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greentec steel Construction Site News: Voices from the Project Team

22 April 2025 | 

The progress at our greentec steel construction site is clearly visible, and the electric arc furnace is taking shape. In the following, our greentec steel masterminds, Jan Abl and Fred Wolbart, reflect on key moments and share with us what they’ll be focusing on in the coming months.

What has been the biggest challenge so far in terms of planning and construction activities?

Finalizing the design before hiring subcsidiariesfor building services and determining the layout took a lot of time and was a real challenge. Looking back, submitting and receiving the building permits on time—all within a tight schedule—was also a major challenge.

“Breaking down” the overall scope into individual “construction packages” required a lot of conceptual work, and there were many factors to consider.

And the overall scheduling, including all trades, was also accompanied by a great deal of deliberation, coordination, and meetings—everything had to be watertight. Completing the basic engineering also took a lot of time and mental effort.

What went “faster” than originally anticipated?

The formation of the project team and, generally, the progress of our construction activities.

What were the “key milestones”?

The awarding of the plant engineering contract, the awarding of the construction and steelwork packages, and the approval of the overall schedule including all trades.

How is the collaboration with external companies going?

Very well; there’s nothing but positive things to report: Currently, there are approximately 200 to 250 employees on our construction site, as well as about 100 internal and external experts in the program team.

One gets the impression that the entire team is highly motivated…

…Yes, there’s a strong sense of commitment and determination among everyone; everyone is working with motivation toward the big common goal! It feels great to see the strong team spirit and the willingness to support one another.

What’s on your mind right now?

We’re currently focused on the next few months leading up to the start of equipment installation: The key here is to meet important milestones—that is, handover deadlines.

And what are the main tasks ahead for the coming months?

The contracts for plant, piping, and electrical installation are about to be awarded; construction site activities will continue, team-building activities will be carried on, and the detailed engineering will also be completed.