Portugal’s SN Maia Siderurgia Nacional, a rebar plant under MEGASA Group, has successfully installed a new oxygen system, developed by Fives Steel Spain, on an existing billet reheating furnace, to significantly reduce natural gas consumption.

Fives’ PREMIX™ technology injects additional oxygen into the combustion air duct upstream of the burners, increasing oxygen levels to 25% and achieving 6% fuel savings, exceeding initial expectations.

This technology allows for higher temperatures without increased fuel use, leading to cost savings and reduced CO2 emissions. The project minimized downtime due to pre-assembled technology, with most installation occurring while the furnace ran.

This successful collaboration marks an important milestone in Fives' efforts to optimize furnace performance and improve energy efficiency.