Salzgitter Flachstahl commissions Tenova for energy-efficient walking beam furnace

Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, the largest steelmaking subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, has awarded Tenova a major contract to supply a new walking beam furnace for slab reheating at its Salzgitter site in Germany. The project aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and support the company’s broader decarbonization goals.

The contract has been awarded to Tenova Italimpianti, the reheating and heat treatment technologies division of Tenova, a global supplier of sustainable industrial solutions for the metals sector. Under the agreement, Tenova will design, supply, and oversee the installation of the new furnace, which will include a full suite of automation and control systems, as well as associated mechanical components such as the discharging roller table and material handling machines.

The new furnace is designed with a throughput capacity of 320 tonnes per hour and will be capable of processing slabs in both single and double-row configurations. Key features include a combustion air pre-heating system, a waste heat recovery system for steam generation, and the integration of hydrogen burners and oxygen injection zones to support low-emission operations.

According to Salzgitter Flachstahl, the installation is expected to reduce energy consumption during slab reheating by up to 30%. The furnace is also expected to contribute to lowering the CO₂ footprint of the company's hot strip mill.

This marks the third modern walking beam furnace at the Salzgitter site supplied by Tenova Italimpianti, building on a longstanding cooperation between the two companies.

“The new walking beam furnace is a keystone in our journey towards a more sustainable steel production,” said Thomas Routschek, Operations Director of the Hot Flat Products Division at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH. “Thanks to Tenova’s advanced technology, we will be able to reduce our energy consumption significantly. This project represents a decisive step in minimizing our CO₂ footprint and enhancing the overall energy efficiency of our hot strip mill.”

Antonio Catalano, Executive Vice President of Tenova’s Downstream Business Unit, welcomed the continued partnership: “We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with one of Germany’s leading steel producers, supporting their goals for energy efficiency and sustainable production. This project reinforces Tenova’s leadership in the field of energy-efficient and low-emission reheating solutions.”

Source and Photo: Salzgitter AG