In the past two months, six Danieli Zerobucket electric arc furnaces (EAFs) have been successfully started up in China, including installations at Qiananshi Jiujiang (two units), Zhejiang Yuxin, Heyuan Derun, Baoshan I&S, and Baosteel Xinyu. Additionally, the Zerobucket EAF at Hebei Puyang is currently in the cold-test phase and will soon be operational.

These EAFs, with capacities ranging from 210 to 330 tonnes per hour, are designed for flexibility, accommodating various charge mixes such as hot metal, DRI, HBI, and scrap. They can replace up to 80% of hot-metal charge typically used in BOF converters, leading to improved tap-to-tap times and enhanced productivity in steelmaking.

The new furnaces utilize Danieli Automation systems, including the Q-Reg electrode regulator for optimized melting profiles, facilitating efficient startups and rapid performance enhancements. Notably, the installation at Zhejiang Yuxin features Danieli's innovative Tornado scrap conveyor system, which optimizes pre-heating for different scrap types. Since 2018, Danieli has secured 29 Zerobucket EAF orders in China, capturing over 70% of the market share for major technology suppliers.