ALZ (steelworks)
Encyclopedia
ALZ is a stainless steel producer based in Genk
nr. Limbourg
in Flanders, Belgium.
In 2001 the company was merged with French stainless steel producer Ugine and in 2006 became part of the ArcelorMittal group as part of the stainless steel division.
(Belgium) (controlled by Evence Coppée) and Allegheny Ludlum (USA).
In 1970 Espérance-Longdoz (Société Métallurgique d'Espérance Longdoz) became part of Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence, and ALZ became a Cockerill subsidiary; Allegheny Ludlum disposed of its shares, and in 1971 Cockerill had a 90% stake of the shares. In 1979/80 the Cockerill group was restructure due to financial problems, and also disposed of its shares; German steel company Klöckner
became a shareholder, in 1981 the other Flanders based steelmaker Sidmar became a shareholder, by 1987 the majority shareholder. In 1988 the company became part of the Arbed
group. In 2001 Arbed became part of Arcelor
and ALZ merged with French stainless producer Ugine
to become Ugine & ALZ (U&A).
Subsequently, in 2006 Arcelor was taken over by Mittal Steel to form ArcelorMittal, and the works is now part of ArcelorMittal's stainless steel division.
plant in Chertal, Liege for conversion to slab, they then returned to ALZ for rolling.
Continuous cast
stainless steel production was introduced in the mid 1970s, eliminated the need to have slabbing done at Chertal. Widths of up to 2050mm could be continuous cast. In 1987 an electric foundry was installed with ultra-high power electric arc furnace, converter and vacuum oxygen decarburisation increasing capacity by more than double.
As of 2002 steel production was ~1million tonne pa producing stainless steel coil and plate mainly from scrap. The factory site of 78.5 ha (0.785 km²) is connected to the rail network, and is situated on the north bank to the Albert Canal
from which it draws cooling water.
Genk
Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
nr. Limbourg
Limbourg
Limbourg is a medieval town located in the province of Liège, Wallonia, Belgium.On 1 January 2008 Limbourg had a total population of 5,680. The total area is 24.63 km² which gives a population density of 231 inhabitants per km²...
in Flanders, Belgium.
In 2001 the company was merged with French stainless steel producer Ugine and in 2006 became part of the ArcelorMittal group as part of the stainless steel division.
History
ALZ was founded as a vertically integrated stainless steel producer in 1960 as an equal holding between Espérance-LongdozEspérance-Longdoz
Espérance-Longdoz was a coal mining and steel production company located in the Liege region of Belgium.The company merged with Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence in 1970 to form Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence-Espérance Longdoz , later being merged into Usinor, then Arcelor then ArcelorMittal.Production at...
(Belgium) (controlled by Evence Coppée) and Allegheny Ludlum (USA).
In 1970 Espérance-Longdoz (Société Métallurgique d'Espérance Longdoz) became part of Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence, and ALZ became a Cockerill subsidiary; Allegheny Ludlum disposed of its shares, and in 1971 Cockerill had a 90% stake of the shares. In 1979/80 the Cockerill group was restructure due to financial problems, and also disposed of its shares; German steel company Klöckner
Klöckner
Klöckner & Co. is a German metal handler headquartered in Duisburg. Europe's largest independent distributor of steel, it is a leading supplier to the European and North American markets....
became a shareholder, in 1981 the other Flanders based steelmaker Sidmar became a shareholder, by 1987 the majority shareholder. In 1988 the company became part of the Arbed
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
group. In 2001 Arbed became part of Arcelor
Arcelor
Arcelor S.A. was the world's largest steel producer in terms of turnover and the second largest in terms of steel output, with a turnover of €30.2 billion and shipments of 45 million metric tons of steel in 2004...
and ALZ merged with French stainless producer Ugine
Ugine
Ugine is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
to become Ugine & ALZ (U&A).
Subsequently, in 2006 Arcelor was taken over by Mittal Steel to form ArcelorMittal, and the works is now part of ArcelorMittal's stainless steel division.
Production
Initially the company processed steel by cold rolling, annealing and other processes, using stainless steel imported from the USA. Later the plant expanded to include casting, and an electric foundry installed in 1970. Cast stainless blocks were produced at the factory and sent to the Espérance-LongdozEspérance-Longdoz
Espérance-Longdoz was a coal mining and steel production company located in the Liege region of Belgium.The company merged with Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence in 1970 to form Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence-Espérance Longdoz , later being merged into Usinor, then Arcelor then ArcelorMittal.Production at...
plant in Chertal, Liege for conversion to slab, they then returned to ALZ for rolling.
Continuous cast
Continuous casting
Continuous casting, also called strand casting, is the process whereby molten metal is solidified into a "semifinished" billet, bloom, or slab for subsequent rolling in the finishing mills. Prior to the introduction of continuous casting in the 1950s, steel was poured into stationary molds to form...
stainless steel production was introduced in the mid 1970s, eliminated the need to have slabbing done at Chertal. Widths of up to 2050mm could be continuous cast. In 1987 an electric foundry was installed with ultra-high power electric arc furnace, converter and vacuum oxygen decarburisation increasing capacity by more than double.
As of 2002 steel production was ~1million tonne pa producing stainless steel coil and plate mainly from scrap. The factory site of 78.5 ha (0.785 km²) is connected to the rail network, and is situated on the north bank to the Albert Canal
Albert Canal
The Albert Canal is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, named after King Albert I of Belgium. It connects the major cities Antwerp and Liège and the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. It has a depth of , a free height of and a total length of...
from which it draws cooling water.