Leading producer in slabs, plates and coil materials

ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products produces a wide range of steel plates including grades with the most demanding qualities for offshore applications in the energy sector. With the ongoing improvements at ArcelorMittal Gijon (Spain), our offer to the offshore wind and oil gas markets is set to expand with new feasibilities and the development of new grades. 

ArcelorMittal’s goal is to offer the most comprehensive range of plates for the offshore energy market. The steel plates we produce are typically utilized in the sub-sea and visible parts of offshore wind turbines, and oil and gas platforms.

Key facts

• Leading producers in slabs, plates and coil materials
• Key Suppliers for API / EN Heavy Offshore & Shipbuilding Grade Plates: Gijon (Spain), Burns Harbour & Coatesville (USA) and Industeel (France/ Belgium)
• Facilities in France & Bremen (Germany) offer a comprehensive range of API Hot-Rolled Coils up to X80 PSL 2, including a thickness up to 25.4mm and a width up to 2,080mm
• Supplies plate widths up to 4.9mtr. Supplied plate thicknesses are up to 350mm from Burns Harbour (USA), 760mm from Coatesville (USA) and up to 950mm from Industeel (France/Belgium)

Two of the most common grades used in these segments are S355 M/ML and S355 G10+M in thicknesses ranging from 40 to 70 mm. The ‘M’ in the grade name indicates that the steel has been thermo-mechanically rolled. The process changes the properties of the steel and makes it suitable for use in applications where high strength and excellent toughness at low temperatures are required. That includes a variety of offshore applications such as the topsides of oil and gas platforms, offshore wind substations, and the subsea ‘jackets’ which serve as foundations for offshore structures.

One of the key features of ArcelorMittal’s offshore plate offer is its enhanced weldability. This ensures the steel can be welded without affecting its high strength or excellent toughness.

Investments are ongoing in Gijon to expand ArcelorMittal’s offer for offshore energy. The goal is to produce grades for offshore applications in thicknesses over 50 mm. Improvements have already begun and some of the new feasibilities are expected to become available during 2020.

On the service side, ArcelorMittal has established a working group including representatives from ArcelorMittal Projects, Flat Products, and Global R&D. The group aims to qualify ArcelorMittal’s plate mills with more of the world’s major wind energy and oil and gas producers. As the group works closely with customers through co-engineering projects, it also recommends topics for research and development to anticipate future market requirements and meet new customer needs.