GRANSHOT® for ferroalloys and non-ferrous metals
GRANSHOT® metal granulation is a versatile process used world-wide for quick solidification of a vast array of metals. This method ensures close to 100% metal yield, minimizing manual labor. The granulated product has many favorable properties like chemical homogeneity, minimal oxide content, and low fines. The size and shape of the granules facilitate compact storage, easy handling, and precise dosage, making it an ideal alloying material for metallurgical processes. The GRANSHOT® process by UHT includes:
- Turn-key solution and operational support
- Increased production efficiency and productivity
- Technical assistance agreement
- Optimized product for handling in steelmaking processes such as EAF, LF and AOD
Below we have selected a few case studies of the most common ferroalloy and non-ferrous GRANSHOT® applications to give you a brief overview of the many different possibilities of GRANSHOT® metal granulation.
Granulation of ferroalloys
Ferrochrome
UHT has been a trusted supplier of GRANSHOT® plants for the ferroalloy industry for over 40 years. There are now several ferrochrome producers who cast HC FeCr or converter refined MC FeCr or LC FeCr with the GRANSHOT® process. With the installation of a GRANSHOT® metal granulator, they have gained the ability to quickly cast the hard FeCr into easy-to-handle material without any crushing or sieving, resulting in:
- Increased yield to nearly 100%
- Fully automated process
- Product ready for dispatch within minutes from being casted
- Easy-to-handle material in steelmaking processes
Ferronickel
The GRANSHOT® process is the most commonly used process for FeNi casting, making FeNi granules the standard product of choice for steelmaking producers all around the world. UHT has installed GRANSHOT® plants at major FeNi operations around the world in for example Brazil, South Korea, and New Caledonia. In close collaboration with FeNi customers, the GRANSHOT® process has been upgraded with new features to suit the specific needs of FeNi production. With the newly developed rotating tundish technology, the FeNi producers gain:
- Enhanced product size
- Minimal amount of fines
- Less sensitive process
Ferrosilicon
FeSi is crucial in steelmaking, typically added late in the process, making precise control of trace elements important. GRANSHOT® offers a solution to the challenges associated with FeSi in steel production by enhancing mechanical stability and promoting a more homogenous composition. This leads to better control over trace elements, predictable yields, and improved quality in the final steel product. In summary, these are a few of the expected benefits of FeSi granulation:
- Reduction of fines
- Enhancing product homogeneity and minimizing variations in trace elements
- Predictable yield with a more controlled process
- Quality improvement of final product due to less contaminated FeSi
Non-ferrous applications
Copper
The electrification of the vehicle industry is one of the key components in the fight against climate change. The demand for electric vehicles is increasing in more and more regions across the world, as for example in India. It is therefore vital that the supply chain for batteries is secured with sustainable sourcing and production of raw materials.
The GRANSHOT® process enables an industrial process that produces copper granules with excellent properties for electrolytic copper foil production needed for EV battery manufacturing. With a GRANSHOT® plant in close connection to a copper foil production facility, the supply chain of copper easily leached in downstream operations will be secured. Copper granules feature properties such as:
- High surface area to mass ratio
- High permeability and porosity
- Ready-to-transport product immediately from remelting
- Reduced economic risk with less dependency on available scrap
Recycled metals
Recycling of metals and e-waste, plays a crucial role in minimizing the environmental footprint of metal products and electronic devices extending the life span of valuable metals.
Recycling facilities usually comprise a smelting unit and additional refining processes to extract metals, transforming waste into a valuable resource. To maintain a seamless metal flow, the incorporation of the GRANSHOT® granulation process facilitates the rapid solidification of recycled waste into manageable granules within the facility or as a standalone commodity. This ensures an efficient and uninterrupted recycling process.
GRANSHOT® for ferroalloys and non-ferrous metals
GRANSHOT® metal granulation is a versatile process used world-wide for quick solidification of a vast array of metals. This method ensures close to 100% metal yield, minimizing manual labor. The granulated product has many favorable properties like chemical homogeneity, minimal oxide content, and low fines. The size and shape of the granules facilitate compact storage, easy handling, and precise dosage, making it an ideal alloying material for metallurgical processes. The GRANSHOT® process by UHT includes:
- Turn-key solution and operational support
- Increased production efficiency and productivity
- Technical assistance agreement
- Optimized product for handling in steelmaking processes such as EAF, LF and AOD
Below we have selected a few case studies of the most common ferroalloy and non-ferrous GRANSHOT® applications to give you a brief overview of the many different possibilities of GRANSHOT® metal granulation.
Granulation of ferroalloys
Ferrochrome
UHT has been a trusted supplier of GRANSHOT® plants for the ferroalloy industry for over 40 years. There are now several ferrochrome producers who cast HC FeCr or converter refined MC FeCr or LC FeCr with the GRANSHOT® process. With the installation of a GRANSHOT® metal granulator, they have gained the ability to quickly cast the hard FeCr into easy-to-handle material without any crushing or sieving, resulting in:
- Increased yield to nearly 100%
- Fully automated process
- Product ready for dispatch within minutes from being casted
- Easy-to-handle material in steelmaking processes
Ferronickel
The GRANSHOT® process is the most commonly used process for FeNi casting, making FeNi granules the standard product of choice for steelmaking producers all around the world. UHT has installed GRANSHOT® plants at major FeNi operations around the world in for example Brazil, South Korea, and New Caledonia. In close collaboration with FeNi customers, the GRANSHOT® process has been upgraded with new features to suit the specific needs of FeNi production. With the newly developed rotating tundish technology, the FeNi producers gain:
- Enhanced product size
- Minimal amount of fines
- Less sensitive process
Ferrosilicon
FeSi is crucial in steelmaking, typically added late in the process, making precise control of trace elements important. GRANSHOT® offers a solution to the challenges associated with FeSi in steel production by enhancing mechanical stability and promoting a more homogenous composition. This leads to better control over trace elements, predictable yields, and improved quality in the final steel product. In summary, these are a few of the expected benefits of FeSi granulation:
- Reduction of fines
- Enhancing product homogeneity and minimizing variations in trace elements
- Predictable yield with a more controlled process
- Quality improvement of final product due to less contaminated FeSi
Non-ferrous applications
Copper
The electrification of the vehicle industry is one of the key components in the fight against climate change. The demand for electric vehicles is increasing in more and more regions across the world, as for example in India. It is therefore vital that the supply chain for batteries is secured with sustainable sourcing and production of raw materials.
The GRANSHOT® process enables an industrial process that produces copper granules with excellent properties for electrolytic copper foil production needed for EV battery manufacturing. With a GRANSHOT® plant in close connection to a copper foil production facility, the supply chain of copper easily leached in downstream operations will be secured. Copper granules feature properties such as:
- High surface area to mass ratio
- High permeability and porosity
- Ready-to-transport product immediately from remelting
- Reduced economic risk with less dependency on available scrap
Recycled metals
Recycling of metals and e-waste, plays a crucial role in minimizing the environmental footprint of metal products and electronic devices extending the life span of valuable metals.
Recycling facilities usually comprise a smelting unit and additional refining processes to extract metals, transforming waste into a valuable resource. To maintain a seamless metal flow, the incorporation of the GRANSHOT® granulation process facilitates the rapid solidification of recycled waste into manageable granules within the facility or as a standalone commodity. This ensures an efficient and uninterrupted recycling process.
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