Industrial Automation Magazine India

Company to implement vacuum tank degasser and upgrade slab casting infrastructure.

London, January 25, 2024 – Primetals Technologies and JSW Steel U.S.A have entered into an agreement to upgrade the slab casting infrastructure at its Mingo Junction, Ohio, plant. The project encompasses steelmaking, secondary metallurgy, and continuous casting processes, and the project is expected to enable JSW Steel U.S.A to produce a wider range of sophisticated steels in the form of slabs to diversify its product portfolio for additional markets.

Work on the project has begun and is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025.

Primetals Technologies will install a 230-ton vacuum tank degasser (VTD) with a dry mechanical vacuum pump system. This will be North America’s largest VTD to date, allowing JSW Steel U.S.A to produce cleaner steel and reduce levels of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulfur in different process steps.

“JSW Steel U.S.A wanted to install this VTD at their existing Mingo Junction site with significant footprint and height restrictions,” said Joerg Buttler, Head of Upstream Business for Primetals Technologies U.S.A. “Working closely with JSW’s Mingo team, we were able to create a custom design that worked for the space, budget, and metallurgical targets.”

The VTD design includes all the mechanical and electrical equipment for the plant, including the mechanical dry pumps, vacuum filters, and dust catcher. It includes integrating new material handling technologies, associated auxiliary systems, metallurgical process model, and complete Level 1 and Level 2 automation systems.

“We look forward to the successful completion of these upgrades to strengthen our service capabilities and meet the growing needs of the renewable energy and infrastructure markets while staying in line with the Build America – Buy America Act (BABAA),” said Jonathan Shank, Chief Operating Officer of JSW Steel U.S.A’s Mingo Junction plant. “The project will strengthen our commitment to sustainability while providing additional momentum for growth by widening our product portfolio.”