Germany-based plantmaker SMS Group has announced that in February this year, its subsidiary SMS Meer SpA, Italy, was awarded a new contract by Spanish steelmaker ArcelorMittal Asturias to revamp the 150 ton/hour walking beam furnace that feeds its wire rod mill. The aim of this project is to reduce the plant’s operative costs in order to increase competitiveness and to save almost 80 percent of current natural gas consumption.
According to SMS Group’s statement, the furnace which will be fully operational in September this year, after one month of stoppage will allow the updating of the furnace combustion system in line with the latest European safety regulations and will allow the heating of any grade without any limitations.