One of the most important investments in the Krakow branch of ArcelorMittal Poland has been completed – after 44 days of extensive modernization works, galvanizing plant No. 2 has been adapted to the production of sheet metal with a new galvanizing coating. The plant can now produce products coated with a classic coating and the innovative Optigal alloy based on zinc, magnesium and aluminium. The investment cost PLN 40 million.
Optigal, a coating with much better plastic properties than the previous alloys and greater corrosion resistance, will allow to expand the portfolio of products from Krakow valued, m.in by the construction industry – it is perfect for sandwich panels or trapezoidal sheets.
"As part of this project, we have built two new galvanizing baths and a system for their transport and lifting. Currently, in one bath with a capacity of 200 tons, the sheet metal is galvanized in the existing alloy, and in the other (180 tons) – in the new Optigal alloy” explains Wojciech Fraś, project manager of the galvanizing plant modernization and adapting it to the production of the new coating.
In order to start the production of sheet metal with a new coating, it was necessary not only to build a second bath, but also to adapt the entire existing infrastructure of the cold rolling mill. The biggest challenge was transporting the new bathtubs to the basement on the galvanizing line. After modernization, the tubs travel along the tracks installed in the basement of the plant on a special platform that lifts them to the workstation. The bathtubs are transported vertically and horizontally. "Due to the limited space for the installation of the entire system, it was not possible to use an ordinary crane and it was necessary to use a special hydraulic crane with a lifting capacity of 500 tons" points out Ireneusz Juraszek, project manager from the investment office.
The main contractor of the investment was the Spanish company GHI, and a total of 14 companies worked on the construction site.
"Our recent investments in Nowa Huta show that we treat Krakow as one of the pillars of our processing business. Despite many difficulties on the global steel market, we have already invested a total of nearly PLN 2.7 billion in our two rolling mills" says Wojciech Koszuta, chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal Poland. "This new coating and the hydrogen furnaces launched this year in the cold rolling mill consumed a total of nearly PLN 100 million. For a similar amount, we are currently implementing another large project together with Linde Gaz Polska – the construction of a hydrogen production plant, which will soon power the Krakow installations. Development and innovation are the key to our presence in this place" he concludes.
The "Optigal" project cost PLN 40 million, and the commercial production of sheet metal with the new coating will start after obtaining certification and homologation – in 2026