Low Carbon Ferrochrome

From Mine to Metal – Our Production Process

The production of low carbon ferrochrome (LC FeCr) is a highly specialized process that has been perfected at EWW for over a century. The starting point is high-quality chrome ores from our own mines in Turkey – a decisive advantage that guarantees consistently high raw material quality.

At Elektrowerk Weisweiler, the ores are processed and subsequently melted in a high-performance electric arc furnace. Through a precisely controlled metallothermic process, low carbon ferrochrome (LC FeCr) is produced – accompanied by a calcium silicate slag that is later processed as a valuable resource.

The art lies in the precise adjustment of the chemical composition. This creates customized quality grades, such as LLL or ELC – precisely tailored to the requirements of our international customers. After production, the material is crushed to the desired size according to specification, professionally packaged, and delivered worldwide to the superalloy, stainless steel, foundry, and forging industries.

Our Ferrochrome Qualities at a Glance

LLL-FeCr

low nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and carbon content

Used in the superalloy industry, e.g., for aircraft and stationary turbines

ELC-FeCr

0.015–0.025% carbon

Primarily for use in chromium-containing steels

High-Chrome FeCr

with low cobalt and nickel content

Specifically for use in nuclear applications

Standard FeCr

0.03–0.1% carbon

Primarily for use in chromium-containing steels and superalloys

Nitrogen-Containing FeCr

3–4% nitrogen

For nitride-containing chromium steels

Technology with a Future – Efficient, High-Performance, Sustainable

With a production capacity of up to 32,000 tons per year, Elektrowerk Weisweiler is among the world’s leading manufacturers of low carbon ferrochrome. Three different furnace types enable maximum flexibility and precision:

  • 17 MW rotary hearth furnace for large-volume production of LC FeCr

  • 5 MW electric arc furnace for special alloys and recycling processes

  • 1 MW induction furnace for nitrided ferrochrome, recycling processes, and special alloys