Castellanza, August 27, 2025 - Vinton Steel has signed a new contract with Tenova, a leading developer and supplier of sustainable solutions for the metals industry, to deliver a state-of-the-art walking hearth reheating furnace. This marks a significant step in the companies’ ongoing technological collaboration, reinforcing their commitment to innovation in high-quality steel production.
The new furnace will be engineered to meet the demanding process requirements of high-carbon steel billets used to manufacture large-diameter grinding media. Vinton Steel is a regional leader in this product segment, which is currently experiencing strong demand, particularly from the mining sector.
Designed to operate alongside the new Green CityMill™ Flex - a recently announced project that will increase Vinton Steel’s rebar production capacity up to 400,000 tons per year - the new reheating furnace will play a key role in supporting the company’s growth strategy. The Green CityMill™ Flex project represents one of the most efficient and sustainable long products production platforms available on the market today.
“This project is part of the strategic expansion of Kyoei Steel in the vital North American market and a clear demonstration of our long-term commitment to the State of Texas,” said Masahiro Kitada, Board Director & Executive Managing Officer for Kyoei Steel Group and Chairman of Vinton Steel. “We are executing the largest investment in our company’s history, and with this additional project, we contribute even more to the continued growth of the El Paso region.”
Francesco Memoli, President and CEO of Tenova Inc., added: “We are honored that Vinton Steel continues to place its trust in Tenova’s technologies. This new reheating furnace will be the most advanced of its kind, equipped with sophisticated control systems and our proprietary low-NOx burners. It will enable Vinton Steel to broaden its grinding media product range while meeting the most stringent environmental regulations.”
The reheating furnace is scheduled for commissioning in parallel with the Green CityMill™ Flex startup in the first half of 2027.
