Report - ArcelorMittal Schifflange, Luxembourg. June 2014

Paradox · Sep 7, 2014

ArcelorMittal Schifflange, Luxembourg.

Im going to apologise for it taking me so long to write this report - Im kinda lazy when it comes to editing. However, if you have read any of my earlier reports you will know myself Bigjobs, drhowser and Gaj UE had an epic euro rally/explore combo trip over the summer and this was one of the amazing places we had the opportunity to visit.

I visited ArcelorMittal Schifflange in Luxembourg with Bigjobs and drhowser. As ever I hadn't asked what it involved, preferring to stick to my "let me know when we get there so I can't bail" method of exploring. I know Im an explorers nightmare - but it works for me and I have awesomely good friends who accept that I prefer not knowing the ins and outs but know that when it comes to it, I will get on with it and proper enjoy myself.

ArcelorMittal Schifflange, Luxembourg.

Ok, I don't know much about this place. It's a Steelworks in Luxembourg and it's next to a load of train lines. Although it is well on its way to being demolished it does have some awesomely nice stuff still there.

I've said previously how much I love pipes n turbines n stuff, but I also adore massive pieces of machinery and this had some amazing bits of kit which my photos do not do justice to! Again a huge thanks goes to Bigjobs who always does a fantastic job of explaining to me what the processes are and what all the bits of machinery would have been used for.

Standing looking over the production line was quite amazing, trying to imagine how it would have been when in full flow, with those huge crucibles filled with hot molten steel, ready to be poured, sparks flaring and searing heat, to the roar of the machinery repetitively rolling onward. Now I could carry on with images of topless six-pack laden males taking diet coke breaks but I think thats a bit too much so I will give a little history instead!

Ive nicked this bit of history from Wiki.

The steelworks in Schifflange was founded in 1871 by the Metz family as Usine METZ (Esch-Schifflange), the steelworks
became part of ARBED in 1911. In the 1980s the plant was converted to the continuous casting of blooms, then in the 90s
an electric furnace installed. In 1994 the company merged with the Belgian company MÃ©tallurgique et MiniÃ¨re de
Rodange-Athus (MMRA) forming ARES (AciÃ©ries Rodange Esch-Schifflange).
In the first decade of the 21st century ownership passed from Arcelor to ArcelorMittal, in 2008 becoming ArcelorMittal
Rodange and Schifflange S.A. together with the plant in Rodange.

And this bit (lot) from drhowser

Rodange and Schifflange

ArcelorMittal Rodange & Schifflange SA is an operational unit of ArcelorMittal Long Carbon Europe and produces steel
since 1872.

The Schifflange steelplant has an annual production capacity of 1,000 000 tonnes of 130x130mm billets. Its facilities
include a twin shell shaft electric arc furnace and a 6 strands continuous caster.

The Rodange profiles mill A has an annual production capacity of 350 000 tonnes. It produces crane rails, special
sections, merchant bars and sheet piles. The Rodange rebar mill C has an annual production capacity of 600 000 tonnes.
It produces Tempcore standard rebars and special rebars.

ArcelorMittal to halt EAF at Schifflange.

Europe's biggest steelmaker ArcelorMittal is to halt melting at its Schifflange works in Luxembourg and reduce output on
several of its long products rolling lines, and similarly at its nearby Rodange facility on weak demand in Europe.

An LCGB-SESM union notice dated Thursday said Schifflange was set to shut for an indefinite time as ArcelorMittal blamed
a "sharp deterioration in economic conditions from the third quarter of 2011."

The electric arc furnace at Schifflange has a 1.3 million mt/year capacity. The facilities produce bars, sections,
and crane rails for the European market.

Schifflange has a finished products capacity of 800,000 mt/year of wire rod, while Rodange can roll a total 400,000 mt/year
of heavy and medium sections.

ArcelorMittal confirms that it intends to take temporary measures due to the weakness of the demand in Europe, but will
clarify exactly what will be the closures at a meeting on Tuesday. The full details have yet to be firmed up by the
company, a spokesman told Platts Friday.

A number of rolling lines at the sites are expected to continue producing but it is unclear if they will make use of the
billets and blooms stocked at the sites or if they will receive supplies from other mills.

The Luxembourg plants are the first long product mills to be affected by temporary closures in the ArcelorMittal group
this year. The company recently announced a series of temporary closures at flat steel producing facilities in Germany,
Belgium and France, blaming weak demand and a need to better align output with orders.