Voestalpine Invests €350 Million to Build Special Steel Plant in Kapfenberg

Specifications:

Name:

Voestalpine Invests €350 Million to Build Special Steel Plant in Kapfenberg

Location:

Austria

Company:

Voestalpine

Estimated Cost:

Source:

Introduction:

Voestalpine AG to invest EUR 330 to 350 million and designed to supply the most demanding customer segments, will be erected in Kapfenberg, Austria.

Features:

The major investment by the High Performance Metals Division of the voestalpine Group marks a technological milestone in the manufacture of pioneering high-performance steels for the international aerospace, automotive, and oil & gas industries.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be held in 2018, replacing the current Böhler special steel plant in Kapfenberg. Another important factor in deciding to locate in Kapfenberg was the outstanding metallurgical research environment, as well as the available infrastructure, and proximity to important customers.

With the high-tech plant it will be possible to fully automate the production of tool steels and special steels for the most sophisticated applications. They are the starting materials for processing into extremely high-load-bearing and weight-saving aircraft parts, robust tools for the automotive industry, equipment for the demanding conditions of oil and gas exploration, and for manufacturing components using 3D printing.

The new plant will also be the global benchmark for environmental and energy efficiency. Closed cooling water circuits and efficient heat recovery and de-dusting systems help to conserve resources and minimize emissions. At the core of the plant is an electric arc furnace, operated using electricity generated from 100 percent renewable sources, which melts down ultra-pure scrap and alloys into liquid materials. The production capacity is around 205,000 tons of high-performance steels a year.

The voestalpine AG’s High Performance Metals Division is focused on producing and processing high-performance materials and customer-specific services including heat treatment, high-tech surface treatments, and additive manufacturing processes.

It will replace the existing plant from 2021. Securing around 3,000 jobs in Styria.

Specifications:

Source:voestalpine.com