When will we start to receive the first products made by EAF technology?

Our EAF is due to be cold commissioned at the end of 2027, and the first products made by that method will come through in early 2028. We will be scaling up production during the first quarter after start-up.

Which products, and for which sectors, will be the first to come through?

The first will be the mild carbon steel products that are mainly used in the construction and engineering sectors – these are also the ones that are simpler to qualify.  Products such as HSLA (high strength, low alloy) steels will follow after the first three months – and the first products that will be introduced into the automotive sector.

The highest formability steels will be produced by the end of the first year. Automotive steels have among the most stringent product introduction requirements and need the most detailed work in characterisation.

What are the main challenges when making products using the EAF?

Moving to scrap-based ‘solid input’ steelmaking, instead of using liquid iron from a blast furnace, requires a different approach to  quality. We’ve been doing a lot of work to ensure we will get the scrap quality we need. We have projects underway such as RECTIFI, where we have been working with EMR and Swansea University, and we are in discussion with major metal recyclers along with other companies about the need to effectively build a brand-new supply chain. We also engage closely with other EAF producers and steelmakers that operate a ladle metallurgy furnace (LMF) which we will be using for secondary steelmaking, to learn from their experiences.

What reassurances do you have about the scrap material?

We’re working closely with the scrap sector which is making many large-scale investments to ensure we’ll always know we’re receiving the right input. The steel will be made to the same specifications and mechanical properties and will be indistinguishable from existing products in terms of product performance.

How tried and tested is this method of steelmaking?

We’re very confident about electric arc furnace technology, which has come on in leaps and bounds in the past 20 years. Even the most demanding and complex steel grades are already widely produced by arc furnaces in the US.

What will be the benefits to us, your customers, of receiving products made by the EAF method?

The sustainability benefits are huge. Your steel will have a 40-60% lower carbon footprint. The steel you receive will have a recycled content of between 50-80%. Most of this is from end-of-life scrap generated here in the UK, so you will be helping to close the material loop and contributing to a more locally-based supply chain.

How smooth will the introduction of the EAF products be?

The approval processes adopted during our successful transition to the current ‘re-roller model’ make a very powerful case study, and that’s giving us and our customers clarity and confidence in how to manage this major transition.  We’re leading the way in the transformation of the industry.