• Primetals Technologies revamps 67-ton converter at the Donwitz site in Austria
• New air-cooling system for trunnion ring increases equipment lifetime 

Recently, voestalpine Donawitz has started up its LD converter (BOF) No. 4 following a revamp carried out by Primetals Technologies. The converter has a tapping weight of 67 tons. 

The previous converter had reached the end of its lifetime, prompting voestalpine to invest in an upgrade. Primetals Technologies was responsible for the engineering and supply of the converter, trunnion ring, suspension system, slag shield, bottom stirring system, and air-cooling system. The scope also included advisory services for construction work and implementation.

Extended Lifetime

The air-cooling system has significantly reduced the operating temperature of the trunnion ring and converter shell, resulting in longer equipment lifetime. This enhanced cooling efficiency lowers the overall maintenance requirements when compared to water-based systems. Another key feature is the Vaicon Link 2.0 – a maintenance-free suspension system that ensures vessel stability while allowing thermal expansion in all directions.

voestalpine produces about 1.65 million tons of high-quality raw steel annually at the Donawitz location, where it is processed into billets or pre-blocks. The majority of these intermediate products are further processed by other group companies, including voestalpine Rail Technology, voestalpine Wire Technology, and voestalpine Tubulars.

Key Role in Development of LD (BOF) Process

The Donawitz site has a steelmaking history that spans over 100 years. It was here that the predecessor company of Primetals Technologies implemented the world’s second LD converter (BOF) back in 1953. The converter was started up on May 22 of that year, and since then, the Donawitz plant has played a key role in the evolution of the LD process. Today, around 60 percent of global steel production relies on the LD-route.

Primetals Technologies and the voestalpine group share a long-standing relationship, established over numerous projects spanning decades. Two recent examples of this collaboration include a bloom caster implemented at the Donawitz site in 2020, and an EAF Ultimate electric arc furnace order for the Linz site, placed in January 2024. 
 

Part of the on-site teams of Primetals Technologies and voestalpine just after the first heat at LD converter (BOF) No.4 in Donawitz. 

Primetals Technologies’ revamped LD converter (BOF) No. 4 at voestalpine’s Donawitz plant during the first heat.