Industeel Belgium, one of Belgium’s leading steel plate producers, is taking a major step toward reducing the carbon footprint of its production processes. The company has signed an agreement with SMS group to modernize the reheating furnace at its Charleroi plate mill.
In operation since 1969, the walking beam furnace will be upgraded to operate with a blend of natural gas and hydrogen.
According to SMS group, the project includes a complete relining of the furnace, the installation of a high-efficiency heat recovery system, and the integration of its proprietary RADFlame HY² hydrogen-compatible burners and X-Pact Prometheus combustion management system. As a result, fossil fuel consumption is expected to decrease by an average of 25 percent, while NOₓ emissions will drop below 65 ppm.
The new system will deliver both energy savings and greater operational flexibility. The furnace will be designed to run on up to 70 percent hydrogen, ensuring improved temperature uniformity during steel reheating thanks to the flat flame and easily controllable burner design. This will help reduce both energy loss and material waste.
The project marks a key milestone in Industeel’s sustainability strategy, as the company accelerates its energy efficiency investments on the path toward carbon-neutral production. SMS group plans to complete the modernization during a six-week scheduled maintenance shutdown, minimizing production downtime.
The revamped furnace is expected to be commissioned in the summer of 2026.
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