Germany | Metals technology developer Siemens VAI Metals received orders to modernise electric arc furnaces (EAF) for both the Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed) and Outokumpu Oy, a Finnish steel producer. Both plants will be equipped with a new hydraulic system which will improve the efficiency, availability and productivity of the furnaces. The orders are worth several million euros. The projects are scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2010 and by the end of 2011 respectively, the German manufacturer says.
Electric Arc Furnace No. 1 in Hadeed's steel works in Al-Jubail and Electric Arc Furnace No. 1. in Outokumpu's stainless steel works in Tornio will each be fitted with a new hydraulic system, lifting columns for the carbon electrodes and current-conducting electrode arms. An integrated automation solution based on Simatic S7 will also be installed in the Al-Jubail works. Siemens Al-Khobar, the Saudi subsidiary, will handle the migration of the current process control system. The modernized hydraulic system will shorten the melting times of the furnaces, increasing efficiency and productivity and reducing operating costs. Electric Arc Furnace No. 1 in the Outokumpo's Tornio works will also be equipped with a new gantry cover in order to bring it up to a similar technical level as Electric Arc Furnace No. 2, which had been previously supplied by Siemens VAI.
Outokumpu is one of the world's leading producers of stainless steels and is based in Espoo, Finland. The company features the world's only fully integrated production chain for stainless steels, which includes chromium mining in Kemi and the ferrochromium and stainless steel works in Tornio.
Hadeed is a company of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). It produces long and flat steel products, primarily for the construction and petroleum industries, and also for the production for pipes and domestic appliances. The steelworks in Al-Jubail is the company's largest production plant.
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