Tag Archives: AFRY

AFRY selected as engineering partner for SSAB fossil-free steel project

Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

SSAB, a global specialised steel company, has awarded AFRY the main engineering partner contract for its fossil-free steel mini-mill project in Luleå, Sweden. AFRY’s assignment includes basic and detail engineering.

The services will be provided during 2024-2026.

SSAB is undertaking a major project to transform to fossil-free steel production. SSAB is planning to replace the current blast furnace production route with a new, state-of-the-art mini-mill concept that utilises electric arc furnaces.

The mini-mill will produce 2.5 Mt/y of fossil-free steel. Once completed, SSAB will decommission the existing blast furnace-based production facility in Luleå, reducing Sweden’s annual CO2 emissions by 7% in addition to the 3% reduction from the Oxelösund mill conversion, it states.

AFRY’s assignment is linked to the melting and hot rolling complex, and it includes the full multi-disciplinary basic and detail engineering. The melting and hot rolling complex includes electric arc furnaces, secondary metallurgy, thin slab casting and hot rolling as well as the necessary infrastructure and auxiliary services.

Nicholas Oksanen, EVP and Head of Process Industries at AFRY, said: “We are proud to continue our strong partnership with SSAB on this important green transformation project aimed at decarbonising steel production. The unique combination of AFRY’s local and global expertise as well as our deep knowledge of SSAB’s projects will ensure a high-quality and efficient project delivery from AFRY.”

The startup of the new production line is planned for the end of 2028.

AFRY strengthens its digital offering with ProTAK acquisition

Environmental, IoT, Mining services, Mining software, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Engineering, consulting and design company AFRY is to expand its digital offering for process industries with the acquisition of Sweden-based ProTAK.

ProTAK’s web-based software for production optimisation will support AFRY’s strategic ambition within digitalisation and sustainability, as well as further strengthen the AFRY Smart Site digital product portfolio further, AFRY said.

“ProTAK’s web-based software is designed for production process continuous improvement and aims to increase production efficiency,” it explained. “The software measures the effectiveness of industrial plant’s machines to enable analysis and optimisation of the production processes. Together with AFRY’s production support software, AFRY Pulse, this will improve process industry customer production even further.”

The acquisition follows the purchase of ITE Østerhus AS earlier in the month, a Norway-based company that specialises in electrical engineering, automation and digitalisation for industrial customers. ITE Østerhus’ largest market areas are smelting plants and process and food industries.

David Andersson, Manager of Business Unit Digitalisation, AFRY Process Industries, in Sweden, said of ProTAK acquisition: “There is a strong demand for digital solutions within the process industry sector to reach sustainability goals by improved production efficiency. With this co-operation, we can jointly develop our offering further to support our customers even better in this constantly changing environment.

“We see great potential and synergies by combining the expertise and digital offering from both companies.”

Per Gannå, CEO at ProTAK, said becoming part of AFRY would allow the company to further develop its products and expand its offering to global clients.

“We have developed the digital offering and are now ready to take the step to the next level,” Gannå said. “We look forward to the opportunities we can create together.”

ÅF and Pöyry to move forward as AFRY

Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , ,

Following a merger, completed on February 22, ÅF and Pöyry have decided to rebrand the joint company as AFRY.

AFRY is a leading company within engineering, design and advisory services, with its clients mainly within the infrastructure, industry and energy sectors.

ÅF was founded in 1895 and Pöyry in 1958 and, since the merger, the merged entity has become the biggest company in its sector in the Nordic region, and a global actor with almost 17,000 employees in offices in 50 countries and projects in 100 countries. This comes with an annual revenue of about SEK20 billion ($2.08 billion).

Jonas Gustavsson, President and CEO at AFRY, said: “Our focus on sustainability is strengthened and our position as a global company consolidated with the launch of AFRY. Given the exponential technological development we are facing, our services and solutions are more relevant than ever.”

Gustavsson added that in the last couple of years, the companies have experienced significant growth, with revenue doubling since 2015.

The company said: “The need for sustainable solutions is greater than ever in times of increased globalisation, urbanisation, digitalisation and climate change. At AFRY we drive the transformation, and, together with our clients, we are able to influence many parts of society through solutions that reduce our impact on the climate.”

With a new common brand and offer, the company says it has strengthened its position in its core markets of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland, and grown internationally within, for example, the energy and process industries.