Praxair and Midrex Sign Strategic Alliance to Commercialize Technology to Produce DRI Using Alternative Fuels
06/19/2012 - Praxair, Inc. and Midrex Technologies Inc. have signed an alliance agreement to develop and market new process technology for the production of DRI with a variety of fuels such as coke oven gas.
Praxair, Inc. and Midrex Technologies Inc. have signed an alliance agreement to develop and market new process technology for the production of DRI with a variety of fuels such as coke oven gas. The new process uses an innovative partial oxidation technology to convert hydrocarbon fuels into high quality, high temperature syngas suitable for DRI production. Under this alliance, Midrex and Praxair will perform a demonstration of the new technology at Midrex’s extensive DRI research facilities in Charlotte, N.C. later this year.
"With the help of Praxair's unique technology we can open up new markets and offer more attractive choices for the production of DRI, especially in regions where traditional DRI fuels such as natural gas are not economically available," said Stephen Montague, vice president of sales and marketing for Midrex Technologies, Inc.
"Midrex is the global market leader in shaft furnace DRI technology and we are very excited to be working with them,” said Pravin Mathur, director of global business development for Praxair.
Midrex Technologies Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kobe Steel Limited is the world leader in (DRI) technology. In 2011, eighty percent (80%) of the 64 million metric tonnes of DRI produced in the world via the shaft furnace route was produced utilizing the MIDREX® Direct Reduction Process. More than 11 million tonnes of new MIDREX® annual capacity will be commissioned and started up within the next two years. Midrex maintains, develops, sells, and supports MIDREX® Direct Reduction Technologies worldwide with strategic partners and companies such as Kobe Steel Ltd., Siemens VAI, the SMS Group, Köppern, Aumund, and Praxair to provide innovative and proven solutions for today’s steel industry.
Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2011 sales of US$11 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others.
