With the opening of its state-of-the-art special steel plant in Kapfenberg, Austria, voestalpine marked a technological milestone in producing pioneering high-performance materials for the international automotive, energy, and aerospace industries.
Text & images by voestalpine
The new plant, which the company claims is the world’s most advanced in terms of digitalisation and sustainability, is the first of its type to be constructed in Europe in four decades. Once fully operational, it will have the capacity to produce 205,000 tons of special steels annually for highly sophisticated customer segments.
“It will allow us to enhance our competitiveness in the global market. At the same time, this major investment will help to maintain prosperity and jobs in the region over the long term,” says Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG.
The new construction secures around 3,500 jobs at voestalpine’s Styrian sites in Kapfenberg and Mürzzuschlag (voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl, voestalpine Böhler Aerospace, and voestalpine Böhler Bleche); the new plant itself will have a workforce of around 150 employees.
High degree of digitalisation
The new plant meets the most advanced Industry 4.0 standards: around 8,000 process data are continuously acquired, implemented, and evaluated in parallel. All the melting processes are directed from a central control station.
The employees are trained in robotics, sensors, and data analysis at the company’s on-site Digitalization Competence Center. Training tomorrow’s generation of skilled workers at the modern training center focuses on the digital workplace, and a new campus for 60 apprentices is under construction to ensure future apprentice training. Another highlight of the new plant lies in its environmentally friendly and sustainable steel production. Heat will be released from the smelters to the district heating system; cooling takes place via a closed loop; and the plant operates extremely efficiently. At the heart of the plant is the electric arc furnace, which will be operated using only green electricity.
High performance metals division
The voestalpine Group’s High Performance Metals Division focuses on producing and processing high-performance materials and customer-specific services such as heat treatment, high-tech surface treatments, and additive manufacturing processes—increasingly using digital technologies. The Division is a market leader for tool steel and high-speed steels, valve steels as well as other products made of special steels, powder materials, nickel-based alloys, titanium, and components, some of which are produced using additive manufacturing technologies. The Division has set itself the goal of making sustainability integral to every aspect of its work. Its most important customer segments are the automotive supplier industry, oil and gas exploration, mechanical engineering industry, consumer goods, and aerospace industries. In the business year 2022/23, the High Performance Metals Division reported revenue of around EUR 3.8 billion, of which about 50% was generated outside Europe, and an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 562 million; it had around 13,700 employees worldwide.
About voestalpine
voestalpine, which operates globally, has around 500 Group companies and locations in more than 50 countries. In the business year 2022/23, the Group generated revenue of EUR 18.2 billion, with an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 2.5 billion; it has around 51,200 employees worldwide.
About this Tech Article
This tech article appeared in Stainless Steel World, January/February 2024 magazine. To read many more articles like these on an (almost) monthly basis, subscribe to our magazine (available in print and digital format) – SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR DIGITAL VERSION ARE NOW FREE.
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