Voestalpine has opened its new state-of-the-art stainless steel factory in Kapfenberg. The company is thus setting a technological milestone in the production of pioneering high-performance materials for the international automotive, energy and aviation industries. The new plant is the first of its kind to be built in Europe in four decades. When it comes to digitalization and sustainability, it plays a pioneering role worldwide. The region will also benefit from significant economic effects from the investment in the large-scale project.
When fully operational, the new plants can produce 205,000 tons of special steels annually for the most demanding customer segments.
“Today's opening of the stainless steel plant in Kapfenberg is a historic moment and a decisive technological step for the voestalpine Group, with which we can further strengthen our global competitiveness. At the same time, this major investment contributes to the long-term preservation of prosperity and jobs in the region,” explains Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG.
The new construction will secure around 3,500 jobs at the Styrian voestalpine locations in Kapfenberg and Mürzzuschlag (voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl, voestalpine Böhler Aerospace and voestalpine Böhler Bleche); Around 150 employees will work directly in the new plant.
“The comprehensive know-how of our experts on site was the decisive reason why Kapfenberg was chosen as the location for the new stainless steel plant. My special thanks go to all employees who, with great commitment over the past months and years, have made today's opening of this once-in-a-century project possible, and who in the future will contribute with their daily commitment to further expanding our leading position in the field of tool and special steels. “, says Franz Rotter, board member of voestalpine AG and head of the High Performance Metals Division
Top training for a high level of digitalization
The new plant complies with the most advanced Industry 4.0 standards: around 8,000 process data are continuously recorded, implemented and evaluated in parallel. All melting processes are controlled via a central control station. The necessary qualification of employees in the areas of robotics, sensors or data analysis is carried out via an in-house competence center for digitalization. Already in the training of future specialists in the ultra-modern training center in Kapfenberg, the focus is on a digitalized working world. In order to continue to ensure skilled worker training at the location, a new apprentice campus for 60 apprentices will be built there. Construction began in summer 2023 and completion is scheduled for fall 2025.
Environmentally and resource-saving steel production
The focus of the new stainless steel plant is, last but not least, on environmentally and resource-saving steel production: the heat from the melting units is planned to be extracted into the district heating network, cooling takes place via a closed circuit and the system is highly energy efficient. The core of the system is the electric arc furnace. This is powered 100 percent by electricity from renewable energy sources.
Economic stimulus
In 2018, the groundbreaking ceremony took place for the new stainless steel plant, which replaces the old steel plant. The test operation and the certification process of the product range are currently being carried out on the new systems. The new stainless steel plant will be operated in test mode in parallel with the old plant until the certification process is completed. Full commissioning will take place in the current 2023/24 financial year.
The investment volume amounts to around 467 million euros, although the original investment plan of 350 million euros had to be adjusted due to the difficult conditions. These include the Covid-19 pandemic and delivery difficulties for key units. The six-year investment period has considerable economic and regional economic effects, as a study by the Industrial Science Institute from September 2023 shows.
The construction of the new plant generates added value of around 350 million euros - up to 230 million euros of which is attributable to Styria. During the construction phase, the investment also secured - in addition to the 3,500 jobs at the Styrian voestalpine locations in Kapfenberg and Mürzzuschlag - around 2,500 in Styria and more than 4,200 jobs in Austria.
