ABB Partners with SSAB for Automation and Electrification Upgrades to Propel Green Transition Goals

ABB has secured three related contracts with SSAB, the global leader in high-strength steel production, to deploy automation, electrification, main stand motors and drives technologies in Borlänge, Sweden. ABB is part of a comprehensive reinvestment project at SSAB Borlänge’s current hot-rolling mill, supporting the steelmaker’s ambitious green transition goals. The reinvestment project will be carried out between 2024 and 2027.

SSAB is a global company with a presence in over 50 countries and has production sites in Finland, Sweden and the US, with an annual steel production capacity of 8.8 million tons. With the ambition to be the first steel company to offer fossil-free steel to the market in 2026 and largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from its operations in the long term, SSAB is regarded as a sustainability leader within the metals industry.

Fossil-free steel production

SSAB’s sustainability ambition relies heavily on the stable production of the Borlänge mill, often known as the “heart” of its operations, running steel manufacturing since 1878. The decision to modernize Borlänge will secure its production stability, drive efficiencies and finance SSAB’s goal of transitioning to fossil-free steel production. Its continued operation is essential to facilitate the construction of a new SEK 50 billion fossil-free steel mill in Luleå, Sweden. With hot-rolling set to be moved to the new mill in Luleå, the hot-rolling mill in Borlänge is slated for decommissioning by 2030. ABB’s upgrade project will ensure its continued productivity and efficiency until that time.

“This collaboration underscores ABB’s unwavering commitment to supporting the steel industry’s transition towards a more sustainable future,” said Martin Björnmalm, Local Business Line Manager for Metals in Sweden, ABB Process Industries. “By optimizing operations at Borlänge we are proud to play a part in SSAB’s pioneering efforts to achieve fossil-free steel production.”

Mattias Gidlund, Principal Project Manager and Responsible for the Reinvestment project at SSAB, highlighted the importance of a trusted local partner: “ABB's global expertise combined with their strong local presence were key factors in our decision. We are confident that their comprehensive solutions will ensure the continued success of the Borlänge mill and contribute significantly to our operations efficiency and production stability.”

This comprehensive solution demonstrates ABB’s ability to deliver a full portfolio of technologies and services, encompassing:

• Enhanced switchgear performance: ABB will implement a comprehensive upgrade to the switchgear, ensuring continued reliability and efficient 10.5kV power distribution throughout the hot-rolling mill in Borlänge. This modernization will leverage ABB's industry-leading expertise in switchgear upgrades, providing benefits such as extended operational life of the existing switchgear, digitalization for enhanced visibility and control, and increased safety with arc fault detection.
• Upgrade of control systems: To improve diagnostics, troubleshooting, and create a unified system environment, ABB worked closely with SSAB to develop a long-term evolution roadmap to replace, upgrade, and integrate the remaining obsolete control systems into the existing ABB Ability™ System 800xA® environment. Additionally, the existing mill operator’s main desk console will be replaced for an enhanced, modern working environment.
• Replacement of existing main drives and motors: This will enhance operational stability and reliability. ABB will replace obsolete converter drives, motors and transformers in three stages. The project with upgrading the facility with replacements and enhancements will begin as a first step in the summer of 2025.

ABB provides fully integrated automation and electrification solutions to metals plants for higher productivity, quality and availability. Using the latest technology and relying on more than 100 years of industry know-how, ABB supports metals manufacturers to fulfill their product demands in both greenfield and modernization and upgrade projects.