Steel-Making Equipment Key Terms

Familiarize yourself with steel-making equipment terminology

By Howard Robertson

Steel-making involves several systematic processes. In order to convert iron ore into steel, you will need a variety of steel-making equipment. Different equipment is available for different purposes, such as removing impurities from the raw material, processing intermediaries and applying coatings to the finished materials.

Being aware of industrial jargon can help you understand steel-making processes. This guide will introduce you to some common steel-making equipment key terms, such as blast and electric arc furnaces, casting and ladle furnaces.

Blast furnace

A blast furnace converts iron ore into iron in the steel-making process. It is where the smelting of iron takes place by blowing air into a hot mixture of ore, coke and flux. This furnace is suitable for a continuous production process.
Try: You can learn the basics of blast furnaces at Metals Advisor, an online resource that provides information for processes and equipment used in the aluminum, iron and steel industry. The American Iron and Steel Institute provides information about the operation of blast furnaces.

Electric arc furnace

In an electric arc furnace, steel is melted using the heat generated from the formation of electric arcs. These furnaces are suitable for a batch production process.
Try: You can learn more about electric arc furnaces at SubsTech, a knowledge resource for engineering materials.

Continuous casting

Continuous casting is a process of manufacturing billets or slabs from molten steel. These billets are then ready for further processing or delivery to companies that produce steel products.
Try: Energy Manager Training provides information about the basic principles of continuous casting process.

Basic oxygen furnace

A basic oxygen furnace is useful for converting carbon-rich molten pig iron into steel. In this furnace, carbon and other impurities are oxidized to get steel with the required carbon-content.
Try: Mississippi Lime, a producer of lime-based products, provides information about basic oxygen furnaces.

Steckel mill

A steckel mill is a rolling mill that converts large steel slabs into rolls or coils by maintaining a steady temperature. This results in uniform steel rolls with a better surface texture.
Try: EngNet, an online engineering resource, offers a glossary of engineering terms, including blast furnace and steckel mill.

Vacuum degassing

A vacuum degassing procedure exposes the molten steel to a low-pressure environment to remove gases such as oxygen and hydrogen from steel.
Try: To learn more about the vacuum degassing process, read through information at Sunflag Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of high quality steel.