Outokumpu Stainless USA will upgrade its secondary metallurgy operations with a new 180-ton twin ladle furnace at its Calvert, Alabama, facility. The project will add electrical heating capacity following argon oxygen decarburization processing, improving operational flexibility and supporting stainless steel production.
Outokumpu has contracted Primetals Technologies to supply the furnace, which will replace a ladle treatment stand installed in 2012. Startup is scheduled for March 2028.
At the Calvert facility, Outokumpu melts up to 100% stainless steel scrap in an electric arc furnace before processing the material in an oxygen decarburization (AOD) converter. Upgrading one of the plant’s two ladle treatment stands will add electrical heating capacity after the converter and provide greater flexibility in the AOD process.
The project will use the plant’s existing layout and foundation. Primetals Technologies’ scope includes a water-cooled ladle cover integrated with a swing gantry system, an electrode conducting arm with a high-current system, automated argon lancing equipment, a hydraulic system, a power solution, Level 1 automation, and the supplier’s Melt Expert electrode control system.
The Melt Expert system provides dynamic control of the melting process to improve process stability, furnace productivity, and energy consumption. The upgrade is also expected to reduce the plant’s carbon footprint.
Press release is available in its original form here.
