History

Milestones at SSAB

2023

1. SSAB’s Board of Directors takes a decision to invest SEK 6.2 billion in a new electric arc furnace and associated raw material handling in Oxelösund, which will be the first Nordic production site to transform to fossil-free and scrap-based steelmaking.

2. Launch of SSAB Zero™, made of recycled steel and produced with fossil-free electricity and biogas, resulting in steel with virtually no carbon emissions. The first commercial steel of its kind.

 

2022

SSAB’s Board of Directors takes a decision to fundamentally transform the Nordic production system in around 2030. The blast furnaces and coke plants will be replaced with electric arc furnaces and integrated rolling powered by fossil-free electricity. The decision was taken against a background of strongly growing demand for fossil-free steel.

 

2021

The world’s first fossil-free steel was rolled at SSAB’s production site in Oxelösund and delivered to a customer.

 

2020

Start-up of HYBRIT pilot plant for fossil-free sponge iron in Luleå, Sweden (joint venture with LKAB and Vattenfall).

 

2016

SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall joined forces to create HYBRIT for world’s first fossil-free steelmaking technology.

 

2015

Strenx – the new brand for high-strength steels launched.

 

2014

1. SSAB acquired Finnish Rautaruukki Oyj.

2. The product brand Hardox turns 40 years old.

 

2012

1. Quenching line 6 was inaugurated and became operational in Mobile, Alabama.

2. The product brand Domex celebrated 50 years and the first Hardox 400 and 450 strips were produced in Borlänge.

 

2011

The new cooling section in the hot strip mill in Borlänge was installed and became operational.

 

2010

SSAB was restructured and divided into three geographical areas of business; EMEA, Americas and APAC.

 

2008

1. The Board adopted the decision to invest in direct quenched products in Borlänge, with a new cooling section in the hot strip mill and a new cut-to-length line.

2. Blasting and painting facility with large warehouse is built, as well as hardening line 4 in the rolling mill in Oxelösund.

 

2007

SSAB acquired the American steel company IPSCO.

 

2006

Olof Faxander came in as the new CEO of the SSAB Group and started the process of creating One Company.

 

2002

Toolox, the engineering and tool steel, is launched.

 

1999

The first Swedish Steel Prize was awarded.

 

1998

The new plate rolling mill starts operating in Oxelösund.

 

1989

The electro-smelting work was discontinued in Borlänge.

 

1988

SSAB was listed on the stock exchange.

 

1980

Casting is now only done as continuous casting in Oxelösund.

 

1978

SSAB Svenskt Stål AB was formed with the Swedish government as the main owner.

 

1975

The coking plant becomes operational.

 

1974

Sales of tempered steel pick up (later known as the brand Hardox).

 

1973

Blast furnace 2, RH-furnace and the first continuous casting machine become operational in Luleå.

 

1972

500,000 tonnes per year were produced at the Domnarvet Ironworks in Borlänge.

 

1970

The new cold rolling mill with an annual capacity of 700,000 tonnes was ready to use at the Domnarvet Ironworks in Borlänge.

 

1968

The new coating plant was inaugurated and the sixth roll stand in the hot strip mill became operational.

 

1967

Continuous casting machine 1 is brought into use in Oxelösund.

 

1963

The first galvanizing line was installed at the Domnarvet Ironworks in Borlänge and would pave the way for more highly processed products.

 

1961

A continuous hot strip mill and a cold rolling mill became operational at the Domnarvet Ironworks in Borlänge

 

1960s

Hot strip mill, cold rolling mill and kaldo furnace become operational in Luleå. Products from the cold rolling mill are named Zinnja and Plannja.

 

1956

The first kaldo furnace became operational at the Domnarvet Ironworks in Borlänge.

 

1955

Gränges is the new owner of the operations in Oxelösund.

 

1953

1. Thomasverket, fine and thread rolling mill becomes operational in Luleå.

2. New coke plants built in Oxelösund.

 

1951

First blast furnace becomes operational in Luleå.

 

1942

The first women were employed at the Domnarvets Ironworks in Borlänge.

 

1941

Government decision to begin making pig iron in Luleå. The two furnaces were brought into use in 1943-1945.

 

1940

Some operations at the Domarvet Ironworks in Borlänge were discontinued due to shortages of raw materials during the war. 

 

1939

A new type of heavy plate was in use at the Domarvet Ironworks in Borlänge, which is now producing 200,000 tonnes per year. 

 

1921

The annual production was down to 21,000 tonnes. The aftermath of the first world war and the subsequent recession hit the Domnarvet Ironworks hard.

 

1914

The first plant in Oxelösund is built with blast furnaces, coke plants, power stations, mechanical workshops, marinas, offices and housing is built between 1914-1919. 

 

1913

1. The Domnarvet Ironworks was now responsible for 1/8 of Sweden’s pig iron production.

2. Oxelösunds Järnverk AB was formed by private shareholders.

 

1899

The Domnarvet Ironworks began manufacturing strip.

 

1878

The Domnarvet Ironworks became operational.