Tata Steel has struck a supply deal with specialist crane manufacturer JASO Industrial Cranes for its £1.25bn electric arc furnace project at Port Talbot.
Following the ending of blast furnace primary steelmaking at Port Talbot last year, the Indian-owned company, with £500m financial backing from the Ƶ Government, said its electric arc furnace, which will make steel from scrap steel, is scheduled to become fully operational in 2028.
JASO will supply seven high-capacity process girder cranes to support the operation of the plant’s EAF facility.
The deal is made up of three 500-tonne capacity cranes for handling liquid steel ladles, essential for the efficient operation of the new steelmaking facility; two 80-tonne scrap cranes to feed the EAF via an integrated conveyor system, ensuring a steady supply of raw materials and 35-tonne cranes for electrode maintenance, supporting the ongoing operation of the plant’s advanced equipment
Stuart Lloyd, project manager for the cranes Project said: “We’re excited to strengthen our longstanding partnership with JASO on this crucial part of our £1.25 billion transformation.
“Back in 2019, we worked with JASO to replace our 60-year-old North Charging Crane, which lifted hot metal ladles to charge the steel plant’s converters with molten iron. We’ve built on the lessons learned from that project to help guide this exciting next phase of our green steelmaking journey.”
“These seven new, high-capacity process cranes will play a pivotal role in connecting different parts of our cutting-edge electric arc facility, enabling low-emission steel production in south Wales for many years to come.”
Raúl Fernández, marketing and sales director at JASO Industrial Cranes said: “We are extremely proud to continue delivering cutting-edge engineering solutions for high-profile projects like this one in Port Talbot.
“This order marks both the largest and most impactful project in our company’s history. It is truly a privilege to play a key role in the Ƶ steel industry’s transition to a stronger and more sustainable future.”
Following planning approval work on the EAF is expected to start this summer.
The ending of primary steel making has see around 2,800 job losses at Port Talbot and Tata’s downstream businesses.
