In 2003, the blast furnaces in Sollac Lorraine faced the challenge of ensuring self sufficiency in coke while maintaining a constant production level. This challenge has been taken up successfully by reducing the coke ratio and by increasing PCI. This was achieved by changing the tuyeres conditions, by optimizing burden quality and burden charging and improving the wall heat control.

A comprehensive approach is presented to optimise coking coal blends. It includes a first calculation of CRI and CSR for the set of coals, confirmed by laboratory carbonisation tests and later completed by carbonisation tests at pilot scale. This approach is expected to afford a helpful instrument for the coke plant operator.

Raw material yard management and the feeding of the blast furnaces are essential processes for an integrated steelwork, and for CST in particular as the Company plans to raise their annual output from 5 to 7.5 Mt. Accordingly, CST has developed a model of raw material supply that takes into account every step of the cycle. The model includes two complementary modules, one for supply and consumption of the raw materials and the other one for raw materials transport. The model has revealed the need for a significant increase of the conveyor capacity and has made it possible to define more appropriate priority rules.

Up to now, no model or contactless sensor has been available for on-line control of the effectiveness of the flow of the stirring gas in the ladle in secondary metallurgy. A new method, based on the use of conoscopic holography, has been developed by Arcelor-Aceralia. It measures on line the vibrations in the walls of the ladle and relates them to the argon flow rate. This method is useful for determining the real state of the stirring process, obtaining an accurate index of the process of melt agitation that influences the composition homogeneity and cleanliness.

Most steel grades undergo a ductility trough in the temperature range 700 to 1100 °C that may bring about surface cracks in the CC strands.
Micro-mechanical modelling of the as solidified austenite-ferrite microstructure, supported by experimental evaluations of the fracture surfaces, affords a comprehensive description of the crack formation mechanism. This opens the way for a quantitative evaluation of the sensitivity of CC strands to transverse cracks.

Civil engineering structures may suffer accelerated damage from the corrosion of their carbon steel reinforcement bars. This corrosion originates from the carbonatation of concrete that lowers the pH and from the diffusion of chlorides through the concrete. It generates heavy maintenance and repair costs and it significantly reduces the service life of the structures. These consequences can be avoided with the general or partial use of stainless steel reinforcement bars. This solution affords many advantages:
Significant reduction of the maintenance costs. Increased sustainability. Reduced service costs. Improved safety. Optimized concrete thickness. 
The limited extra cost of stainless steel rebars over carbon steel rebars is quickly overcompensated for by the savings that they allow on maintenance costs.

A mortality study was carried out among workers employed in the Arcelor and GTS Industries plants in Dunkerque. It was aimed at assessing the possible association between iron oxide exposures and lung cancer risk. The cohort comprised 16,742 males and 959 females. Among males, the observed mortality was lower than expected for all causes. No significant lung cancer excess was observed for exposure to iron oxides and no dose-response relationship with intensity and duration of exposure.