18 February 2026 - Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Installation Project Update

Trent Refractories is proud to work closely with the Materials Processing Institute (MPI). An update has been provided on the progress of the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) installation, including contributions from Brian Wright, Project Manager at the Materials Processing Institute, and Gerald Fleissner, INTECO Site Manager.

Installation Progress
Work has concentrated on smaller-scale furnace components as the project approaches the final stages of mechanical installation. Recent activities include:

• Installation of the energy chain carrying natural gas, two oxygen lines, and the carbon line for the jet box
• Placement of electrical panels
• Power supplied to the furnace, with circuit testing underway to verify functionality
• Commencement of final electrode alignment work
• Successful testing of water lines

Mechanical installation is nearing completion. Commissioning activities are scheduled to begin shortly including:

• Channels commissioning
• Electrical circuit testing
• Hydraulic system flushing
• Cooling water line checks

Project Overview
A £2.9 million investment is being made to replace the existing seven-tonne EAF, the only research facility of its kind in the UK. The facility supports the development of technologies and processes for next-generation green steel production.

The upgraded EAF is intended to provide an advanced platform for developing, testing, and refining green steel technologies under industrially representative conditions. By bridging laboratory research and full-scale production, it will contribute to efforts aimed at scalable, low-carbon steelmaking. The facility is supported by existing secondary refining and casting capabilities capable of producing a wide range of steel grades.

The project is supported by funding from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), through the Foundation Industry Sustainability Consortium’s EconoMISER programme. The programme provides access to specialist facilities and expertise to assist manufacturers in integrating sustainable technologies into their operations.

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