ArcelorMittal Poland completes construction of ZAM roll coating line
ArcelorMittal Poland (AMP) has completed the installation of a new zinc, aluminum and magnesium coil coating (ZAM) line at galvanizing plant No. 2 of its cold rolling plant in Krakow, Kallanish notes. Production will begin after receiving certification and approval in 2026.
The project was first announced in 2024 (see Kallanish passim).
The Optigal coating provides better ductility and corrosion resistance than existing alloys, and is ideal for sandwich panels and corrugated sheet, according to the steel manufacturer.
"As part of this project, we have built two new galvanizing tanks, as well as a transportation and lifting system for them. Currently, one tank with a capacity of 200 tons is being galvanized with sheet metal using an existing alloy, while the other tank with a capacity of 180 tons is being galvanized using a new Optigal alloy," explains Wojciech Fras, project manager for the modernization of the galvanizing plant.
The main contractor for the investment was the Spanish company GHI.
"Our recent investment in Nova Guta[Krakow mill]demonstrates that we consider Krakow to be one of the pillars of our processing operations. Despite the numerous challenges in the global steel market, we have already invested almost 2.7 billion Polish zloty[$742.6 million]in our two rolling mills," says AMP Executive Director Wojciech Kossuth.
Earlier this year, the company commissioned nine hydrogen-fired batch annealing furnaces at its cold rolling plant in Krakow, eliminating ammonia from the annealing process. The company is also building a natural gas hydrogen production plant at its Krakow site to power two galvanizing lines. The plant worth 100 million Polish zloty, which is being built by Linde, will start producing hydrogen at the end of 2026.
However, last month, the company announced that it would close its factory in Chorzow, also known as Huta Krolewska, by the end of the year. Despite the fact that the company produces specialized products, the funds needed to modernize outdated equipment make it economically unprofitable to continue operating in the current conditions of the European steel industry, the company noted.
Author: Adam Smith Austria
Kallanish.com