The ANDRITZ equipment enables voestalpine to perform pickling and cold rolling in a combined plant. In addition, the world’s most modern acid regeneration plant was built, complying with the highest environmental standards and enabling flexible production of high-purity iron oxide. The contract included engineering, manufacturing, installation, and start-up of the equipment. The final acceptance tests were completed at the end of March.
Walter Schickmaier, business unit manager of voestalpine, said: “The project team with members from voestalpine and ANDRITZ has done a great job in the joint execution of this project. The new installation enables us to increase the production quality of high strength and ultra-high strength steel strip for the automotive, household appliance and construction industries, as well as electrical steel for e-mobility.”
- The continuous pickling line for voestalpine is designed to process advanced steel grades and special materials for e-mobility. It has a capacity of about 1.8 million tons per year and operates with hydrochloric acid, which is recycled in the acid regeneration plant.
- With recovery rates of almost 100%, the acid regeneration plant makes a substantial contribution to environmental protection. It meets the highest environmental standards for exhaust gas and wastewater treatment.
- With the acid purification plant, high-purity iron oxide is produced as a by-product of the acid regeneration process. High-purity iron oxide is an important raw material in the e-mobility sector.
- Several systems for removing silicon from the acid loops contribute to smooth operation and highest availability as well as top-quality pickled steel strip.
This major project underscores the successful collaboration between voestalpine and ANDRITZ over many decades.
