London, 25 September 2018

Primetals Technologies to modernize electric steel plant for Gerdau Special Steel North America in Monroe, USA

• Modernization of the existing electric arc furnace
• New twin ladle furnace and new material handling system
• Capacity scheduled to rise by 160,000 metric tons per annum
• Overall plant to be optimized by a high degree of automation and the use of LiquiRob systems
• Robot systems will further improve occupational safety

Primetals Technologies has received an order from Gerdau Special Steel North America to modernize its electric steel plant in Monroe, Michigan, USA. The project involves modernizing the existing electric arc furnace. The electric steel plant will also be equipped with a new twin ladle furnace and a new material handling system. The aim is to increase the plant's annual production capacity by 160,000 metric tons of rolled end products. End-to-end automation and the use of LiquiRob robot systems will increase productivity and reliability, optimize workflows in the steel works, and reduce operating costs. At the same time, robot systems will make work safer. The ladle furnace and material handling system are scheduled to come into operation at the end of 2019, the modernized electric arc furnace in the middle of 2020.

Gerdau Special Steel North America is a leading manufacturer of special bars steels, which are mainly used in the automotive industry. The order awarded to Primetals Technologies is part of an investment package totaling around 80 million US dollars. Primetals Technologies will be responsible for the engineering and supplying the process equipment for the electric arc furnace, the 110-metric-ton twin ladle furnace, the material handling system and the structural steel work, and will also supervise the construction and commissioning of all the installations. The scope of delivery also includes the associated electrical installations and automation, the power supply – including transformers – and the complete, end-to-end process automation. Three LiquiRob systems will handle potentially dangerous tasks, such as taking temperatures and samples. Solutions such as the automatic sand refilling, a weighing system and the automated tap hole manipulator will optimize operation of the electric arc furnace.

Electric arc furnace operated by Gerdau Special Steel North America at the company's electric steel plant in Monroe, Michigan, USA. Primetals Technologies will modernize the electric arc furnace and supply a new twin ladle furnace and new material handling system (photo: Gerdau Special Steel North America).

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 joint venture of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and partners, with around 7,000 employees worldwide. To learn more about Primetals Technologies, visit the company website www.primetals.com.