SMS group upgrades Industeel Belgium’s walking beam furnace with hydrogen compatible burners to boost the plant’s environmental performance

• Sustainable furnace revamp cuts carbon emissions and fossil fuel use while enhancing efficiency
• Flexible low-emission burners run compatibly with gas and up to 70 percent hydrogen

Industeel Belgium, part of the ArcelorMittal Group and a leading producer of high-quality steel plate, has commissioned SMS group to complete a sustainable revamp of the walking beam furnace at its plate mill in Charleroi, Belgium. Originally installed in 1969, the walking beam furnace at Industeel Belgium is a reheating furnace used to bring steel plate to the required temperature for further processing. It will be modernized to reduce carbon emissions, meaning fossil fuel consumption is expected to be an average of 25 percent lower.

This project represents a further step forward in Industeel Belgium’s commitment to sustainability. By focusing on reducing fossil fuel emissions and the overall plant’s carbon footprint, the revamp will improve the reheating furnace’s environmental performance. The scope includes a complete relining of the furnace box, the installation of a high-performance heat recuperator, and the integration of SMS’s innovative RADFlame HY2 burners, flat flame roof burners, as well as X-Pact Prometheus, a fossil fuel combustion control system.

By integrating SMS RADFlame HY2 roof burners within the walking beam furnace, operation with both natural gas and up to 70 percent hydrogen is possible, offering real flexibility in fuel use. These burners produce a uniform, flat flame shape that is easy to control, enabling a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions. Additionally, the system will cut fossil fuel consumption and lower nitrogen oxide emissions to less than 65 parts per million, setting a new benchmark in environmentally-friendly furnace operation.

To further enhance operational efficiency, the upgrade will include a new high-performance heat recuperator to preheat combustion air, as well as premium refractory materials in the furnace box to optimize fossil fuel savings. The X-Pact Prometheus combustion control system will ensure precise control of the heating process, resulting in reduced energy waste and better overall furnace performance. It will guarantee heating quality and process repeatability to reduce scrap and product repairs after rolling.

SMS has tailored all technical solutions to meet Industeel’s specific requirements, ensuring maximum efficiency and minimal downtimes during the implementation of the new walking beam furnace. By using advanced 3D design tools, combined with a detailed 3D scan of the existing installation, SMS is able to effectively prepare the revamp and avoid any interference with existing equipment. This meticulous planning reduces risks during installation and ensures a smooth startup process.

The modernization is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026. The dismantling of the existing furnace and installation of the upgraded system will take place during a six-week summer outage, thus minimizing any disruption to production.

This project is another milestone in the longstanding partnership between SMS and the ArcelorMittal Group. It highlights SMS’s expertise in delivering sustainable and efficient furnace solutions that comprehensively address the steel industry’s needs.