NLMK Walking Beam Furnace Commissioned

A $100 million commitment: NLMK unveils state-of-the-art walking beam furnace

FARRELL PA | The Herald

A new furnace is carrying NLMK Pennsylvania’s Farrell steel plant into a new era.

Known as a walking beam furnace, NLMK said this $100 million project gives the plant muscle against its competitors. On Wednesday the steelmaker gave a media tour of the plant along with several dozen mill retirees.

“This is a great day, an exciting day for us and the Shenango Valley,’’ said Bob Miller, NLMK Pennsylvania president.

This single furnace replaces three previous versions dating back to 1967. There are similar concepts that continues, such as heating slabs to 2,350 degrees.

NLMK officials said the walking beam furnace produces better quality steel more efficiently — it uses 20% less natural gas to heat the slabs — with less emissions.

With the previous furnaces, the machine’s fast-turning rollers left skid marks on the steel as it was processed. It wasn’t a look that customers found attractive.

The new furnace uses different technology.

Like a new parent cradling an infant, large beams gently carry and “walk” slabs of steel down the line. The slabs, which the plant buys off other steelmakers, are rolled into steel coil.

“It’s much better quality, much better-looking steel,’’ Bill Benson, NLMK’s vice president of operation said during the tour Wednesday.

“More of our customers are relying on surface quality,’’ Miller said. “Before, we couldn’t pass the quality test. Now we can.’’