Salzgitter AG aims to completely convert its production over to low-carbon steel manufacture by 2033. On its gradual move towards this final objective, until then the company needs to secure its basic pig iron supply. To this end, Blast Furnace A, originally commissioned in 1977, was completely overhauled up to the beginning of 2024 – or relined, as it’s called in the steel industry. This isn’t the first time the blast furnace, with an annual capacity of around two million tons of pig iron, has been relined. It will be the last time, however; with the firing up in January it began its final production cycle before steel production by blast furnace ultimately comes to an end.
For instance, the refractory lining was renewed with 3,000 tons of carbon brick and other refractory materials. Its complex process and control technology was also brought into line with the state of the art. The measures cost just over €100 million – a sound investment that will enable Salzgitter to complete the next steps in its SALCOS® transformation program (Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking) based on a secure basic supply of pig iron.
