Following project milestones in both China and Germany, engineering and plant construction company Primetals Technologies underscores its role in enabling “energy-efficient, high-performance and future-ready” steel manufacturing.

In May – 12 months after the start of the contract – Primetals Technologies and steel manufacturer Zhongshou Special Steel Group reached a key milestone with the successful installation of the first rolling stand for Zhongshou’s Arvedi ESP line at its Luanzhou site in Hebei province.

In a week, all four of the site’s high-reduction mill stands were in place, highlighting the “exceptional” pace of implementation.

The remaining five rolling stands will soon be installed, complementing an innovative configuration – four high-reduction and five finishing stands – the first of its kind in China.

The commissioning is set for November, with the project on track to set a new benchmark for execution speed in projects of this scale and complexity.

This installation will mark the eleventh Arvedi ESP line globally.

Zhongshou’s ESP plant will feature an extended casting machine and nine rolling stands, enabling caster exit thicknesses starting at 130 mm.

This high-reduction capability enables high productivity across commodity steel and specialised high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) grades, including those for the automotive sector.

The coil thickness will range from 0.7 mm to 12.7 mm, with all production optimised for endless mode.

The use of Arvedi ESP technology support Zhongshou’s transition to greener steel production using an electric arc furnace setup.

At the contract signing in Vienna 2024, chairperson Zheng Ting Wen stated that both companies intend to lead the green steel sector in both domestic and international markets. Additionally, the Arvedi ESP’s low-carbon footprint is essential to this mission.

Strategic Modernisation

Meanwhile, in Duisburg, Germany, steel producer thyssenkrupp Steel has awarded Primetals Technologies a contract to modernise the slab sizing press at its second hot-strip mill.

Following a successful upgrade at the fourth mill, this next phase involves the renewal of critical electrical and drive systems, including a new cycloconverter for the main press motor, low- voltage multi-drive converters, and direct current converters for auxiliary components, such as pinch rolls and gap adjustment systems.

Scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2026, the modernisation will enhance equipment availability and secure long-term spare parts access. By retaining most transformers and motors, thyssenkrupp can reduce capital expenditure while still achieving a futureproofed system.

Additional features include a tailor-made closed-loop, air-to-water cooling system that boosts energy efficiency and an arc-fault protection system to improve safety for both personnel and equipment.

As Germany’s largest flat steel producer, thyssenkrupp Steel employs 27 000 people and produces roughly 11-million tons of crude steel a year.

The company is currently aligning its operations toward premium-grade steels, including multiphase, lightweight, and high-surface-quality materials, as well as specialised electrical steels.

The modernisation of the Duisburg facility is part of a broader programme, which also includes a major casting and hot-strip mill project delivered by Primetals Technologies.

Together, these projects highlight Primetals Technologies’ pivotal role in transforming the global steel landscape — advancing not only productivity and product quality, but also safety and environmental sustainability.