In a statement, Primetals Technologies said the furnace is part of a EUR43 million project to expand the plant’s refining capacity. The plant has three 350-metric-ton converters, but up until now had only one ladle furnace to treat liquid steel. With the new furnace, the plant’s converters can now turn out 10.3 million metric tons of liquid steel annually.

"The additional ladle furnace also enables all the steel treatment to be brought together into a single section of the plant. This reduces annual operating costs by approximately 10 million euros," Primetals Technologies said in a statement. 

Primetals Technologies supervised the furnace's installation and commissioning. It also provided the staff training.