“The new beam rolling mill in San Zeno Naviglio will greatly increase our competitiveness. This will be the strong base for a long-term strategy that will combine environmental, social and economic sustainability through technological innovation, maximizing the market opportunities,” said Duferco board member Augusto Gozzi in a statement. 

Duferco said the mill is to completed in less than two years and will be quickly ramped up.

Duferco said the mill’s walking beam furnace is to be supplied by Italy’s Forni Industriali Bendotti. The furnace will be equipped with innovative hydrogen fuel-injected burners, it said, further contributing to decarbonize the production process.

Additionally, Duferco said the mill’s electric needs will be met through a power purchase agreement for renewably produced energy.

“The new mill will endow Duferco, the sole national producer of steel beams, of a very efficient system at the heart of the European and Italian market. The mill will be realized with cutting-edge technologies, focusing on digitization, artificial intelligence and automation both for production and logistics,” the company said.