The GMH Group is advancing its sustainable steel production: Only a few months after commissioning the first inductive single-bar heat treatment plant (EVA I) in Georgsmarienhütte, the company has announced the construction of a second plant (EVA II). The commissioning of EVA II is planned for the end of 2026. The new heat treatment plants are expected to save an additional 50,000 tons of CO2 over the next ten years.
The new plant is designed for the heat treatment of bar steel with larger diameters (between 35 and 100 mm) and aims to expand the company’s capacity for environmentally friendly steel processing. In particular, the plants will enable the production of durable key components such as bolts for wind turbines, industrial conveyor systems, steering rods for automobiles, and components for the defense industry.
Support from the Federal Government and EU
During a site visit, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr. Robert Habeck was briefed on the details of the heat treatment process at the already installed first single-bar heat treatment plant. He also symbolically presented a check for the latest financial support to the company’s management:
“Thirty years ago, as a family-owned company, Georgsmarienhütte began to install the technology that is becoming the standard today, even without public funding at the time. I thank the GMH Group for continuing to work so tirelessly toward the future, in automation and new energy-efficient processes, despite all challenges,” said Habeck.
Both plants are being funded as part of the ‘Decarbonisation in Industry’ program by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, which also uses funds from the EU’s ‘NextGenerationEU’ initiative. The first single-bar heat treatment plant received €0.88 million in funding from federal and EU sources in 2023, while €1.32 million has now been provided for the second plant.
The GMH Group is investing a total of €21.5 million in the project.
Dr. Alexander Becker, CEO of the GMH Group, expressed his gratitude for the funding of the new single-bar heat treatment plant and stated: “We will continue to pursue our path towards near climate-neutral steel production by 2039 with determination. This transformation, which we largely finance ourselves, is the right and necessary step. Affordable energy is essential to pave the way for a sustainable and competitive future in Germany.”
Climate-Neutral Steel Production by 2039
The GMH Group is a leader in producing steel from recycled scrap and has set itself the goal of halving its CO2 emissions by 2030. This will be achieved by electrifying production and gradually switching the energy supply from coal and gas to biomass and hydrogen.
As one of the largest privately-owned metalworking companies in Europe, the GMH Group generated an annual turnover of around two billion euros with over 6,000 employees. The GMH Group is a pioneer in sustainable steel production and has been accepted into the ‘Association of Climate Protection Companies’.
