Alter Steel modernises long products plant in Australia

The Australian steel producer is equipping its mini-steelworks with environmentally friendly technology.

Steel producer Alter Steel has commissioned Danieli to supply technology and equipment for its new steelworks in Pinkenba, Queensland, Australia. The project utilises Danieli’s Mida QLP (Quality Long Product) technology and comprises the electric arc furnace (Digimelter) and the alternating current power supply (Q-One Power Feeder) with power electronics technology for sustainable electric steel production. According to the manufacturer, the so-called Mida technology (Minimill Danieli) for long steel production is considered the most efficient and cost-effective method for producing long steel. The plant plans to produce 500,000 tonnes of high-quality reinforcing bars, wire rod, hot-rolled mesh, coiled bars and bars annually at the site.
According to Danieli, the Digimelter is fully compatible with renewable energy sources and achieves CO₂ emissions of just 0.37 tonnes per tonne of steel, which represents an 80 per cent reduction compared with conventional blast furnaces.
Furthermore, the continuous casting and rolling process (Mida QLP) eliminates the need to reheat billets and reduces energy consumption by up to 75 per cent compared with conventional rolling mills. The finished products would be delivered in less than two hours in precisely aligned, tangle-free bundles for optimised further processing.
The plant is due to be completed by the end of 2027 and will be the first new steelworks to be built in Australia in over 40 years. The project is intended to meet local demand for construction products using materials derived entirely from Australian scrap.
Source: Danieli