ArcelorMittal receives environmental permit for steel powder production in Spain

Global mining and metallurgical company ArcelorMittal has received environmental approval to build a new industrial plant in Avilés (Asturias, Spain), which will specialize in the production of high-quality steel powders for additive technologies. This is stated in the official BOPA bulletin, Kallanish reports.

The project involves the installation of an electric arc furnace (EAF) and a high-pressure gas atomizer that will convert scrap metal into steel powder using renewable energy. The report notes that the environmental impact of the initiative has been deemed acceptable, allowing it to move from the research stage to industrial production.

According to the documentation, the new plant will have a capacity of 1,800 tons of powder per year, with individual batches ranging from 200 kg to 3 tons. Production will be carried out within the new ArcelorMittal Powders division, created to develop the 3D metal printing segment.

AdamIQ brand products will include grades 316L, 430L, 17-4PH (stainless steel), as well as tool steels H11, H13, M300, and low-alloy steels. The main consumers will be the aviation, defense, automotive, medical, and energy industries.

The company has already completed the installation of equipment in Avilés, and production will begin after product certification. The new plant will be one of ArcelorMittal’s first industrial sites to combine circular metallurgy with additive manufacturing technologies.

ArcelorMittal recently launched a pilot project at its plant in Olabertris (Spain), introducing a system for burning green hydrogen in the rolling mill furnaces. This is the first solution of its kind in Europe, allowing the equipment to run on 100% hydrogen without the use of natural gas, completely eliminating CO2 emissions during the steel heating process.