BGH Edelstahl Freital GmbH (Freital, Germany):

Loh J., Dr. Eng., General Director, juergen.loh@bgh.de
Weyl A., Material Technics
Snatkin H., Plant Manager of Steel Works

The present article shows the development of the electroslag remelting (ESR) production at BGH Freital, where the first German works using ESR technology is located since 1962. The six ESR plants are producing ingots up to 2 t ingot weight. The electrodes are cast on a horizontal continuous caster. The melting and remelting of special materials in small batches is the core business of BGH Freital. All kinds of materials starting from low alloyed steel, stainless steel grades up to nickel-based alloys are produced. Production rates of ESR material at BGH Freital works are analyzed since 2002. Product mix of ESR material manufactures at Freital is also observed, it includes 55% of stainless and heat-resistant steels, 39% of alloyed construction steels, 5% of high-alloyed steels and 1% of structural steels. Using a fixed metallurgical technology the customers’ requirements can be fulfilled. ESR-remelted material meets high cleanliness and low segregation requirements. Production of electrodes for small ESR-ingots is displayed for different process routes: horizontal continuous casting (HCC), continuous casting (CC), ingor technology, ingot + rolling technology. The compared parameters are quality (cleanliness, soundness, surface and composition), geometry (taper) and flexibility in alloy, volume and size, as well as cost processing. A new ESR unit has been put into operation in August 2012 and permits remelting under protective inert gas atmosphere.