Tenova and Salzgitter AG signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on SALCOS (Salzgitter low-CO₂ steelmaking). SALCOS is a concept for a significantly CO₂-reduced steel production. The aim is to undergo a transformation process of the integrated steelmaking route, moving from carbon-intensive steel production based on blast furnaces toward a direct reduction and electric-arc furnace route, including the flexible incremental utilization of hydrogen. This concept is capable of reducing CO₂ emissions up to 95% with respect to the entire steel production route.

Nucor Corp. will build its new state-of-the-art steel plate mill in Brandenburg, Ky., located along the Ohio River southwest of Louisville. The company will invest approximately $1.35 billion to build the mill, which will be capable of producing 1.2 million tons per year of steel plate products. The project, which was originally announced in January, will create more than 400 full-time jobs at an average annual salary of $72,000. The plate mill, which is expected to be fully operational in 2022, will give Nucor the ability to produce 97% of the products demanded in the domestic plate market, including specialty higher-margin products. The facility will produce cut-to-length, coiled, heat-treated and discrete plate ranging from 60 to 160 inches wide and in gauges from 3/16 of an inch to 14 inches.

SECO/WARWICK delivered and commissioned what it says is the first-ever vacuum-purging semi-continuous controlled-atmosphere brazing (CAB) furnace for a North American automotive aftermarket manufacturer. It is the company’s first furnace of any type and also its largest capital equipment investment. The furnace, equipped with vacuum purging in the loading and unloading chamber, allows for reduction of nitrogen consumption and cost. It also provides exceptional control of brazing atmosphere quality, which applies particularly to heat exchangers with joints brazed in a closed space. Vacuum purging allows for the removal of oxygen from these spaces before brazing, which cannot be achieved by traditional purging.

Big River Steel (BRS) commissioned SMS group with the expansion of its steel plant in Osceola, Ark. SMS group will supply BRS with mechanical equipment and electrical and automation systems. The expansion will increase the plant’s annual output to approximately 3 million tons of steel. After completion, the facility will have two electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) and two twin-ladle furnaces. Installation of an additional gas cleaning system will ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Tenaris S.A. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire from PAO TMK, a Russian manufacturer of steel pipe, 100% of the shares of its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary IPSCO Tubulars Inc. for $1.2 billion. IPSCO Tubulars is a U.S. domestic producer of seamless and welded OCTG and line pipe products with an annual production capacity of 450,000 metric tons of steel bars, 400,000 metric tons of seamless pipe and 1,000,000 metric tons of welded pipe. The acquisition will add a first U.S. steel bar production facility at Koppel, Pa.; complement Tenaris’ seamless production in Bay City, Texas, with a second facility in Ambridge, Pa.; and bring additional heat-treatment, welding and finishing facilities to better serve customers.

Gestamp, which designs, develops and manufactures highly engineered metal components for the automotive industry, opened a new plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The $86 million facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery for hot stamping and hydroforming for the manufacture of chassis parts. Hot-stamping technology is focused on producing parts that are both lighter and safer, therefore improving energy consumption. Hydroforming technology allows the forming of complex shaped steel using the force of water so they can be integrated into the vehicle’s structural components.

Danieli will build a new steel plant in Morocco that will produce 800,000 tons per year of billets measuring 5 x 5 inches (130 x 130 mm) to 7.9 x 7.9 inches (200 x 200 mm). The melt shop will include a 100-ton electric-arc furnace (EAF) with the most advanced technological packages: an off-gas laser system, electrode regulation system and an automatic EAF de-slagging door. Danieli Automation will supply a Level 2 process-control system. Plant start-up is scheduled for mid-2020.

U.S. Steel accepted an award from the High-Performance Computing for Manufacturing Program (HPC4Mfg) Special Call: Steel and Aluminum, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, to expand its manufacturing capabilities for advanced high-strength steel (AHSS). The goal of the winning project is to enhance the company’s hot-strip mill model used in creating AHSS. This type of steel is used by automakers to manufacture economically lightweight vehicles to meet increasing fuel-efficiency requirements.

Evraz North America will receive approximately $29.7 million from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) steel and aluminum program, which was created last year to help bolster the competitiveness of the industry in Canada. The contribution is part of the company’s planned $83 million investment over the next three years into equipment upgrades and expansion at mills in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Red Deer, Alberta. The upgrades include a new heat-treat line in Red Deer that will greatly increase the capability to provide premium-alloy-grade quality in the OCTG product range.

SECO/WARWICK received an order from a U.S. manufacturer of flat-rolled aluminum sheet for a sow and T-bar preheat furnace system to achieve maximum product quality, energy savings and melt safety. The furnace offers optimum airflow management and a heating system that promotes efficient heat transfer throughout the work. It includes a patented movable baffle system and fixed base airflow spacers for maximum heat transfer to varying height loads. The system is PLC-controlled with remote I/O and dual operator-interface control stations.