PLAQUE DE TOLE CHAUDE DILLINGER FRANCE DUNKERQUE
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Metal and steelmaking industry

Metal and steelmaking industry

HISTORIC KNOW-HOW, A LOW-CARBON FUTURE

Like chemicals, the metallurgy and steel sectors have been established on the industrial-port platform for many years. Dunkirk is home to world-renowned companies and know-how.

Metallurgy and steelmaking are today at the heart of decarbonization issues, which is why the territory is emerging as a laboratory of solutions with numerous initiatives carried out by all socio-economic players.

The presence of these industries brings many opportunities, in particular thanks to the establishment of the 1st CO2 and H2 Hub in France.

Find out why Dunkirk is home to so many projects in the metallurgy and steel industries.

1

The metallurgy and steel industry is the largest private employer in the Dunkirk employment area.

3,800

The metallurgy industry accounts for more than 3,800 establishments in the Hauts-de-France region, representing a quarter of all industrial establishments.

1

The Flanders-Dunkerque region is the leading hub for industrial mechanics, industrial maintenance, and industrial services in the Hauts-de-France region.

10

The Dunkirk basin is home to more than 10 major international companies in the metallurgy and steel industry.

Discover some of the metalworking and steel companies located in the region

  1. Aluminium Dunkerque
  2. ArcelorMittal
  3. Bozel
  4. Dillinger France
  5. Ferroglobe Manganese
  6. Harsco
  7. Industeel
Metal and steelmaking industry

Aluminium Dunkerque

Aluminium Dunkerque established itself in the region in 1991. As its name suggests, Aluminium Dunkerque specializes in the production of primary aluminum through electrolysis. Today, the site produces 285,000 tons of aluminum per year and employs nearly 550 people. Its main markets are the automotive and packaging industries. In line with the objectives of COP21, it is accelerating its energy and environmental transition, with the site having succeeded in reducing its emissions by nearly 20% since 2012 and aiming for carbon neutrality in the coming years.

Metal and steelmaking industry

ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal has two sites in Dunkirk.

1. Founded in 1962, the ArcelorMittal site in Dunkirk is the largest steelworks in Europe. Located on the coast, in the heart of northwestern industrial Europe, the Dunkirk plant enjoys a privileged geographical position, offering it a wide network of communications links to Europe and the rest of the world. Part of ArcelorMittal France Cluster Nord (comprising seven industrial sites and one administrative and commercial site), the site is part of ArcelorMittal Europe’s flat products segment. It produces high value-added steels for the automotive, packaging, and general industry markets.

Its steel slabs, the finished product from the steelworks, are transformed into coils by the hot continuous mills in Dunkirk and Florange, then processed and coated (galvanized or tin-plated) by the other Finishing sites in the Northern Cluster.

With its 3,300 employees, the Dunkirk site is also a major player in the local economy.

2. The Mardyck site is supplied with coils by the Dunkirk site. They are transported by rail to be cold rolled and then galvanized to obtain the final characteristics requested by customers. The plant is renowned for the quality of its coated steels, which are used in industry and the automotive sector. With its pickling and cold rolling lines, the site supplies six coil galvanizing lines: its own two lines, the three lines at the Montataire site, and the one at the Desvres site.

Part of the ArcelorMittal Cluster Nord, the site employs nearly 600 people and is also part of ArcelorMittal Europe’s flat products segment.

Covering an area of 240 hectares, including 150 hectares of natural space, the site has 14 ponds and a wealth of habitats, fauna, and flora, enabling it to reconcile industrial activity with nature conservation.

 

 

 

Metal and steelmaking industry

Bozel

The Bozel Europe site in Grande-Synthe is one of three entities belonging to the Bozel group, a subsidiary of Japan Metals & Chemicals.

The plant specializes in the production of cored wire for the entire European steel industry and is the world’s leading producer of calcium silicate (additives used in the manufacture of steel and cast iron).

Metal and steelmaking industry

Dillinger France

The Dillinger France site, located in Grande-Synthe since 1962 and employing more than 520 people, belongs to the German group Dillinger (7,500+ employees). Dillinger is the European leader in the manufacture of thick, wide sheets of high-quality steel. Dillinger France is the French specialist and sole producer in Dunkirk of steel plates for offshore wind turbines. It has supplied the majority of European offshore wind farms.

Metal and steelmaking industry

Ferroglobe Manganese

The Ferroglobe Manganese plant in Dunkirk began production in June 1991 and now employs nearly 80 people. It specializes in processing manganese ore into sinter and manganese alloys, primarily ferromanganese. After two changes of ownership, the plant, which operates the world’s largest manganese ferroalloy furnace, joined Ferroglobe in 2018. The combination of the furnace’s size and a high level of automation in operations control places it among the best in terms of productivity per employee. Local management is fully committed to protecting the health and safety of everyone working on site, as well as optimizing raw material and energy consumption. Operations are conducted in accordance with environmental regulations, and the best available technologies have been implemented in recent years to reduce the plant’s environmental footprint.

Metal and steelmaking industry

Harsco

Harsco Metals & Minerals France, based in Dunkirk (Grande-Synthe) and owned by Harsco Corporation, employs nearly 1,200 people in the region. Their specialty is related to services for the steel and non-ferrous metallurgy industries.

Metal and steelmaking industry

Industeel

A subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, Industeel Dunkerque specializes in high-performance steel. The site employs XX employees.

Industeel manufactures various steel products (shaped parts, sheets, ingots, plates, etc.), sometimes of very large dimensions and using different types of steel.

Metal and steelmaking industry

A dense network of industrial subcontractors

The presence of major players in the metallurgy and steel industries in the industrial port area is complemented by that of consulting and engineering firms and high-performance industrial subcontractors.

Here are a few examples:

  • ADF Tarlin: a company specializing in industrial maintenance. It also operates in the fields of engineering and expertise, the supply of production and testing equipment, and finally in production and maintenance services.
  • EKIUM: a design and engineering firm with expertise in a variety of fields such as steel, metallurgy, recycling, the environment, energy, etc.

Aluminium in electro-mobility

Lightweighting with aluminium is a perfect solution for sustainable mobility 

As car manufacturers and society put more and more focus on sustainablility, aluminium is the very good solution due to its lightweight and infinitely recyclable properties. 

Aluminium extrusion are used to lightweight many parts of a car from crash management systems to battery closures, but also in engine blocks, transmission components or structural parts. Aluminium sheets are extensively used in hoods, doors and heat exchangers too. 

Aluminium make the vehicles safer : it absorbs twice as much crash energy per kilogram as a steel solution.

The manufacturing methodology of aluminium extrusions offers a design flexibility that together with aluminium sheet and casting components makes aluminium the preferred solution for safety-critical components like battery boxes and bumpers.

Key information :

  • Aluminium is light
  • Aluminium offers good flexibility
  • Aluminium is recyclable : recycled aluminium uses only 5% of the energy required to produce primary aluminium 

Discover the local Metallurgy and Steel companies

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Metal and steelmaking industry