Thyssenkrupp chooses Primetals for major modernisation

Thyssenkrupp Steel has awarded a major revamp and new-build contracts for core units at its plants in Duisburg and Bochum to Primetals Technologies.

The projected technology upgrades are part of the steelmaker’s “Strategy 20-30” campaign, an investment in the high three-digit million-euro range (see Kallanish 10 February). The centrepiece of the campaign is the separation of the casting-rolling line at Duisburg’s Bruckhausen plant into a new continuous caster and hot strip mill with new key components. The switch from the existing casting section of the casting-rolling line to the new continuous caster will be carried out from September 2023.

At the Beeckerwerth plant, which is a different section of the larger Duisburg complex, continuous caster 3 is to replace the existing continuous caster 1, to provide improved surface quality. It will be built, after the revamp of the casting-rolling line, in 2024.

At the Bochum mill, a new double reversing stand is to significantly enhance the site’s capabilities for non-oriented electrical steel. With its back and forth reversing action, the mill will be able to roll particularly thin materials. This is particularly important for sheet used in electric motors and generators because it minimises magnetic losses.

The plan is for the new and revamped units to be installed with minimum disruption to production, the partners say in a press release.

Christian Koehl Germany