Sensors, algorithms, and intelligent control systems are transforming traditional production halls into interactive communication networks: This allows deviations to be monitored, resources to be conserved, and quality to be improved.
With an eye to a livable future, greentec steel is turning the world of steel production upside down. greentec steel means that, as a first step, we produce our steel using electric arc furnaces (EAF) powered by green electricity and a high proportion of steel scrap from the circular economy. The integration of the two EAFs enables us to electrify energy-intensive processes and thus save around 30% in CO2emissions by 2029. The technological switch to the EAF route is currently the largest climate protection program in Austria. At the same time, steel production is being transformed into a new smart working environment full of new fields of action and diverse opportunities. This is being achieved through the fine-meshed collection and networking of data from the entire production process and upstream and downstream processes.
From 2027, we will commission one green electricity-powered electric arc furnace at each of our sites in Linz and Donawitz. With every partial success and interim result of this major project, we are one step closer to realizing a forward-looking transformation in steel production – right at the forefront of technological development.
A major technological challenge in the transition to green steel production is ensuring that we can use electric arc furnace technology to produce the high-quality steel grades that our customers in the automotive, aviation, and medical technology industries around the world value. In the current project phase, the teams are working on researching the best “recipes” for green steel grades under the new manufacturing conditions and with the available raw materials scrap, hot briquetted iron (HBI), and molten pig iron. With the increased scrap content in the electric arc furnace (EAF) between 30, 40, or 50 percent, the accompanying elements contained therein (copper, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, tin) can influence the mechanical and technological properties (e.g., yield strength, tensile strength, toughness, etc.). We currently use approximately 25% scrap.
As part of the switch to the EAF route, we are digitizing the entire steel manufacturing process, not only the metallurgical processes, but also the entire planning, monitoring, and control of the production process, including internal logistics and transport to our customers. Digitally networked and precisely documented, we can keep an eye on all processes and quickly make any necessary adjustments.
Continuous monitoring and control of all raw material supply chains in real time enables intelligent just-in-time delivery of raw materials.
This changed environment is giving rise to additional and new professions, as the new process requires people who can handle, control, and maintain the digital processes.
With greentec steel, we are not only making an important contribution to providing our global customers with high-quality steel products with a lower carbon footprint. We are also creating exciting digital career fields with many professional opportunities in this environment. For our shared livable world of tomorrow, we are striving for steel production with net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Die voestalpine ist ein weltweit führender Stahl- und Technologiekonzern mit kombinierter Werkstoff- und Verarbeitungskompetenz. Die global tätige Unternehmensgruppe verfügt über rund 500 Konzerngesellschaften und -standorte in mehr als 50 Ländern auf allen fünf Kontinenten. Sie notiert seit 1995 an der Wiener Börse. Mit ihren Premium-Produkt- und Systemlösungen zählt sie zu den führenden Partnern der Automobil- und Hausgeräteindustrie sowie der Luftfahrt- und Öl- & Gasindustrie und ist darüber hinaus Weltmarktführer bei Bahninfrastruktursystemen, bei Werkzeugstahl und Spezialprofilen. Die voestalpine bekennt sich zu den globalen Klimazielen und verfolgt mit greentec steel einen klaren Plan zur Dekarbonisierung der Stahlproduktion.
