Production
Producing top-quality steel involves many steps that require precision and our employees’ expertise. Here is an overview of our manufacturing process.
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Iron ore
Iron ore is one of the two main raw materials used to make steel. At ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada, we primarily use ore from northern Quebec mines worked by our sister company, ArcelorMittal Mining Canada.
Iron ore is one of the two main raw materials used to make steel. At ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada, we primarily use ore from northern Quebec mines worked by our sister company, ArcelorMittal Mining Canada.
Scrap Metal
Scrap metal can be used with or without iron ore to make steel. Scrap metal (from cars, home appliances, steel waste, household recycling, etc.) is collected at our recycling centres and processed or purchased from external suppliers. We are the largest recycler in Quebec.
Scrap metal can be used with or without iron ore to make steel. Scrap metal (from cars, home appliances, steel waste, household recycling, etc.) is collected at our recycling centres and processed or purchased from external suppliers. We are the largest recycler in Quebec.
Pelletization
Pelletization at ArcelorMittal Mining Canada’s pellet plant involves enriching iron ore and converting it into pellets that are cooked at a high temperature for use in steel production. The pellets are shipped from Port-Cartier, generally by ship, to Contrecoeur.
Pelletization at ArcelorMittal Mining Canada’s pellet plant involves enriching iron ore and converting it into pellets that are cooked at a high temperature for use in steel production. The pellets are shipped from Port-Cartier, generally by ship, to Contrecoeur.
Direct Reduction Plant
Before they can be used in our steelworks, iron pellets must be treated to remove most of the oxygen and increase purity. This is called the direct reduction process and takes place in one of two modules at the Contrecoeur direct reduction plant. The pellets are then ready to be moved by truck and conveyor into our steelworks.
Before they can be used in our steelworks, iron pellets must be treated to remove most of the oxygen and increase purity. This is called the direct reduction process and takes place in one of two modules at the Contrecoeur direct reduction plant. The pellets are then ready to be moved by truck and conveyor into our steelworks.
Electric Arc Furnace
Scrap metal and iron ore are melted with very hot electrodes (about 1,650 degrees Celsius). Oxygen blown into the furnace during the process removes impurities from the hot metal. The molten steel is then tapped into a ladle furnace where additives are mixed in to refine the composition of the steel and give it certain properties.
Scrap metal and iron ore are melted with very hot electrodes (about 1,650 degrees Celsius). Oxygen blown into the furnace during the process removes impurities from the hot metal. The molten steel is then tapped into a ladle furnace where additives are mixed in to refine the composition of the steel and give it certain properties.
Continuous Casting – Slabs
The liquid steel is then taken to continuous casting, where it is formed into a semi-finished product: a steel slab.
The liquid steel is then taken to continuous casting, where it is formed into a semi-finished product: a steel slab.
Continuous Casting – Billets
In continuous casting, steel billets are produced on a four-strand system (four billets at the same time) or six-strand system (six billets at once), depending on the plant.
In continuous casting, steel billets are produced on a four-strand system (four billets at the same time) or six-strand system (six billets at once), depending on the plant.
Slabs
A slab is a large rectangle of steel, 6 metres long, that will be rerolled by our sister company, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, and used as a base for producing steel sheets for the automotive industry.
A slab is a large rectangle of steel, 6 metres long, that will be rerolled by our sister company, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, and used as a base for producing steel sheets for the automotive industry.
Billets
A billet is a long bar of steel, 8 to 12.5 metres long. It can be sold to customers as a base for fabricating other products. However, most of the billets are supplied to ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada’s rolling mills before being sent to our customers.
A billet is a long bar of steel, 8 to 12.5 metres long. It can be sold to customers as a base for fabricating other products. However, most of the billets are supplied to ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada’s rolling mills before being sent to our customers.
Bar Mill
Our two bar mills process billets by passing them through a series of rolling stands that stretch and reshape the steel into bars of different lengths and sizes.
Our two bar mills process billets by passing them through a series of rolling stands that stretch and reshape the steel into bars of different lengths and sizes.
Rod Mill
At the rod mill, hot drawing, cooling and coiling are the processes that transform billets into wire rod.
At the rod mill, hot drawing, cooling and coiling are the processes that transform billets into wire rod.
Bars
Bars formed this way may be reinforcing bars for use in residential and road construction, bars used to produce the leaf springs used in light and heavy trucks, special bar quality, etc.
Bars formed this way may be reinforcing bars for use in residential and road construction, bars used to produce the leaf springs used in light and heavy trucks, special bar quality, etc.
Rod
Wire rod is sold to customers in the arc welding business, and is also sent to ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada’s wire mills for further processing.
Wire rod is sold to customers in the arc welding business, and is also sent to ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada’s wire mills for further processing.
Wire Mill
In our wire mills, wire rod is cold drawn and coiled to make a new semi-finished product used by various customers.
In our wire mills, wire rod is cold drawn and coiled to make a new semi-finished product used by various customers.
Drawn Wire
Drawn wire is used by customers to manufacture clothes hangers, springs, wire mesh, galvanized fencing, etc.
Drawn wire is used by customers to manufacture clothes hangers, springs, wire mesh, galvanized fencing, etc.
Shipment to Clients
Given that our customers operate a variety of businesses, our steel is everywhere: in roads, buildings, bridges and many everyday objects.
Given that our customers operate a variety of businesses, our steel is everywhere: in roads, buildings, bridges and many everyday objects.
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