Shape Project

The Saarstahl AG - with its locations in Völklingen, Burbach and Neunkirchen along with Roheisengesellschaft Saar in Dillingen (Saarstahl and Dillinger Hütte each with 50%) - is a German steel manufacturing company with a global presence on the steel production market. Saarstahl AG specializes in the production of wire rod, steel bars and semi-finished products of various grades as well as constructional steel and broad flanged beams. The product range also includes open die forgings. These products are important preliminary products, both today and for the future, for the automotive industry and its suppliers, the construction industry, power industry engineering, the aerospace industry, general mechanical engineering and other steel processing branches.

The production chain of Saarstahl involves a multitude of specialised and complex metallurgical manufacturing processes. First, a blast furnace produces hot metal from iron
ore as raw material for the steel production. This hot metal is sent by rail to the steel works for the next production step. Here, steel of different quality grades is produced according to concrete customer orders and requirements. It is cast at continuous casting plants into billets, which are afterwards sent to the rolling mills. Probably, other production steps like a annealing or a surface treatment are needed before the end products are delivered to the customers – suppliers of the automotive, shipbuilding or aerospace sectors. The overall process chain is characterised by uncertainties, changes in customer orders and is prone to various discrepancies during production. Therefore, steel manufacturing companies must be flexible and responsive, by adapting production plans fast, in order to meet customer requirements still cost-efficient.