SSAB Relies on Paul Wurth Service for Strategic Renewal Project in Luleå

On 31 January 2020, SSAB EMEA AB has chosen Paul Wurth’s service team to carry out, on EPC basis, a revamp of its coke oven battery at Luleå steel works in northern Sweden, which focuses on battery life extension and emission reduction.

In line with the group’s motto to be a Leading Partner to its customers, Paul Wurth has first supported SSAB with a detailed feasibility study, which defined the most appropriate implementation scenario to extend the battery life. Secondly, SSAB being a front runner in environmental compliance, asked Paul Wurth as a leader in emission abatement for coke plants to study also the application of best available technology (BAT) in the frame of the revamp in order to come to furtherly cut emissions and improved coke quality.

In the successfully developed feasibility study, Paul Wurth included its patented technology of the Single Oven PREessure Control (SOPRECO^®) system for emission reduction, evaluated the best implementation scenario for removing existing design constraints in relation to the by-products plant and, thus optimised the overall project cost taking into account both capital and operation expenditures along with minimum production losses.

As this proposal fitted into SSAB’s strategy, Paul Wurth was awarded the order in result of the subsequent official bid. This covers the replacement of the entire raw gas system including ascension pipes, goosenecks, the SOPRECO^® system, gas collecting main (GCM) and off-takes. Furthermore, taking the occasion of empty ovens during GCM replacement, Paul Wurth will also renew the battery ovens roof by replacing the rails for charging machines, transversal tie rods and some refractory layers.

Since the Scandinavian conditions in wintertime are extreme, the replacement works will be carried out in two steps: preparation activities to remove any existing constraints will take place in summer 2020, followed by the main intervention for replacing equipment in summer 2021. Thanks to Paul Wurth’s approach tailored to SSAB’s specific needs, this intervention will lead the 54-ovens coke battery at Luleå to an extended and environmentally friendly life cycle, thus promoting future sustainability.

About Paul Wurth

Headquartered in Luxembourg since its creation in 1870, the Paul Wurth Group is an established technology provider for the primary stage of integrated steelmaking. Paul Wurth is a leading market player for the design and construction of complete blast furnace and coke oven plants. Direct reduction plants, environmental protection solutions and recycling technologies complete Paul Wurth’s product portfolio. With more than 1 500 employees and entities in around 20 countries, the Paul Wurth Group has a strong presence in the significant iron and steel regions of the world.

SMS group is a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry. It has some 14,000 employees who generate worldwide sales of more than EUR 2.8 billion. The sole owner of the holding company SMS GmbH is the Familie Weiss Foundation.