After presentation of the historical background, the present structure of the Arab steel industry is described and its main characteristics discussed: insufficient domestic steel production, based on hot metal, scrap and mainly prereduced iron, high imports of semi-products, important development of the use of electric arc furnaces. Indications are then given on the rapid evolution of the steel industry in Egypt, Morroco and Saudi-Arabia, and on new, modern and larger capacity installations, in particular electric arc furnaces and rolling mills.

Thermodynamic calculations have shown that chlorine can accumulate and cycle in the shaft of the blast furnace in the form of alkalis chlorides. Cycling of chlorine and alkalis in the upper part of the shaft was simulated at laboratory scale with a countercurrent reduction furnace (BORIS furnace) and also directly investigated at an industrial blast furnace. Experiments and calculations have shown the superposition of two cycles: one “pure” alkalis cycle in a large temperature domain, and a KCl cycle in a narrower range (600-1,000°C). According to the trials, effects of KCl on reduction and disintegration behaviour of sinter are similar to those of “pure” alkalis.

The technology of slag processing by rotary cylinder at Baosteel has many advantages, such as short flow, higher efficiency, more safety, lower consumptions etc. Processed slag has stable properties and small but symmetrical granules, lower contents of free-CaO, and it can be used directly in many areas.

Mould level variations, which are a significant cause of slab downgrading and production troubles at the continuous casters, can result from bad performances and low reliability of control equipments. A revamping project was realized at Dunkirk, after studies and prototype trials which enabled us to select the different components: stopper mechanism and actuating cylinder, level sensor, control electronics. A specific start-up organization, allowing for daily analysis of signals and results and frequent contacts with the engineering team, has permitted to reach quickly the targeted performances.

VOEST-ALPINE Industrieanlagenbau (VAI) has developed highly efficient systems for the removal of dioxins from the offgas of conventional electric arc furnaces, as well as of shaft furnaces. These systems have been successfully implemented at industrial scale. This paper describes the components and working principle of these systems and gives information on the achievable emission levels.

The automobile is still the favored means of locomotion in Europe. Easy to use and a freedom satisfier make it indispensable in our daily lives. And yet the car is at the same time accused of playing a major role in atmospheric pollution and global warming of the earth by the greenhouse effect, being the main source of harmful noise and danger, and thus obliging lawmakers to react and make it evolve under regulatory pressure. The purpose of this article is to determine the current situation and posture in terms of law and regulations concerning it and to describe the solutions offered by steel.

In the European market for packaging steel, 50% is used in the food sector. Developments in canmaking and canning generally concentrate on process improvements, lightweighting and higher efficiencies. This is achieved by small process changes, but this evolutionary approach is not the optimum. Another option is the revolutionary approach. Concentrating on customer value, new products and processes should be developed. Developments in sterilization and packaging, and possibilities for new packaging designs are discussed. Calculations on the sterilization process have been carried out, concentrating on the amount of biological kill, but also considering final food quality. New options for value creation through innovation, complying with value chain requirements, are discussed.

A physically based model to predict the strengthening kinetics induced by copper precipitation in the system Fe-Cu has been developed. The effects of aging time, temperature and composition are integrated in the model. The results of the calculations are in good agreement with the experimental observations.