Called Technikum Metallurgie, or TechMet, the center is essentially a miniature steel plant that is designed to turn out experimental grades in batches of up to 5 tons. That’s an advantage over its existing test plant, which is designed for minimum production quantities of 68 tons.

“The new research plant provides us with an ideal test environment where we can quickly adapt our steels to the needs of our customers and changing market conditions. At the same time, the unique plant configuration — we have built a complete steel plant in miniature — allows us to directly transfer the results of work in the research plant to the major facilities,” said Franz Kainersdorfer, head of voestalpine’s metal engineering division.

voestalpine has more details here.