Feralpi's Eco-Friendly Rolling Mill Kickstarted in Riesa
Zero-emission rolling mill inaugurated in Riesa's steel mill. - Zero-emission rolling mill commences operation at the Riesa steelworks.
Stepping into the realm of green steel production, Feralpi's Elbe-Stahlwerke in Riesa has recently unveiled a cutting-edge electric rolling mill. Giuseppe Pasini, the president of Feralpi, beamed, "[The mill] signifies our long-term vision and our ceaseless dedication to investing in state-of-the-art technology." This move bolsters Feralpi's global competitiveness and positions them as a steward of more sustainable steel manufacturing.
Feralpi's innovative mill is the first in Germany to forgo direct CO2 emissions during production, thanks to an inductive heating system abstaining from fossil fuels. A whopping 300-meter-long roller table links the rolling mill directly to the continuous casting plant, assuring continuous hot feeding and lessening energy consumption and emissions.
Saxony's Leader: Green Steel and a Strong Economy
Saxony's Prime Minister, Michael Kretschmer (CDU), applauded Feralpi for bolstering the industrial force of Saxony and their concerted drive towards green steel production. "This venture is a powerful signal, particularly during challenging economic times," Kretschmer stated fervently. He reaffirmed the necessity of granting regional companies like Feralpi the ground to foster value creation, innovation, and fair competition. "We must buck up, single out our priorities, lay our cards on the table, and then march boldly forward," the Prime Minister underscored, echoing the importance of synergizing the economy and ecology.
Feralpi has pumped over 220 million euros into this site—the most substantial single investment in its German history. Around 100 fresh jobs are expected to materialize, increasing the workforce to approximately 950 employees. Alongside the rolling mill, a new scrap processing facility, a dedicated power station, and the plant logistics have undergone modernization.
High Energy Prices and Scrap Recognition
Yet, Pasini sounded the alarm about exorbitant energy prices within Germany, which may erode the industry's competitiveness. Additionally, Pasini expressed the dire need for ferrous scrap to be regarded as a vital strategic raw material for the circular economy.
Feralpi Stahl ranks among the top ten steel manufacturers in Germany. The Riesa plant cranks out construction steel largely from scrapped metal hailing from Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
- Green Steel
- Rolling Mill
- Saxony
- Michael Kretschmer
- Riesa
Insights
Money Talks: Feralpi's venture in Riesa has been hailed as a vital boost to the local economy. Creating 100 new jobs and enhancing industrial capabilities in the region, the investment is seen as a symbol of trust in Germany's prosperity. The steel conglomerate flaunts their faith in the nation's growth potential and aims to be a spark igniting this economic resurgence [1].
Strategic Scrap: With the mill running almost solely on scrap metal sourced from Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, Feralpi contributes to a closed-loop economy, performing its part in fostering a sustainable future [5].
Tech-Savvy Approach: By integrating advanced technologies supplied by Danieli, Feralpi ensures more efficient production processes, such as the direct conversion of wire rods into coils, mitigating the need for additional cold drawing and winding [1]. This technology gap is crucial in putting Feralpi in a prime position for the increasingly competitive global steel market.
Sources
- www.feralpi-stahl.com/en/ Press Releases
- www.michaelkretschmer.de/regierung-sachsen
- www.dabluproject.eu/articles
- www.steelorbit.com
- www.sustainability.com
- The rolling mill in Riesa, operated by Feralpi's Elbe-Stahlwerke, signifies their long-term commitment to investing in advanced technology for more sustainable steel production.
- Saxony's Prime Minister, Michael Kretschmer, has praised Feralpi for enhancing the industrial force of Saxony and their efforts towards green steel production, emphasizing the need for a synergy of economy and ecology.
- With the integration of technologies supplied by Danieli, Feralpi ensures more efficient production processes, such as the direct conversion of wire rods into coils, thereby reducing the need for additional processing and improving their competitive standing in the global steel market.
- In the pursuit of a sustainable future, Feralpi contributes to a closed-loop economy by using mostly domestically sourced scrap metal, including from Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, in their rolling mill operations.
