Voestalpine invested more than 400 million euros in Kapfenberg and built a new stainless steel factory – a decision of the century for the region. Work will start in the summer and part of the old facility will be demolished later.
It was a blast and a big dose of courage for the industrial landscape of Styria: In September 2017, the Voestalpine Supervisory Board gave the go-ahead for Böhler’s new stainless steel plant in Kapfenberg. An investment that has not existed in Europe for four decades – and which will secure 3000 jobs in the Upper Styria region.
In full operation from autumn
Now, almost five years later, the construction work is coming to an end – with a delay of a year. As responsible board member Franz Rotter announced on Wednesday at the balance sheet press conference, all processes are already being cold tested. The gradual “warm start-up” will then take place in the summer and the fully digitized installation should be fully operational from the autumn.
However, the old factory will not be shut down immediately, but will be ramped up again and again for about six to eight months in parallel with the new factory. “We are dependent on external components, especially the aerospace industry approval processes for the new plant,” says Rotter. The old factory will later be partly dismantled and Voestalpine wants to use future-oriented scrap processing.
No increase in the amount of steel
The amount of steel produced in Kapfenberg will not increase as a result of the investment, which will cost up to 420 million euros, but will remain at 205,000 tons per year. However, Rotter emphasizes that the efficiency of the processes will lead the world.
Next big investment starts in Donawitz
The next big investment in Styria is already underway. In Leoben-Donawitz – just like in Linz – an electric arc furnace that runs on green electricity will replace a traditional blast furnace from 2027. Total costs: one billion euros! According to Franz Kainersdorfer, head of the “Metal Engineering Division”, preparations for the construction site will start in September.
No employee on working time reduction
Also positive: in Austria – and therefore of course also at all branches in Styria – not a single employee of the group is currently working on short-time work, reports CEO Herbert Eibensteiner. There is also no reduction in working hours planned in the coming months.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
