voestalpine Wire Rod Austria to undergo major upgrade with Danieli

voestalpine Wire Rod Austria has once again selected Danieli to lead a strategic upgrade of its premium-quality mill in Donawitz.

This investment supports voestalpine’s long-term strategy to enhance production flexibility, meet evolving market demands, and optimize operational costs.

Originally supplied by Danieli in 2015, the mill will be revamped to process new billet formats—180-mm squares and 205-mm rounds—alongside the current 150-mm squares.

The upgrade also enables future expansion to accommodate round formats up to ø230mm.

Under a comprehensive contract covering engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning: Danieli Centro Combustion will revamp the reheating furnace (originally supplied by another OEM) to handle both square and round formats, introducing a new kick-in machine, replacing internal riders, and upgrading Level 2 automation. Danieli Morgårdshammar will enhance the breakdown mill with a side-shiftable high-pressure descaler, a stiffer billet pinch roll, and two additional rolling stands to ensure optimal reduction ratios for the new formats.

The upgrade will be carried out in two shutdowns to minimize production disruption, with industrial operations using the new formats scheduled to begin by early 2027.