- Continuation of the ramp-up: trial operation of the Duisburg Hot Strip Mill 4 resumed following fire in October 2025; focus on subsequent commissioning for regular operation
- Extensive repairs to furnaces and roof structure, along with targeted technical optimizations
- Associated continuous casting line back in operation since December 2025
- Production of high-strength and thin premium steels for automotive, engineering, construction, and energy industries
Repairs completed following the fire
In recent months, the affected plant components have been extensively repaired or replaced. During this period, targeted technical optimizations and modernizations were also implemented to further improve plant availability and process stability. The associated continuous casting line had already resumed operation in mid-December last year.
"Resuming trial operation at Hot Strip Mill 4 is an important step in strengthening the stability, flexibility, and reliability of our production network. In combination with the refurbished continuous casting line and the new, digitalized slab logistics, this re-establishes one of the most advanced production networks in the European steel industry. At the same time, this achievement reflects a strong team effort: many colleagues have worked with great commitment over the past few months to make the plant available again step by step – and in a remarkably short space of time," says Marco Richrath, Chief Operations Officer at thyssenkrupp Steel.
Wide range of premium steels for demanding industrial applications
Hot Strip Mill 4 is a key element of the comprehensive modernization and optimization of thyssenkrupp Steel's production network. It is designed to produce hot-rolled flat steel products in a wide range of grades and dimensions. In addition to standard steels, the portfolio includes higher-strength and thinner premium steels with demanding requirements in terms of dimensional accuracy, surface quality, and mechanical properties. These products serve as input materials for downstream processing and are used, among others, in the automotive industry – including applications for electric mobility – as well as in mechanical and plant engineering and in the construction and energy industries.
"With Hot Strip Mill 4, we have a facility that combines high precision, excellent surface quality, and a high degree of production flexibility," says Richrath. "This enables us to reliably meet the increasing requirements of our customers and to support demanding applications."
You can take a virtual tour of the facilities here.
