Czech Republic: A project by ArcelorMittal Ostrava substituting the primary raw materials for steelmaking with specially processed recycled slag has been ranked fourth in a government competition promoting the use of waste by-products as resources. The Ministry of Industry and Trade ran the competition that received 127 entries. Project manger Jitka Halamová attended the award ceremony on behalf of the steel producer.

“Since we've been using a special technology to sort the slag to end up a with higher iron content and a lower level of phosphorus, we have been able to reuse that slag in our operations in much higher amounts than before. Thanks to that, we are able to save iron ore, additives and fuel and, at the same time, we don’t accumulate large amounts of waste on our premises,” said Halamová.

The new technique mechanically processes the 0-8mm steel slag that contains 35 - 40% of iron. This has enabled ArcelorMittal Ostrava to increase the slag’s iron content to 54 - 57%, while keeping the phosphorus content low enough to reuse the enriched slag in the sintering process, replacing iron ore, additives and fuel in production. Using slag in this way increases the sustainability of the business’ operations and offers economic benefits. In 2016 ArcelorMittal Ostrava recycled on average 1900t/month of enriched slag and in the process saved a total of over US$0.87m.

Argentina: Holcim Argentina plans to start a slag import programme due to lack of local supply. Its sister company LG Trading, also owned by LafargeHolcim, will arrange the purchases subject to local regulations and permitting. Three ships with a capacity of 40,000t will be contracted at first to import slag from October to December 2017. Slag from the programme will be used at the cement producer’s Campana grinding plant near Buenos Aires.

US/Canada: TMS International’s sites in the US and Canada have received 44 safety awards from the National Slag Association (NSA) for 2016. The NSA Safety Awards recognise performance as measured against Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable injury rates. The awards were presented to the company during the NSA’s annual meeting held in Hollywood, Florida.

“TMS is honoured to receive these important awards and it is a testament to the quality management within this organisation,” said Raymond Kalouche, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of TMS International.

Notably, the company’s operation in Jewett, Texas received the award for ‘2016 Most Improved Job Sites for Safety.’ Sites at Middletown in Ohio, Glassport/Horsham in Pennsylvania, PA; Freeport in Texas, Jewett and Texas and Petersburg in Virginia received safety awards for ‘Job Sites that have Exceeded 200,000 Hours Since Last Recordable Incident.’

In addition, Chad Wolfenbarger of TMS’ Portage, Indiana operation was recognised for winning the 2018 safety slogan contest with ‘Working Safely Today For Family Tomorrow.’ Sergio Mendoza of TMS’ Puebla, Mexico operation was recognised for a Best Practice award for the team’s effort in developing a slag market at the newly established site with a steel company in Sahagun, Mexico.

Brazil: ArcelorMittal Tubarão and Usiminas have been nominated in the Steelie Awards for a steel slag rural road-building project. The steel makers have been put forward for the Excellence in sustainability category of the eight edition of the awards organised by the World Steel Association. The winners will be revealed at the annual dinner of the 2017 General Assembly of the association in Brussels, Belgium on 16 October 2017.

ArcelorMittal’s research and development department developed its Revsol and Revsol Plus products, which turn steel slag into a primary road, car park and storage yard coating, replacing the use of non-renewable sources in road building. The manufacturers say that the product also reduces the need for road maintenance.