Product development

Iron ore pellet

Product development of iron ore pellets is mainly oriented towards customer care and product adaptation. A new version of LKAB’s olivine pellet; i.e., a product intended for blast furnaces that operate on 100% pellet burdens. This is mainly of interest for LKAB’s Nordic customers.
   The recipe for MPBO blast furnace pellets has been changed, which, together with modifications in the pelletizing plant, has resulted in improvements in the product’s mechanical and metallurgical strength. The product KPBO has been quality-assured with olivine from the new Seqi mine in Greenland and is being tested in the experimental blast furnace.
    In recent years, LKAB’s development efforts have been aimed at creating pellet products with optimal characteristics that can be blended with sinter fines in the blast furnace burden. The blast furnace pellet KPBA is mainly intended for blast furnaces in which sinter and pellet products from several suppliers are used. This is practiced by several of LKAB’s major customers in Europe.
   In collaboration with one of LKAB’s customers, new mixed-burden concepts are being developed. Here, the experimental blast furnace is an important instrument for research.
   LKAB has developed a new direct reduction pellet with lowered gangue content, higher metallization and reduced sticking tendency. These properties contribute to better total economy for the customer and stable operation in the direct reduction process.
   Where DR pellets are concerned, a new product has been tested at Egyptian EZDK as part of a joint development venture. The tests have resulted in a new recipe in which some of the dolomite has been replaced with limestone, which results in better metallization, carburization and compression strength during reduction.

Industrial minerals

Research and product development in the Minerals Division are application-oriented and are conducted in close cooperation with customers. In addition to the LKAB Group’s research organization, the resources of the division’s  UK subsidiary are available.  Minerals also collaborates with universities and research institutes in Europe and the USA.
   Where the mineral olivine is concerned, the LKAB Group has a high level of expertise. LKAB introduced olivine as an ingredient in pellets for ironmaking and has since become a world leader in this application area. The Minerals Division is now amassing knowledge of application areas even outside the steel industry.
   One example of technical development is an environmentally friendly technique for producing foundry cores, a project that will have a significant impact on the Minerals Division’s business opportunities in the foundry industry, particularly with respect to the mineral olivine.