The voestalpine Group’ s investment volume amounted to EUR 500.7 million in the first half of 2024/25, exceeding the previous year’ s figure of EUR 484.8 million by roughly 3.3%. One focus was on the implementation of greentec steel, the ambitious step-by-step plan for green steel production. In a first step, one blast furnace each at the Linz and Donawitz sites will be replaced by a green electricity-powered electric arc furnace (EAF).
The Steel Division invested a total of EUR 229.0 million in the first half of 2024/25, which is 8.7% less than in the same period of the previous year (EUR 250.7 million). Important implementation steps were taken in the transformation of steel production at the Linz site in Austria. With the legally binding approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) decision by the Federal Administrative Court in June 2024, construction work on the 220 kV power line can begin. As the operator of the Austria-wide electricity transmission grid, Austrian Power Grid (APG) is thus laying the foundations for the future supply of electricity to the electric arc furnace. In addition, APG continued the construction of the transformer station on the voestalpine site as planned, while the Steel Division started work on the underground microtunnel for the power supply of the future electric arc furnace at the same time. The construction of secondary metallurgy 5 is a key technology to cover the increasing demand for capacities for the post-treatment of high-quality steel grades in the future. The repair of blast furnace 6 (8-meter furnace) was started on schedule in August 2024, after the second of the two smaller blast furnaces, blast furnace 5, had already been renovated in the previous year. Preparations were made for a new wind machine at blast furnace A. In future, this will use electricity instead of steam from metallurgical gases, thereby improving efficiency and sustainability.
The investment volume of the High Performance Metals Division amounted to EUR 56.9 million in the business year, down 14.9% on the previous year (EUR 66.9 million). Villares Metals is investing in the expansion of remelting capacities at the Sumaré site in Brazil, in line with the strategy of meeting the growing demand for high-quality materials for the aerospace industry. Completion of the new vacuum arc remelting plant is scheduled for the course of the current business year. At the state-of-the-art special steel plant in Kapfenberg, which was completed in the past business year, the certification process for the manufacture of products at the new plant was further advanced. The Value Added Services business segment strengthened its market position in machining, heat treatment, and coating processes by investing in the further expansion of its range of services.
The Metal Engineering Division invested EUR 153.0 million in the first half of 2024/25. Compared to the previous year (EUR 91.3 million), this is a plus of 67.6%. As planned, the interim repair of blast furnace 4 at the Donawitz site in Austria began at the end of August 2024. This blast furnace will be replaced by an electric arc furnace in 2027. In view of the technology switch from coal-based to electric steel production, the preparatory measures for connecting the power supply to the new transformer station to be built were completed and the construction site was handed over to APG. Furthermore, the foundation work and the construction of the scrap transfer tunnel are currently being implemented. The construction of flood protection, in particular to protect the high-tech wire rod mill in Donawitz from flooding, was completed in the first half of 2024/25.
The Metal Forming Division made investments of EUR 64.5 million in the first half of 2024/25. This represents a decrease of 5.3% compared to the previous year (EUR 68.1 million), this is a reduction of 5.3%. voestalpine Rollforming Corporation (Tubes & Sections business segment) is expanding production capacity at its site in Jeffersonville, USA, on the basis of long-term customer contracts with renowned global truck manufacturers. The investment volume for the additional roll forming and processing facilities with a capacity of around 40,000 tons per year amounts to approximately EUR 70 million. The production of side members is scheduled to go into operation in Northern spring 2026, with full capacity being reached one year later. At the Caxia do Sul site, voestalpine Meincol is investing in slitting machines and machine tools in addition to building a new hall. Current investment projects at Automotive Components primarily concern replacement investments in view of the reorganization of the business unit.