News & Press Releases

During the trade fair METEC in Dusseldorf, the steel producer Gerdau and the full-line supplier of metallurgical plant solutions Primetals Technologies signed a strategic partnership for their digitalization journey. The main goal of this cooperation is the development and realization of a digitalization roadmap for Gerdau, who intends to be the pioneer in the implementation of digital innovation among all steel producers in the world. The focus of the cooperation lies on the execution of digitalization projects, joint development projects and the creation of new business models. The steering committee existing of both experts from Gerdau and Primetals Technologies will start working in July 2019.

At the end of March 2019, Baosteel Zhanjiang, a subsidiary company of the Chinese corporation Baoshan Iron and Steel Co Ltd. (Baosteel) contracted Primetals Technologies to supply digitalization packages, automation technology and electrical equipment for its new 1,780 mm hot strip mill to be constructed in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province in the southern part of China. The implementation of an extensive package of Industry 4.0 solutions is an important step to achieve the target of building an intelligent and the most advanced hot strip mill in the world.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Primetals Technologies will acquire ABP Induction Systems (ABP), a global manufacturer and servicer of induction furnaces and heating systems from CM Acquisitions, a Chicago based private equity firm.  ABP offers a variety of best-in-class products and comprehensive services to blue-chip customers, including leading automotive OEMs and suppliers, industrial manufacturers, independent foundries as well as steel plant manufacturers and steel producers. MHI and  Primetals Technologies will jointly take ABP’s shares.

One of China's largest steel producers recently awarded Primetals Technologies an order to optimize the processes of one of its continuous casters. This meant that the leading supplier of automation systems in the metallurgical industry celebrated its 150th order in the last ten years alone for process automation systems (Level 2) in continuous casting.

Primetals Technologies has developed the world's first direct reduction process for iron ore concentrates from ore beneficiation not requiring any preprocessing like sintering or pelletizing. Primetals can resort to the comprehensive experience from the earlier Finmet development and plant installations. The new technology can be applied to all types of beneficiated ore and particle sizes of 100% smaller than 0.15 mm. As primary reduction agent, the new process uses H2 from renewable energy or alternatively H2 rich gases from conventional steam reformers or H2 rich waste gases. This results in a low or even a zero CO2 footprint.