SMS group upgrades Industeel Belgium’s walking beam furnace

Industeel Belgium, part of the ArcelorMittal Group, has commissioned SMS group to modernize its walking beam furnace at the Charleroi plate mill — a key step in the site’s decarbonisation strategy. The sustainable revamp will cut fossil fuel use by around 25% and enable operation with up to 70% hydrogen, significantly lowering CO₂ and NOx emissions.

Installed in 1969, the reheating furnace brings steel plates to rolling temperature. The modernization package includes a complete furnace relining, a high-efficiency heat recuperator, and the integration of RADFlame HY2 and flat flame roof burners, together with X-Pact® Prometheus combustion control technology.

The RADFlame HY2 burners provide a uniform, low-emission flame that can operate on natural gas or hydrogen blends, cutting fossil fuel consumption and reducing NOx emissions to below 65 ppm. The new heat recuperator will further enhance energy efficiency by preheating combustion air, while advanced refractory materials reduce heat loss.

SMS’s X-Pact® Prometheus system ensures precise combustion control, improving heating quality, process repeatability, and energy utilization — ultimately reducing scrap and post-rolling rework.

The revamp, scheduled for completion in summer 2026, will be carried out during a six-week summer shutdown to minimize production disruption. SMS has optimized the design through 3D modeling and laser scanning of the existing furnace to ensure a smooth installation and startup.

Source and Photo: SMS Group