Marcegaglia to revamp Sheffield mill, boost output
Marcegaglia’s Stainless division in the UK is set to enhance the productivity of its Sheffield mini-mill through a strategic modernisation investment carried out by Primetals, Kallanish learns from the equipment maker.
A Marcegaglia spokesperson confirms the company will increase output when the revamp is completed, going from the current 300,000 tonnes to 500,000-550,000 t/year.
Marcegaglia has ordered a latest generation electric arc furnace to replace the existing unit, along with a de-dusting system, the representative confirms. The revamp will include an extensive automation upgrade, which Primetals will execute in three phases for immediate, medium-term, and long-term modernisation.
The equipment maker conducted a Through-Process Optimization (TPO) study, a detailed analysis of Sheffield’s steelmaking process, identifying bottlenecks and improvement measures.
The supply includes the optimisation of several systems, including a scrap yard supervisor producing cost-optimised scrap recipes, visualising process data, and recording loading. It will also receive intelligent sensors, such as a scrap basket profile, EAF Optimiser, AOD Optimiser, and LF Optimiser.
“As a first step, Primetals Technologies will install Melt Expert, a fully automated electrode control system for electric arc and ladle furnaces. Mid-term plans include the implementation of process optimisation software (Level 2) for the electric arc furnace (EAF), argon-oxygen decarburization (AOD), and ladle furnace (LF) plants, all of which are currently missing from the automation landscape. Long-term plans include the replacement of the electric arc furnace to accommodate the future productivity increase … The ultimate goal is to increase productivity, which will require introducing an additional production shift,” Primetals says in a note.
According to Marcegaglia, works will start as soon as possible in 2025 and be completed potentially by end-2026.
Natalia Capra France
Marcegaglia is set to double stainless production at its site in Fagersta, Sweden
Marcegaglia Fagersta Stainless announced a Eur100million investment to double the company’s production volumes in the coming years, the company said on Nov. 6 during its 150th anniversary.
In Sweden, Marcegaglia produces around 60,000 mt of wire rod and aims to double its total production with the bar and stainless wire rod production.
“This strategic investment will expand our product offering to include a full range of stainless steel wire rod, bar, as well as rolled billets,” the company said. “The project, set to roll out over the next few years, positions Fagersta Stainless for continued growth, efficiency and sustainability in the global stainless steel Long Products market.”
At the end of September, Antonio Marcegaglia, chairman and CEO of Italy’s Marcegaglia Group, already anticipated to S&P Global Commodity Insights that the group was considering a “significant” project to expand capacity at its Fagersta site.
Fagersta Stainless generates approximately Eur160 million in turnover and employs about 250 people. Marcegaglia acquired Fagersta in 2023 as part of its purchase of the stainless steel products division of Outokumpu.
Platts, part Commodity Insights, assessed European 18-8 stainless steel scrap solids at Eur1,1170/mt on Nov. 1 on a CIF Rotterdam basis, stable on the day and up Eur10 on the week.
The 18-8 stainless steel scrap clips and solids are a commonly used reference for the grade-304 stainless steel scrap. The scrap contains a minimum of 16% chrome content and minimum of 7% nickel content.
Acciaierie d’Italia revives shipping fleet, Marcegaglia shows interest
Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI)’s special administration is resuming logistics operations and investing in the rehabilitation of the company’s shipping fleet. The goal is to improve the efficiency, reliability, and competitiveness of the steelmaker’s activities on the national and international markets, Kallanish learns from the company.
A mission to restore the most strategic ships has begun, with the Gemma vessel resuming navigation and commercial activity earlier this week. The ship had been stranded in Singapore for more than three years, since 2020. “Due to a lack of maintenance and expired class certificates, all five ships in the fleet, as well as the eight floating units, were both stationary and inactive. We quickly implemented a focused recovery plan, prioritising strategic units,” Angelo Colucci, ADI director of logistics, supply chain and maritime services, says in a note.
While other vessels are undergoing maintenance, the fleet’s flagship, the 30,000-tonne Ursa Minor, will set sail again this week. It will transport finished and semi-finished products, including coil, from Taranto to ADI’s northern Italian facilities via the port of Genoa.
Meanwhile, earlier this summer, representatives from trading company Steel Mont, Metinvest, Oman-based Vulcan Green Steel (VGS), and Canada’s Stelco conducted visits with a view to acquiring ADI’s mills in Genova, Novi Ligure, and Taranto. Marcegaglia, the Italian steelmaker and re-roller, has recently shown interest in participating in the race and may submit a letter of interest by 20 September, the submission deadline. According to an informed source, the re-roller may only be interested in parts of ADI’s assets, specifically the tube mills and one of the northern Italian re-rolling plants.
Unions are insisting the government keeps a shareholding in Acciaierie d’Italia to guarantee the steelmaker’s correct management. “This concrete monitoring activity is essential to avoid what happened in the past with ArcelorMittal, which was able to act undisturbed, in violation of agreements and rules, precisely because of an almost absent state,” the USB unions note.
ADI aims to produce between 1.9-2.2 million tonnes of steel this year. Based on the most recent update of the relaunch plan communicated to workers, the special commissioners have set a target to restart blast furnace No.1 in October. In 2025, around January or February, BF No.2 will also be restarted. Production will be assured by BFs Nos.1, 2, and 4 by the first quarter of 2026. In 2025, the plant is projected to reach a capacity of 4.5-5m t/y.
Taranto is currently utilising BF. No 4 for operations. BF. No.5 has been inactive for a number of years, while Nos.1 and 2 ceased production a few months ago.
Natalia Capra France
Marcegaglia to invest in slab caster, coil mill
Italian steel producer Marcegaglia will take over French specialty steelmaker Ascometal, including its Fos-sur-Mer plant, where it will invest €600mn ($652mn) to expand an electric arc furnace (EAF), and build a slab caster and hot-rolling mill.
A ruling today by the Strasbourg judicial court officiated Marcegaglia as the buyer of the troubled steelmaker, which was undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
Marcegaglia plans to increase the output of the EAF to 1mn-1.2mn t/yr. A hot-rolled coil plant will be built with a capacity of 1.6mn-2mn t/yr, which will be supplied by a new continuous slab caster, to replace existing ingot production.
The site will then meet 30pc of Marcegaglia’s steel requirements.
“This important acquisition is part of the group’s global strategy, with the aim of integrating the entire value chain into our production. The grand port of Marseille is located in a strategic position in terms of raw materials and logistics,” company owners Antonio and Emma Marcegaglia said.
This is a key acquisition and expansion for the Italian re-roller, especially in the context of the European Commission’s proposal this week to further restrict imports of hot-rolled coils (HRC) – of which Marcegaglia is the biggest buyer in Europe. The EC plans to introduce a 15pc limit to each importing country’s access to the “other countries” HRC quota.
