ArcelorMittal Belval and Differdange has started the modernised electric arc furnace at the Esch-Belval steelworks, as planned. The upper and lower vessels were replaced during two weeks of conversion work and a new fin-type bottom electrode was installed. Investments – within the framework of the Lux2016 plan for maintaining the competitiveness of Luxembourg’s steel industry – are running at €6m.

Aker Solutions delivered the steel frame for the world's first subsea gas compression facility to be installed at the Statoil-operated Åsgard field. The installation, set to come on stream in 2015, will enable the recovery of an additional 280 million barrels of oil equivalents. The 1,800-t steel frame will in the next two weeks be installed on the Åsgard field seabed to form the base of the world's first subsea gas compression facility. It is the largest template manufactured by Aker Solutions, measuring 74 m in length, 45 m in width and 26 m in height.

Outokumpu hat den Zuschlag für einen Auftrag zur Lieferung maßgefertigter, hochwertiger Werkstoffe zur Konstruktion von Chemikalientankern erhalten: Das finnische Werkstoffunternehmen wird an eine chinesische Schiffswerft 12 250 t Duplex-2205-Edelstahl für fünf Chemikalientanker liefern, die vom Unternehmen Stolt Tankers in Auftrag gegeben wurden. Stolt Tankers betreibt eine der größten und modernsten Flotten von Chemietankern weltweit. Der Auftrag beinhaltet zudem eine Option für drei weitere Schiffe.

Vallourec announces the dedication of its new pipe mill to serve, in particular, the North American market for production of shale hydrocarbons. Located in Youngstown (Ohio, United States), within the existing Vallourec Star facility, the new unit further expands the range of Vallourec products manufactured in North America. With an initial annual production capacity of 350 000 t of small diameter seamless tubes, the new mill represents an investment of $ 1.05 billion and employs 350 people.

Outotec has appointed Olli Nastamo, Master of Science (engineering), as Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence and member of the Executive Board as of August 1, 2013. Olli Nastamo, 56, is joining Outotec from Comptel Corporation where he has been responsible for Comptel Inventory business and business operations.  Prior to that he has held several senior leadership positions in the fields of business management, product management, R&D, project management, engineering, human resources, information technology, quality and business processes in several technology and engineering companies.

In IJmuiden, the Netherlands the successful commissioning of an Aumund metal plate conveyor type KZB-S 2400/250/6 has now been completed. The deep drawn pan conveyor KZB-S, specifically developed in Rheinberg for sinter transport conveys iron sinter to the ring cooler at Tata Steel at a capacity of 250t/h. Tata Steel IJmuiden annually produces around 7 million t of high quality steel which is used in the automobile industry, the building sector and the packaging industry among other sectors.

ArcelorMittal today announces that Bill Scotting will be appointed chief executive of ArcelorMittal Mining. Peter Kukielski, who has been chief executive since December 2008, is leaving the company on August 3rd to take up a new opportunity. Until that time, he will be working closely with Bill to ensure a smooth transition. Mr Scotting currently holds the position of executive vice president, member of the management committee and head of strategy. He has over 25 years experience in the metals and mining industry in strategic, operations management, technical and consulting roles.

Bruno Lebrun became the new General Manager of Metalscan in France in December 2012. A specialist in the field of non-destructive testing for more than 15 years, Bruno Lebrun worked in the industrial division of Olympus NDT based in Québec before joining Metalscan in 2011. A former expatriate, whose knowledge in ironworks and industrial production is of great benefit to the enterprise, his mission is to define the global strategy of Metalscan which was acquired by the Tecnatom group in 2004: international development, expansion of the market share in the aeronautic business which needs non-destructive testing for the echography of its materials as well as in the composites markets, and the creation of new product portfolios.

steeluniversity.org is a free, award-winning educative on-line web portal, developed by the World Steel Association, the global organization that represents the Steel industry. Alacero –Latin American Steel Association ‑ and one of its members, the seamless pipes producer Tenaris, take part of this initiative and have translated the different training modules into Spanish, making this world-class training material available to Latin-American students and young professionals.

Eurofer welcomes the “Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable steel industry in Europe” published by the European Commission. “It is good to see that the Commission considers a strong and competitive steel sector as essential for the Union’s industrial and economic base. The Action Plan is a good starting point but there still is a lot of work to be done until our sector will substantially benefit from the proposals”, says Gordon Moffat, Director General of the European Steel Association.