Sarralle, a manufacturer of industrial machinery, has commissioned a 70-tonne Ladle Refining Furnace (LRF) at Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur facility. The LRF is part of the company’s secondary steelmaking operations and is designed to refine molten steel from primary melting units such as electric arc furnaces and blast furnaces.
According to the company, it has commissioned 38 LRFs worldwide since 2008, of which 17 have been installed in India. The Jamshedpur installation adds to this portfolio.
The LRF plays a role in refining molten steel by adjusting its chemical composition, reheating and maintaining precise temperatures, and removing impurities such as sulphur and oxygen. It also acts as a link between primary steelmaking and continuous casting processes by optimising the steel’s temperature and composition.
The furnace works through electric arc heating, controlled slag formation, and the addition of alloying elements to achieve target specifications. Tata Steel also employs systems such as the Ladle Furnace On-Line Reckoner (LFOR), which monitors and predicts temperature and composition to guide arc operation and additive additions.
Sarralle, founded in Spain in 1965, provides engineering, manufacturing, and industrial plant solutions with a focus on steelmaking, energy, and environmental technologies. The company has operations in multiple international markets.