ArcelorMittal to build a powder steel plant in Spain
Luxembourg steel company ArcelorMittal has received an environmental permit from the Principality of Asturias to build its new industrial powder steel plant in Aviles, northern Spain, local media reported. This approval marks an important step in the company's strategy to diversify its operations and increase production with high added value and low emissions in northern Spain.
The new plant will run on recycled scrap metal and renewable energy sources, and will use an electric arc furnace to recycle scrap steel and a high-pressure inert gas sprayer to convert molten steel into high-quality steel powders for industrial 3D printing and advanced engineering applications. The annual production capacity of the plant is expected to be about 1,800 tons of grades such as 316L, 430L, 17-4PH, H11, H13, M300 tool steels and low-alloy steels, which will meet the growing demand from the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical equipment and energy industries.
Strategic importance
The Aviles powder steel plant represents ArcelorMittal's entry into the highly profitable additive manufacturing materials market. By integrating scrap metal EDP production with powder production, the company is creating a fully closed, low-carbon production chain in Europe.
Steelorbis.com