Riesa
Feralpi Riesa
ESF Elbe Stahlwerke Feralpi Riesa plant is a 1400 thousand tonnes per annum (TTPA) electric arc furnace (EAF) steel plant operating in Riesa, Saxony, Germany. In 1991, the italian steel producer Feralpi Siderurgica purchases 230.000m² of property, to construct a modern steel plant. In preparation almost all of the existing plant is disassembled
April 2023, The new rolling mill of Riesa virtually in the Fraunhofer Institute
With a diameter of 16 metres and a height of four metres, the Elbedome in Magdeburg is one of the largest 360-degree visualisation systems for virtual interactive content in Europe. "Here we can cover the entire surface the walls and the floor with three-dimensional objects," explains the head of the Elbedome Steffen Masik. "In total, we create an all-round panorama and a floor projection area of over 450 square metres." The mixed reality lab is equipped with 25 state-of-the-art 3D stereo projectors for seamless projection. They create an absolutely realistic image impression.
*https://feralpi-stahl.com/en/media/press-releases/new-rolling-mill-riesa-virtually-fraunhofer-institute
Image photography
By Viktor Macha in 2005.
Plant facts and figures
The plant have an annual capacity of 1400000 tons.
The following processes are conducted in the plant:
- Steel making
- Rolling mill
This plant produces the following type of products:
- Bars
- Wires
Full description
The very origins of metallurgical production in Riesa are dating back to 1725.
In 1873 the brothers Heinrich and Alexander Schoenberg founded a brand new mill in Riesa. According to english model the iron was melted in puddling furnaces. A steam hammer mill and first rolling mill was established at the same time.
In 1849 the works were acquired by Count von Einsiedel. Due to its strategic location at the river Elbe the Riesa works became a major producer of steel in Central Europe with the end of the 19th century.
During the two world wars, the production focuses mainly on the military industry.
During 1945-1946 the old plant is completely dismantled as payment of war reparations to the Soviet Union. However the first post-war rolling mill is put in coperation in February 1947 already.
Since 1949 the metallurgical plant Riesa was integrated into into the planned economy of the GDR and lasts under such conditions until late 80´s.
In 1990, a joint-stock company “Stahl-und Walzwerk Riesa AG” was formed and the entire complex was bought by Italian company Feralpi year later only. A complete transformation has begun, the old steelworks were replaced by modern smelting facility. Heart of the steel making process consists of 75 t arc furnace with subsequent four-strands continuous caster and wire rolling mill today.