally established as a forge in 1796. It developed into a major metallurgical centre in the 19th century, commissioning its first rolling mill in 1842 and an open-hearth furnace in 1891. In recent decades, the plant experienced prolonged instability marked by repeated ownership changes and financial difficulties. Its outlook shifted in early 2024, when the facility was acquired by UMB Steel, paving the way for renewed investment and modernization.
