ArcelorMittal has launched a new phase of its electrical steel project in France

ArcelorMittal France announced the production of the first coil on the new electrical steel production line at its site in Mardic. The company described this stage as crucial for further fine-tuning of equipment and industrial processes ahead of a gradual ramp-up to steady-state production and the final validation of all lines to ensure the supply of high-quality products to customers.

The first coil, produced on the three initial lines of the new complex, weighs over 17 tons and is nearly 4 km long. These lines include the preparation line, the annealing and coating line, and the slitting line. The company notes that up to 400 people were involved in the project’s implementation, the construction of new facilities, and preparatory testing.

The next stage will be a gradual ramp-up of production. According to ArcelorMittal’s estimates, it will take several more months for the new complex to reach full operational capacity. The 175 employees of the new team, as well as the group’s experience and technological expertise, will play a key role in this process.

The new complex in Mardic is a strategic growth project for ArcelorMittal. Together with the existing production facility in Saint-Chély-d’Apcher, it is expected to triple the group’s capacity for producing electrical steel in Europe—up to 295,000 metric tons per year. As a result, all of ArcelorMittal’s European electrical steel production will be concentrated in France.

The company emphasizes that such products are critical to the development of electric mobility and the energy transition. Electrical steel is used in the manufacture of electric motors and generators for automobiles, wind turbines, and industrial equipment. Its properties must ensure high magnetic permeability, low energy losses, and adequate mechanical strength.

ArcelorMittal’s investment in the Mardyck project amounts to €500 million. Additionally, it received €25 million in support from the French government as part of the France 2030 program.

As a reminder, ArcelorMittal previously confirmed the construction of an electric arc furnace (EAF) at its steelmaking site in Dunkirk in northern France. The investment in the project amounts to €1.3 billion and is viewed as a key step in the strategy to decarbonize steel production in Europe.