One of the most important investments at ArcelorMittal Poland’s Kraków plant has been completed – after 44 days of extensive modernization work, Galvanizing Line No. 2 has been adapted for the production of sheet metal with a new zinc coating. The plant can now manufacture products coated with both a classic coating and the innovative Optigal alloy based on zinc, magnesium, and aluminum. The investment cost PLN 40 million.

Optigal, a coating with significantly better plastic properties and greater corrosion resistance than previous alloys, will expand the product portfolio from Kraków, valued among others by the construction industry – it is perfectly suited for sandwich panels and trapezoidal sheets.

“As part of this project, we built two new galvanizing baths along with their transport and lifting system. Currently, in one bath with a capacity of 200 tons, the sheet is galvanized in the traditional alloy, while in the second bath (180 tons) – in the new Optigal alloy,” explains Wojciech Fraś, project manager for the galvanizing line modernization and its adaptation for the production of the new coating.

To launch production of sheet metal with the new coating, it was necessary not only to build a second bath but also to adapt the entire existing infrastructure of the cold rolling mill. The greatest challenge was transporting the new baths to the basement of the galvanizing line. After modernization, the baths move along rails installed in the plant’s basement onto a special platform that lifts them into the working position. The baths are transported both vertically and horizontally.

“Due to the limited installation space for the entire system, it was not possible to use a standard crane. It was necessary to use a special hydraulic gantry crane with a lifting capacity of 500 tons,” says Ireneusz Juraszek, project manager from the investment office.

The main contractor for the investment was the Spanish company GHI, and a total of 14 companies worked on the construction site.

“Our recent investments in Nowa Huta show that we treat Kraków as one of the pillars of our processing operations. Despite many difficulties in the global steel market, we have already invested nearly PLN 2.7 billion in our two rolling mills,” says Wojciech Koszuta, President of the Management Board and CEO of ArcelorMittal Poland.

“This new coating and the hydrogen furnaces launched this year in the cold rolling mill have together absorbed nearly PLN 100 million. For a similar amount, together with Linde Gaz Polska, we are currently also implementing another large project – the construction of a hydrogen production plant, which will soon supply the Kraków installations. Development and innovation are the key to our presence here,” he concludes.

The “Optigal” project cost PLN 40 million, and commercial production of sheet metal with the new coating will start after certification and homologation – in 2026.