Pacific Steel selects Danieli as EAF equipment supplier

The San Diego-based Pacific Steel Group has selected Danieli & C. S.p.A. of Italy as the lead supplier of equipment for its new electric arc furnace (EAF) micromill.

Danieli says the recycled-content EAF mill in Mojave, California, will make use of solar energy to produce up to 380,000 tons per year of steel rebar.

The technology vendor says the contract it has been awarded by Pacific Steel involves supplying a continuous charge system through which recycled steel will be converted into new steel by Danieli Digimelter and LF digital melting and refining equipment.

Liquid steel will be transformed into finished products in just 10 minutes by Danieli’s QLP-DUE technology, which the Italian firm describes as a “single-strand Octocaster feeding a rolling mill in endless casting-rolling mode.”

Danieli’s intended involvement in the project was the focus of a restraint of trade lawsuit filed by Pacific Steel against Texas-based steelmaking and metal recycling firm Commercial Metals Co. (CMC) earlier this decade.

A jury in California ruled in Pacific Steel’s favor in that suit late last year, seemingly clearing the way for Pacific Steel and Danieli to move forward on the Mojave project.

With the EAF installation project having broken ground earlier this year, Danieli says its involvement will be considerable, including the presence of a Q-One digital power feeder.

“In addition to power and process control systems and robotics, Danieli Automation will also provide the Q3-Met manufacturing execution system for production scheduling and tracking, for maximum plant efficiency,” states the vendor.

The firm says its Q-Sym and Q3-Dyms, which it calls automatic scrap and yard management systems, together with a ladle tracking system also have been chosen to provide tracing of products and steel.

“We are excited about partnering with Danieli to build one of the cleanest, safest and most efficient steel mills in the world,” says Eric Benson, board chair and CEO of Pacific Steel Group.

The new mill will be able to directly connect to renewable energy sources, including a solar array.

Danieli says a net investment of approximately $350 million is being made at the site, with the new micromill expected to begin operating in early 2027, employing roughly 400 people.