How to make transportation of steel more environmentally friendly? The answer lies at the very first stage – a new unloading system that minimizes dust formation. This new system was developed by DB Cargo and steel and mining group ArcelorMittal and was unveiled on October 28th. It is reported by Railway Supply magazine with reference to RailFreight.

DB Cargo

The new logistics system was presented at the steel plant in Eisenhüttenstadt (Brandenburg). This is precisely the logistics system, since it includes not only a new unloading process, but also innovative freight wagons and lightweight removable containers.

Let’s start with the unloading system, which was developed by the Austrian manufacturer Innofreight. It is partially automated and protects the environment from fine dust and emissions. The materials used in steel production, such as ore, coke and limestone, can be processed with virtually no dust generation. In the future, “green iron” for the production of climate-neutral steel will be transported in this way, explains DB Cargo.

At the same time, lighter wagons and special containers increase the efficiency of freight trains carrying steel. The new equipment optimizes the volume of loading and increases the payload per train by up to 20%. With the same volume of transportation, fewer freight trains should run. More than 90% of the raw materials needed can be delivered in this climate-friendly way, explains DB’s cargo department.

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ArcelorMittal is planning further investments in Eisenhüttenstadt: two electric arc furnaces are to be built that will produce raw steel from recycled scrap and sponge iron made using green hydrogen. Initially, the sponge iron will be transported by rail from the ArcelorMittal plant in Bremen to the unloading facilities in Eisenhüttenstadt.

Volker Wissing, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure commented: “In order to achieve our emission targets, the industry must organise all of its processes in a climate-neutral manner.

“One thing is clear: without environmentally friendly transport and a strong rail network, there can be no climate-neutral industry. The producers of such energy-intensive raw materials as steel have a special role to play, because they are required for many everyday products. It is imperative that companies continue to push ahead with their clean manufacturing transformation plans despite the energy crisis. From a political point of view, we are doing everything we can to support this path.”

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