Nippon Steel starts commercial production in new Hirohata EAF

Nippon Steel, Japan's largest integrated mill, has started commercial production on its new electric-arc-furnace (EAF) in the Hirohata Area of its Setouchi Works in western Japan, the company announced on Tuesday. The commercial start is earlier than initially envisaged as trials on the new unit had only begun at the end of June, as Mysteel Global reported.

The start is a significant milestone for the company which until now has relied on blast furnace technology for its carbon steel operations, relegating use of EAFs for ordinary steel production to subsidiary companies such as mini-mill Osaka Steel. The Hirohata EAF has a rated capacity of 60,000 tonnes/month and