Tenova has started up the first Consteel EAF in South America at the new Vallourec & Sumitomo Tubos do Brasil (VSB) plant.

Tenova also attended the official inauguration of the new Brazilian seamless pipe steelwork plant with a ceremony hosted by the officials of Vallourec and Sumitomo.

The BRZ5bn site will produce 1Mt/y and 600kt/y of seamless pipe products. Ms Rousseff affirmed that the VSB project marked the resumption of investment strategy in the steel sector with the most technological advanced steel plant and pipe mill of the world.

VSB is committed to an environmentally friendly concept by selecting a blast furnace technology that can use both coke and charcoal, which is considered a renewable source of energy.

Tenova played a key role in the green concept of the plant by providing the 140t capacity Consteel EAF, an equipment system that optimises energy consumption and assures a low level of noise emissions and pollutants. Tenova also supplied the dedusting system and other ancillary equipment of the meltshop.

In the rolling mill section Tenova LOI Italimpianti provided the rotary hearth furnaces and the shell furnaces. Tenova LOI Italimpianti also provided two walking beam furnaces for tempering as well as one 100t/h walking beam furnace for hardening for the plant heat treatment facilities.

All furnaces are providing the best available technologies in terms of product quality output and environmental emissions.