Francesco Memoli

We’re celebrating getting to the “fringe” of the weekend with a Heat Treat Fringe Friday covering news about a Texas steelmaker making strides in sustainable metal heating with a new facility. An electric arc furnace and a technology platform are included in the company’s strategy to lower emissions and energy consumption and increase production.

While not exactly heat treat, “Fringe Friday” deals with interesting developments in one of our key markets: aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, or general manufacturing.

Vinton Steel LLC, the U.S. subsidiary of Kyoei Steel, is bolstering its steelmaking operations with a melt shop at its facility in El Paso, Texas, which includes an electric arc furnace (EAF) and an advanced technology platform designed to increase production capacity to 400,000 tons per year while significantly reducing emissions, energy consumption, and operational costs. This expansion is a major step in the company’s North American expansion.

Tenova, a developer and provider of sustainable solutions for the green transition of the metals industry, will supply the Green City Mill Flex platform, with construction expected to begin the summer of 2025 and plant startup scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

“This project marks a significant milestone for Kyoei Steel Group’s expansion in North America,” said Masahiro Kitada, chairman of Vinton Steel LLC. “By investing in state-of-the-art green steelmaking technologies, we are not only strengthening our presence in the U.S. market but also contributing to the economic development of the local community and the entire West Texas region. We are proud to bring advanced and sustainable steel production to El Paso at the Border area, creating new opportunities for growth. We are happy to embrace our largest investment outside Japan with a long-lasting partner like Tenova.”

Tenova’s Green City Mill Flex is redefining the future of long steel production by setting new benchmarks in efficiency, product flexibility, and environmental responsibility. Engineered to manufacture a wide range of long steel grades with the lowest carbon footprint on the market, this innovative platform integrates cutting-edge technologies, including the third generation Consteel^® Electric Arc Furnace technology. The plant will also feature continuous casting and rolling capabilities in collaboration with Pomini Long Rolling Mills. By leveraging the local steel scrap recycling supply chain, Green City Mill Flex strengthens the principles of circular economy and self-sufficiency, minimizing the environmental impact of steel production in urban settings.

“This project sets a new benchmark for regional steelmaking plants,” said Francesco Memoli, president and CEO of Tenova Inc. “The Green City Mill Flex platform represents the latest evolution of the mini-mill concept, adding unprecedented levels of flexibility, efficiency, and safety. It is a game-changer for long-steel producers looking to modernize and meet the demands of sustainable manufacturing.”

Under the contract, Tenova will supply a complete suite of next-generation technologies, including a 45-ton Consteel^® EAF with continuous scrap preheating, an in-line ladle metallurgy furnace for precise steel refining, a multi-strand continuous casting machine, and a fully automated material handling system. The project will also include an advanced fume treatment plant with a quenching tower and pulse-jet baghouse, a zero-water-consumption water treatment plant, and a new electrical distribution system, all designed to maximize efficiency and sustainability.

Main image: On February 3, 2025, Executives from Vinton Steel and Tenova gathering at Kyoei Steel’s headquarters in Osaka, Japan, on February 3, 2025, to celebrate the signing of the contract. (Francesco Memoli, President & CEO of Tenova Inc., on the far left; Masahiro Kitada, Chairman of Vinton Steel LLC, on the far right)

The press release is available in its original form here.

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