Iron Unit Division
Kobe Steel group is the owner of three direct reduction and ironmaking processes. We have considerable experience in supplying the MIDREX® Direct Reduction Process, which makes direct reduced iron (DRI), demand for which is growing rapidly. In coal-based processes, we offer FASTMET®, which makes DRI, and the FASTMELT®, which produces molten pig iron. The ITmk3® Process yields iron nuggets of similar quality to pig iron.

MIDREX® Direct Reduction Process, developed by subsidiary Midrex Technologies, Inc., is the most widely used DR process in the world. This process uses natural gas as the reductant. In addition to supplying plants, Kobe Steel operates the 1 mtpy Comsigua HBI plant in Venezuela as well as markets the HBI that Comsigua produces.

FASTMET® Process, developed by Midrex and Kobe Steel utilizes steel mill dust, or low-grade iron ore fines, and steaming coal to make DRI. Coke or sintered iron ore is unnecessary. In the FASTMELT® Process, DRI made by the FASTMET Process is melted in a proprietary melter that separates the slag to produce hot metal. The melter can use coal or electricity as energy sources. As molten pig iron can be made at a relatively low investment cost, FASTMELT plants are ideal as an alternative to mini blast furnaces or as a supplement to large blast urnaces.

ITmk3® Process, developed by Kobe Steel, uses iron ore fines and steaming coal to make iron nuggets in just 10 minutes, compared to the 8 hours required by blast furnaces. Carbon dioxide emission is 20% lower than blast furnaces of comparable size. This ironmaking process is highly applicable in areas where coal and iron ore are plentiful.

Contact Information

Akihiro Sawada
Sales & Int’l Ops, Iron Unit Div
9-12 Kita-Shinagawa 5-chome
Shinagawa-ku Tokyo
141-8688 JAPAN
Tel: +81 3 5739 6635
Fax: +81 3 5739 6975
sawada.akihiro@kobelco.com