According to a press release from Primetals Technologies, most of the pre-assembly works had to be done at a manufacturing site in Poland to avoid potential delays.
 
However, because the vessel and trunnion ring had been assembled as one unit in Poland, it was too large to pass underneath an existing pipe bridge at the plant in Gent. Primetals Technologies therefore used a crane to lift the 380-ton vessel and trunnion ring over the 10-m-high pipe bridge.
 
“Although it was performed in a very challenging environment, we managed to stay within our target of a 35-day shutdown,” said Hannes Seys, Project Engineer at ArcelorMittal Belgium.
 
The LD converter features an optimized converter shape that will further increase both yield and energy efficiency, and is equipped with a Vaicon Link 2.0 suspension system that keeps the vessel stable while allowing for thermal expansion. The converter has a heat size of 330 tons.