Salzgitter Group Commits to Sustainability with €100 Million Investment in Energy Efficient Furnace and Heat Recovery System
(IN BRIEF) The Salzgitter Group is investing a substantial amount in a new walking beam furnace and waste gas heat utilization system at its hot strip mill, aimed at significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The walking beam furnace will reduce energy requirements for slab heating by up to 30%, and the heat recovery system will convert thermal energy into steam for further use across the plant. The project, set to be completed by 2028, is being funded by KfW and marks an important step in the company’s sustainability journey.
(PRESS RELEASE) SALZGITTER, 6-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Salzgitter Group, in partnership with its subsidiary Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, is making a significant investment in the modernization of its hot strip mill. With a triple-digit million euro investment, the company is adding a new walking beam furnace and waste gas heat utilization system. This strategic move will reduce energy consumption and contribute to a decrease in CO2 emissions, marking another key step in Salzgitter’s sustainability efforts.
In these state-of-the-art walking beam furnaces, slabs, which are large blocks of cast steel, are heated to temperatures of up to 1,300 degrees Celsius. These slabs are then processed into steel coils. Tenova Italimpianti has been selected to implement the walking beam furnace technology, ensuring high-quality operation.
Thomas Routschek, Operations Director of the Hot Flat Products Division at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, commented: “With the new furnace, we aim to reduce our energy needs for slab heating in the hot flat steel sector by as much as 30%. This investment is a significant step towards reducing the CO2 footprint of our flat steel products. Upon successful commissioning, all slabs produced at the Salzgitter site will be processed using the new walking beam furnaces.”
In addition to the furnace, the project also includes an advanced exhaust gas heat recovery system (Abgaswärmenutzungsanlage, AWN), which captures the thermal energy from hot combustion gases generated during the heating process. This thermal energy is converted into steam, which is then distributed throughout the plant. DSD Power was commissioned to build this efficient heat recovery system.
Felix Iwanowski, Project Manager for the Hot Rolling Mill at Salzgitter Flachstahl, stated: “The goal of this project is centered around energy efficiency. The new AWN system optimizes the use of combustion gases, producing high-quality steam that supports the overall energy demands of the plant.”
This project is being funded by KfW, reflecting its commitment to energy efficiency. The walking beam furnace and heat recovery system are expected to be fully installed and commissioned by 2028.
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First published in this link of EuropaWIRE.
