Tag Archives: SSAB

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.

SSAB Hardox® HiAce passes the corrosion test

Environmental, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining,

SSAB has developed a steel grade with the sole purpose of resisting corrosive wear, with Hardox® HiAce paying dividends at mining operations.

Mining operations demand tough equipment that can withstand extreme impacts, stresses and wear, day in and day out. Compromising on quality — and safety — can be costly, and keeping operating costs under control is a non-negotiable. You’ve got to build your machinery with the best steels possible to not only stand up to the job, but to boost long-term productivity.

This is where Hardox HiAce wear steel comes into play as a significant factor. Mining and processing copper ore creates corrosive agents such as sulphuric acid and iron sulphates, which attack steel and decrease the service life of equipment used for excavating and transporting the ore.

A case in point is the reclaimer buckets for wheel excavators operated by one of the largest copper producers in the world. This company was not satisfied with the service life of its buckets and asked one of SSAB’s steel service centres to come up with a better solution.

Hardox HiAce is a recent steel grade developed by SSAB with the sole purpose of resisting corrosive wear. This wear steel has a nominal hardness of 450 HBW, the same as the grade Hardox 450. Under non-corrosive wear conditions, they both provide the same high service life. The distinction lies in how the steels perform when exposed to acidic low pH environments.

This made Hardox HiAce a natural choice when the company wanted to design and manufacture new reclaimer buckets. Hardox HiAce was used for the bucket’s floor and sides, which are exposed to corrosive materials.

Based on the mining conditions these buckets are operating in, the company expects to get twice the service life compared to its previous buckets.

Corrosive wear is caused by oxidation of the steel’s surface. The oxidation process reduces the hardness of the surface, resulting in an accelerated wear rate. This leads to higher repair costs and a shorter service life than expected – which, of course, can negatively impact productivity and profitability.

A selection of Hardox HiAce specifications, includes:

  • Typical impact toughness 50 J at -40°C (37 ft lb  at -40°F);
  • Thickness range 3 to 100 mm (0.118 ” to 3.937 “); and
  • Excellent workshop properties.

LKAB selects Hardox 600 for wear steel at iron ore operations

Equipment maintenance, Mine operation news, Mining consumables, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

Looking at a typical mining site, wear steel is used as liners in hoppers, feeders and chutes, as well as for hammers in crushers or in screens for sorting.

Hardox® 600 is, SSAB says, a wear steel that performs well across a surprisingly wide range of abrasive materials, operating requirements and types of equipment, including for iron ore miner LKAB.

Hardox 600 has a nominal hardness of 600 HBW. Despite its hardness, it has a toughness that is rare for such a hard wear steel, according to the company. This gives it outstanding wear resistance, while enabling it to resist impact damage from rocks and other heavy loads. It is also through-hardened, with a minimum core hardness of 90% of the guaranteed minimum surface hardness.

As a major iron ore company, LKAB can’t afford any loss in productivity. Unscheduled downtime can severely impact throughput and, in turn, financial performance. It ships around 30 Mt of iron ore each year from its harbour in Narvik, above the Arctic Circle in Norway.

When LKAB started to experience too many unplanned shutdowns – and unwanted associated costs – it looked for a more durable wear steel for its skips and chutes. That’s why it chose Hardox 600, one of the hardest grades of Hardox steel. Before its decision, LKAB collaborated with SSAB on a performance optimisation project, which ultimately gave it the green light to go ahead with Hardox 600.

Due to the many factors influencing wear life in mining operations, SSAB says it always recommend a thorough assessment by wear specialists. For LKAB, a 600 HBW steel was the best choice. In most wear situations, there is a sweet spot where the wear rate drops significantly if the steel’s hardness is high enough relative to the severity of the abrasive material.

LKAB-HYBRIT

The HYBRIT initiative receives major funding for fossil-free steelmaking developments

Environmental, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , ,

The HYBRIT initiative has received support from the Industrial Leap (Industriklivet), Swedish Energy Agency’s program to support Swedish industry’s transition to fossil-free, with a total of SEK3.1 billion ($302 million) granted for the establishment of a first demonstration plant in Gällivare, Sweden, for the production of fossil-free sponge iron on an industrial scale.

LKAB is responsible for the construction of the planned plant and will be the main recipient of the support.

Jan Moström, President and CEO of LKAB, said: “The processing and production of fossil-free sponge iron is central to the climate and to Swedish competitiveness. We are pleased with the announcement that the state is participating and sharing the initial risk in this crucial step to industrialise the HYBRIT technology. In order to counter climate change, we need to move forward quickly, and to keep up the pace, it is important that we get all the prerequisites in place for future investment decisions.”

Hybrit Development AB (HDAB), owned by LKAB, SSAB and Vattenfall, had originally applied for SEK4.9 billion in support from Industriklivet for the next step in the development of the HYBRIT initiative. On October 31, 2023, HDAB and LKAB submitted a supplementary application stating that LKAB will be responsible for the construction of the planned demonstration plant and will also be the main recipient of the requested support. At the same time, the amount of aid applied for was reduced to SEK3.7 billion.

The demonstration project is one of 35 projects from 12 EU countries that are part of the Hy2Use IPCEI integrated project. IPCEI stands for Important Projects of Common European Interest and enables EU Member States to provide government support to priority initiatives with a strategic common European interest.

Robert Andrén, Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency, said: “The future competitiveness of Swedish industry lies largely in becoming fully fossil-free. Therefore, the investments made in Industriklivet are of great importance, not only for the sake of the climate and the environment, but also for the supply of skills and employment in both new and old industrial locations in our country. The decision we are now taking is the largest financial decision made so far in this work and it is an important one.”

Although the HYBRIT technology has been tested and proven successful, it has not yet been fully used on a large scale. The support now granted is intended to be used to get past the initial stage, from pilot to industrial production, with a first demonstration plant planned at LKAB’s industrial area in Gällivare. This is in line with the development of the HYBRIT cooperation and the aim of developing a fossil-free value chain for iron and steel production with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen.

The plan for the demonstration plant is to produce over 1.3 Mt/y of sponge iron, volumes intended for SSAB’s transition. With sponge iron produced with hydrogen instead of coal, carbon dioxide emissions in the steel industry can be largely eliminated by replacing coal-fired blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces, the initiative says.

Martin Pei, EVP and CTO, SSAB, said: “We welcome the decision as an important signal of the potential of the green transition for Swedish competitiveness. We have started the transition of SSAB’s steel production in the Nordic region, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Sweden and Finland by ten and seven percent respectively in around 2030. The HYBRIT technology has made us global pioneers in fossil-free steel production and we look forward to scaling up our pilot deliveries of fossil-free steel to commercial levels. Today’s announcement is therefore important for our strategy going forward.”

The electricity demand for the demonstration plant with HYBRIT technology is estimated at about 5 TWh/y at full operation and is primarily for large-scale production of fossil-free hydrogen needed for the direct reduction process.

Andreas Regnell, SVP Head of Strategic Development at Vattenfall, said: “This is gratifying news, for the climate, but also for Sweden’s future competitiveness. Cooperation on the entire fossil-free value chain for fossil-free steel has proved successful. This and access to competitive fossil-free electricity is and will be crucial to the success of the transition. Sweden already has a fossil-free electricity system, and thus has an advantage over most other countries in the world, but now we need to ensure that we expand the supply of fossil-free electricity and hydrogen in line with the needs of industry. Vattenfall is investing in fossil-free electricity production, transmission and development of flexible technologies, such as hydrogen storage, to contribute to continued competitive energy supply.”

The owner companies in HYBRIT have accounted for approximately 75% of the financing for the technology development. SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall have together invested one third each, a total of about SEK1.7 billion in a feasibility study for the pilot phase, implementation of the pilot and a feasibility study for the demonstration phase. HYBRIT has previously been granted more than SEK520 million in state aid.

LKAB has begun transitioning its mining and processing operations with the goal of making all products and processes carbon-free by 2045 – a step-by-step transition for sponge iron production that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from customers around the world by 40-50 Mt/y, equivalent to Sweden’s entire annual greenhouse gas emissions. In May 2023, LKAB submitted an application for the environmental permit necessary to begin the transition.

Moström added: “This is a huge opportunity for Sweden and for the climate. Our high-quality iron ore combined with good access to fossil-free energy gives us unique conditions compared to other countries to establish a sustainable and competitive value chain for the fossil-free iron and steel production of the future. Now it is important that we as a society take advantage of these benefits and build competitiveness while attacking emissions.”

The planned construction of the demonstration plant builds on the positive results achieved in the HYBRIT initiative, where the pilot operations in Luleå continue to play an important role in the development of the technology, the companies say. The jointly owned research and development company Hybrit Development AB will continue to develop the technology with the aim of eventually licensing it to licensees outside the current circle of owners.

Sandvik secures SSAB fossil-free steel for loaders and trucks

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

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and SSAB have signed a letter of intent to secure fossil-free steel for use initially in the production of Sandvik’s loaders and trucks.

SSAB aims to deliver fossil-free steel to the market on a commercial scale during 2026, and the letter of intent ensures Sandvik secures its required volumes within the company’s production capacity. As a fossil-free partner to SSAB, Sandvik can also apply for early fossil-free sample deliveries of, for example, a prototype frame, loader bucket or truck box to be used in a demo or concept product.

“Sustainability is at the core of our business strategy,” Mats Eriksson (pictured on the left), President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said. “As the market demand for fossil-free products increases in the years ahead, this partnership will enable us to offer our mining customers solutions with a drastically reduced CO2 footprint.”

Johnny Sjöström (pictured on the right), Head of SSAB Special Steels, said: “We’re excited about supporting the sustainability journey of our customers in the mining industry. Fossil-free steel has the same high quality as traditional steel but with but with hardly any environmental impact. It will help to reduce our customers’ carbon footprint and offer a competitive advantage in the market.”

SSAB delivered the first steel made of hydrogen-reduced iron in 2021. The steelmaker works with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall as part of the HYBRIT initiative to develop a value chain for fossil-free iron and steel production, replacing coking coal traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide emissions in steel production.

Epiroc to use SSAB’s new fossil carbon emission-free recycled steel for BEVs

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining industry recognition, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Epiroc has become the first company in the mining industry to sign a delivery agreement with Swedish steelmaker SSAB for SSAB Zero™, a product made of recycled steel and produced with fossil-free electricity and biogas.

The steel will be used in Epiroc’s battery-electric range of underground mine trucks and loaders, set to be introduced as soon as the September quarter of 2023.

Sami Niiranen, President of Epiroc’s Underground division, said: “We are very excited to utilise SSAB’s pioneering low-carbon solutions. This is one of many ways that we are accelerating the transformation of the mining industry – while also helping our customers to reach their sustainability goals.”

SSAB Zero will be used in the production of Epiroc’s Smart and Green series of battery-electric mine trucks and loaders, enabling, it says, zero-emission underground operations. The partnership with SSAB is part of Epiroc’s long-term commitment to produce the world’s greenest machines and to halve CO2e emissions by 50% by 2030 compared with 2019, as well as SSAB’s aim to help create fossil-free value chains.

Thomas Hörnfeldt, Head of Sustainable Business at SSAB, said: “SSAB Zero broadens our zero emission portfolio and strengthens the business offering, allowing us to bring zero-emission steel to our customers already this year,. There is a large demand for this kind of steel; it is satisfying to have such an offer in place.”

Epiroc has now signed a delivery agreement for both of SSAB’s zero-emission steel types: SSAB Zero, based on recycled steel, and SSAB Fossil-free™, based on iron ore without fossil fuels. At the end of 2022, Epiroc showcased the world’s first underground mine truck made using fossil-free steel from SSAB, which is set to be available on a commercial scale during 2026.

SSAB Zero has zero fossil carbon emission (less than 0.05 kg CO2e emissions per kg steel in Scope 1 and 2 calculations) in operations, including purchased energy and transportation. The quality and properties of SSAB Zero will be equal to the steel currently used in Epiroc’s products, Epiroc says.

SSAB to showcase benefits of Strenx steel at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023

Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

SSAB, a global leader in high-strength steel production, will be featurung Strenx® performance steel and the benefits it brings to construction equipment at the upcoming CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 event in Las Vegas, next week.

Strenx is a high-strength structural steel that, SSAB says, successfully helps manufacturers around the world build stronger, lighter and more sustainable equipment. Its uses range from lifting and land clearing to earthmoving, material handling, hauling and trucking.

As a steel with high yield strength, Strenx has proven successful in lifting equipment, bringing more power, reach and flexibility to the job site. It is designed to work under high load stresses without compromising on safety or causing equipment failure, providing maximum strength, lift height and lift capacity at less weight.

Strenx high-strength steel plate, tubes and hollow sections in reduced thicknesses can benefit cranes, hoists, spider lifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts, cherry pickers, telehandlers and more, according to the company. Thanks to its tight thickness and flatness tolerances, Strenx steel enables fabricators to accurately bend the components needed.

Strenx is made in a steelmaking process that is already the world’s most CO2 efficient, according to the manufacturer. By specifying Strenx in thinner steel gauges, manufacturers can use less steel. Switching to Strenx steel also makes equipment lighter and more efficient in terms of both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. By 2026, “fossil-free” Strenx will be available from a process that virtually eliminates CO2 emissions, SSAB added.

“Our theme is Think Thinner, Get Stronger,” Magnus Carlsson, Product Manager for Strenx performance steel, said. “We’ll be showcasing our range of steels that can help manufacturers, fleet owners and operators become more productive in challenging environments, and in changing industries that are becoming more focused on sustainability.”

OEMs and steel buyers can purchase Strenx performance steel directly from SSAB. If fabricated components are needed, a new network of Strenx Certified Fabricators has been launched to provide the market with experienced certified specialists in Strenx parts fabrication and services. The G.E. Mathis Company, based in Chicago, is the first certified member of this network.

Strenx is available in yield strengths of 600-1,300 MPa as plate, sheet, tube and hollow section. It is available from local distributors worldwide, and comes with guaranteed properties and tolerances.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG takes place on March 14-18, 2023.

Epiroc to use SSAB fossil-free steel on prototype battery-electric Minetruck MT42 truck

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Epiroc says it is pioneering a battery-electric underground mine truck prototype made from fossil-free steel in line with the company’s vision to produce the world’s greenest machines.

This partnership with Swedish steelmaker SSAB, Epiroc says, accelerates the journey towards reduced carbon-dioxide emissions, ultimately helping mining companies reach their climate goals.

In partnership with steel manufacturer SSAB, Epiroc is now prototyping an underground mine truck with a dump box made of fossil-free steel, the battery-electric Minetruck MT42. The result is a 10-t reduction of CO2 emissions per manufactured dump box, the equivalent of taking five gasoline cars out of service for an entire year, Epiroc said.

The partnership will help Epiroc accelerate its journey to create a more sustainable future, deliver the world’s greenest machines and support its customers.

“Our innovation agenda goes hand in hand with our customers’ sustainability agenda,” Sami Niiranen, President of Epiroc’s Underground division, says. “In the shift to a new, low-carbon economy, our products and services will be a key contributor for our customers to meet their climate goals.”

SSAB aims to deliver fossil-free steel to the market in commercial scale during 2026, and delivered the first steel made of hydrogen-reduced iron in 2021. SSAB works with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall in Sweden as part of the HYBRIT initiative to develop a value chain for fossil-free iron and steel production, replacing coking coal traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steel production.

“The development of new technologies is essential to enable the transition to a low-carbon economy,” Johnny Sjöström, Head of SSAB Special Steels, said. “Our fossil-free steel immediately reduces the carbon footprint to near zero without compromising the high quality and properties you would expect from SSAB steels. It is the same steel, just without the negative environmental impact.”

The battery-electric Minetruck MT42 is a breakthrough for Epiroc’s sustainable innovation, the company said. It is a significant step in the company’s ambition to produce cutting-edge, environmentally smart mining equipment. It is emissions-free in operation, generating a strong positive impact on the climate as well as on operators’ work environment and productivity, according to the OEM.

“We all play a part in creating a more sustainable future,” Camilla Goldbeck-Löwe, Vice President Corporate Responsibility at Epiroc, said. “Our partnership with SSAB has enabled us to present the world’s first underground mine truck made using fossil-free steel.”

Epiroc introduces ‘Smart’ and ‘Green’ series to highlight zero-emission and automation benefits

Automation, Environmental, Mining equipment, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

Epiroc has ramped up deliveries of battery-electric vehicles and is now seeing strong results from the field in terms of productivity, CO2 reduction and customer satisfaction, it says.

The “Smart and Green” series is the next step to highlight the benefits of zero-emission technology and automation – together with several strong partnerships and initiatives within the sustainability field, according to Epiroc.

This will see the underground battery-electric range rebranded to the Smart and Green series, broadening the fleet to potentially include other zero-emission technologies in the future, the company said. These battery-powered machines come equipped with Epiroc’s Rig Control System, RCS, which makes them ready for smart functionality such as automation and remote control.

“Mining is an essential part of modern society, and crucial in the shift to fossil-free energy sources,” Sarah Hoffman, VP Sales and Marketing at Epiroc’s Underground division, said. “We want to provide the equipment to mine the required metals and minerals in the most sustainable way possible.

“Our ambition is to produce the world’s greenest machines, all the way from cell level to recycling of the batteries. And with smart functionality added, we can help improve safety, productivity, and machine availability even further.”

At the same time, Epiroc is also introducing the Smart series for its diesel-powered range outfitted with RCS. Just like the electric range, the machines are prepared for additional functionality from Epiroc’s 6th Sense offering. The included machine models will feature new decal designs as well as updated product naming.

The batteries of the electric range are produced together with Northvolt, who is committed to building the world’s greenest batteries, Epiroc says.

“Sourcing of materials is done ethically to secure a supply chain free from corruption of people and planet,” it said. “The high energy-density batteries are certified with international standards and features a built-in multi-layer safety system.”

Other sustainability initiatives include Epiroc’s recently announced partnership with Swedish steelmaker SSAB to secure fossil-free steel for use in the production of Epiroc’s mining equipment. The partnership with SSAB fits well with Epiroc’s ambitious sustainability goals for 2030, which includes halving its CO2e emissions.

In 2021, Epiroc received validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its targets to reduce emissions in own operations as well as our customers’ operations where Epiroc equipment is being operated. The SBTi validated Epiroc’s climate targets as being in line with keeping global warming at a maximum 1.5°C, consistent with the latest climate science and the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement.

By 2025, Epiroc aims to offer a complete range of emission-free underground products.

Schlam to leverage SSAB’s fossil-free steel in future mining products

Environmental, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , ,

SSAB, the leading global Swedish steel company, has entered an agreement with Australia-based mining equipment and engineering services provider, Schlam, that, it says, will revolutionise the steel industry by promoting the increased use of fossil-free steel with a drastically reduced CO2 footprint.

As part of the ambition, both SSAB and Schlam will look to integrate fossil-free steel into their existing products and Schlam will leverage SSAB’s fossil-free steel to bring to market a new generation of sustainable products to reduce its CO2 footprint, SSAB says.

“I’m pleased to announce this collaboration with SSAB,” Matt Thomas, CEO of Schlam Group, said. “It builds on our shared expertise and a determination to drive innovation.”

In addition to the steel products, both organisations recognise the need to cooperate not just in their capacities as industry leaders, but also in the areas of sustainability and CO2 emissions, SSAB says. A common knowledge exchange will be a consistent thread throughout the course of cooperation, as Schlam pushes ahead to make fossil-free end products the new expectation for the Australian mining industry.

Schlam is also a partner of SSAB’s Hardox® In My Body program customer. The program has more than 500 members in 60 countries and members serve a wide range of industries, including mining, construction, quarrying, road building, recycling, demolition and agriculture. The Hardox In My Body sign represents equipment that is manufactured to the highest standards by a qualified Hardox In My Body member. All members have been thoroughly assessed and have earned the right to display this logo as a sign of their commitment.

Matthew Spiteri, Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand at SSAB, said: “We’re proud to welcome Schlam as a partner and look forward to creating more demand for fossil-free steel products in Australia.”