Liberty Steel UK has restarted production at its Greensteel plant in Rotherham, Yorkshire.

The plant, which uses an electric arc furnace and is amongst the UK’s most electro-intensive industrial sites, will operate at night to maximise efficiency and mitigate high energy costs.  

The London-headquartered company’s Greensteel approach aims to recycle the growing amount of scrap steel, using renewable energy to power its furnaces. High-grade engineered steel and alloys from the process are used in sectors including automotive, aerospace, marine and defence.

The firm said its speciality steel division in nearby Stocksbridge, which produces steel components for demanding aerospace and energy applications, is also restarting ‘focused production campaigns for key customers’. 

The restart – which Liberty Steel plans to reach 50,000 tonnes per month as soon as possible – follows a £50m funding injection from parent company GFG Alliance, part of GFG’s restructuring and transformation following the collapse of its main lender Greensill Capital.

The company plans to expand the Rotherham plant’s long-term capacity, aiming for 2m tonnes per year, increased employment, and new products.  

source:institution of mechanical engineers