- Revamp will deliver uniform, controlled, and metallurgically tailored strip cooling profiles across the entire strip section and length
- Enables voestalpine Stahl GmbH to develop new advanced steel grades
- Upgrade scheduled during planned shutdowns to minimize downtime
voestalpine Stahl GmbH has selected Primetals Technologies to upgrade the laminar strip cooling line at its 5-million-ton-per-year hot strip mill (HSM) in Linz, Austria. This project continues the long-standing partnership between the two companies, focused on continually enhancing the Linz HSM with state-of-the-art mechanical and automation solutions. These upgrades ensure the mill remains at the forefront of rolling technology, meeting rising quality standards and enabling voestalpine to maintain its leadership in the European flat steel market.
Increased Cooling Capacity
Primetals Technologies has been tasked with increasing the cooling capacity of the strip cooling section to meet the demands of all steel grades in the current product mix, especially high-strength steels, and to support future steel developments.
The upgrade includes installing new laminar cooling headers and flow-controlled valves for precise water flow management throughout the cooling section. Additional improvements include new roller table side guides, water knives, and a cross-spray system. Primetals Technologies’ scope also covers all relevant fluid systems, as well as electrical and basic automation components.
The new cooling headers can be adjusted over a wide range using flow-control valves, allowing both mild and rapid cooling strategies with the same equipment, customized to specific product requirements. The flow-controlled valves will feature fully automated characteristic flow curve recording for each valve.
Enabling New Advanced Steel Grades
The modernization will result in uniform, controlled, and metallurgically tailored strip cooling profiles across the strip’s width and length, as well as balanced heat flux between the top and bottom surfaces. This will support the development of more advanced, high-performance steel grades, with a particular focus on the automotive sector.
The project will be carried out during scheduled mill shutdowns of approximately 10 days each in 2027 and 2028, minimizing disruption to production.
Laminar strip cooling line at voestalpine Stahl GmbH’s hot-strip mill.
Primetals Technologies, Limited, headquartered in London, United Kingdom, is a pioneer and world leader in the fields of engineering, plant building, and the provision of lifecycle services for the metals industry. The company offers a complete technology, product, and services portfolio that includes integrated electrics and automation, digitalization, and environmental solutions. This covers every step of the iron and steel production chain—from the raw materials to the finished product—and includes the latest rolling solutions for the nonferrous metals sector. Primetals Technologies is a Group Company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with around 7,000 employees worldwide. To learn more about Primetals Technologies, visit the company website www.primetals.com.
