Voestalpine Donawitz launches BOF vessel No. 4 after major overhaul

BOF vessel No. 4 has been put into operation at Voestalpine’s steel plant in Donawitz, Austria, after a major overhaul. The 67-tonne unit was modernized by Primetals Technologies, which provided an engineering solution, equipment supply and support during the project, according to a press release.

The key upgrades include a new air cooling system that significantly reduced the operating temperature of the neck ring and the converter body. This has increased equipment life and reduced maintenance costs compared to traditional water systems. Vaicon Link 2.0, a maintenance-free suspension system, was also installed to ensure the stability of the unit and compensate for thermal expansion in all directions.

The Donawitz plant produces about 1.65 million tons of high-quality steel per year, which is further processed into billets. The products are used by the group’s subsidiaries, including voestalpine Rail Technology, Wire Technology and Tubulars.

The partnership between voestalpine and Primetals has a long history. The latest projects include the installation of a continuous casting machine in 2020 and an order for an electric arc furnace for the Linz plant in 2024.

As GMK Center reported earlier, last year, Voestalpine attracted a €300 million EIB loan for green steel production. The funding will be used for voestalpine’s four-year research and development (R&D) program, which aims to optimize production processes, increase energy and raw material efficiency, and extend product life.