ArcelorMittal Poland launches new RH2 rail head hardening system from Danieli

The installation provides increased rail head hardness, better wear resistance, and lower energy consumption

Global mining and steel company ArcelorMittal has launched a modern RH2 rail head hardening system from Italian company Danieli at its production site in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland. This was announced in a press release from Danieli.

Thanks to RH2, the company will produce long rails up to 128 meters in length (120 m – commercial length) with high hardness of over 400 HB and a linear weight of 45-68 kg/m. The line’s productivity is 22.5 rails per hour. The technology ensures uniform mechanical properties along the entire length of the product and improves wear resistance.

RH2 was developed at Danieli’s research center in Butrio, Italy, where a full-scale model was used to study the interaction between heat treatment of the head and cooling of the rail base. One of the advantages of the new technology is its energy efficiency – it does not require air coolers or additional heating of the rail ends, which reduces operating costs by up to 45% compared to traditional systems.

The system is automated using Danieli Automation solutions, including specialized PLCs and HMIs, which ensure precise process tuning and control.

ArcelorMittal Poland is now a supplier of premium long rails that meet the latest European and American standards, with a minimal carbon footprint and using environmentally friendly hardening methods.

As a reminder, ArcelorMittal Poland recently officially commissioned hydrogen furnaces in the cold rolling annealing shop at its plant in Krakow. The PLN 52 million project will improve the quality of rolled products, reduce emissions, and speed up production.