ArcelorMittal Belgium launches a full production line for Magnelis®, the premier metallic coating that provides exceptional corrosion protection

Magnelis® is manufactured using a continuous hot-dip galvanizing process, where it is immersed in a unique molten bath composed of zinc, 3.5% aluminum, and 3% magnesium, giving it its distinctive chemical properties. Thanks to its unique composition, Magnelis® provides an unprecedented level of surface and cut-edge protection, even in the most hostile environments. 

What makes Magnelis® so successful is:

Its proven resistance to corrosion, backed-up by more than 10 years of outdoor field tests in more than 16 sites around the world, external certificates from many European countries as well as strong guarantees granted for projects in harsh environments.
Its easiness to process, compared with galvanised steel, in all the main steps such as profiling, bending, welding and cutting.
Magnelis^® reduces the environmental footprint of manufactured products thanks to lower use of raw materials (such as zinc) and natural resources, a reduced zinc run-off during the product’s life, and an increased lifetime of the finished product.

Magnelis® has been adopted for many applications in many sectors such as solar energy, construction, racking, electrical equipment and HVAC (cooling and heating techniques), agriculture and civil engineering (e.g. guardrails).

Magnelis® is the product of choice for the solar energy segment. Many of our customers produce profiles and structures used in various solar energy plants, such as solar farms, industrial roof panels, concentrated parabolic towers (CSP-technology),…

For mounting structures of photovoltaic panels, the solar sector is highly demanding for durability and long lifetimes. Magnelis® has been used for many solar projects in Belgium as well as many countries in the world, including mega-projects, in the Middle East. Thanks to its guaranteed durability, Magnelis® is the perfect answer to this expectation.

With the full allocation of a production line to Magnelis®, we are responding to the ever-increasing market demand for renewable energies.

Magnelis® was initially produced in the ArcelorMittal mills of Liège, Avilés, and Bremen. Earlier this month, AMNS India announced the start-up of a Magnelis® production line in India. At ArcelorMittal Gent, The Sidgal 1 production will enlarge the range of Magnelis® coated steel, as well as allowing the Easyfilm® additional surface treatment based on a thin organic coating. This new feature that is unique worldwide, will make Magnelis® a product fully adapted for applications with higher visual & aesthetical requirements.

Magnelis® has been developed in close collaboration with the R&D centres OCAS in Ghent, CRM Group in Liège and Global R&D in Maizières, France. Since its launch in 2011, the company has developed heavier coatings to offer longer lifetimes in the most harsh environments and to provide an alternative to post-galvanization or other materials. The range has also been made available on our high-strength steels, which allows the lightening of the structures and optimisation of their costs.

Our customers are also becoming increasingly climate conscious and are demanding low carbon-emissions steel. ArcelorMittal Europe has developed a product for this, XCarb® recycled and renewably produced , Magnelis® is available as XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel with a CO2 footprint reduced by 65% compared with the conventional blast furnace route. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is made via the Electric Arc Furnace route using scrap steel and 100% renewable electricity.

Manfred Van Vlierberghe, CEO ArcelorMittal Belgium: “Magnelis® stands out with its exceptional qualities and offers a lifespan that is much longer than other metallic coated products. Offering more than 50 years of corrosion resistance, it represents a breakthrough in steel technology. By combining Magnelis® with ultra-high-strength steels, we are able to optimize steel usage and consequently reduce the carbon footprint. Our commitment to sustainability is further strengthened by our XCarb® initiatives. With Magnelis® on Eurogal line in Liège and on the Sidgal 1 line and an efficient supply chain, we can offer attractive delivery times that are unattainable with materials sourced outside Europe. Moreover, the conversion of the galvanising line to Magnelis® is yet again a fine example of teamwork. A lot of colleagues worked closely together to make this project another success, which makes me very proud of my team.”

Jan Jambon, Minister-President of the Flemish Government: “The Draghi report on the state of the European (manufacturing) industry confirms the insights we highlighted during the very first Flemish Industry Summit under the banner of Flanders Technology & Innovation. Therefore, the Flemish government, together with companies like ArcelorMittal, will continue to fully support innovation. It is important that the budgets for research and development in Flanders remain above 3% of our GDP annually. We must strive to continue positioning Flanders internationally as a key investment region with a manufacturing industry that delivers sustainable top products.”

Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Vice-Minister-President of the Walloon Government and Walloon Minister of Economy, Industry, Digitalization, Employment and Education: “As Walloon Minister of Economy, I am particularly proud of this Magnelis® product, which was originally developed in Liège, and also of the fact that Wallonia and Flanders are collaborating on this project. This distinctively Belgian collaboration around Magnelis® demonstrates that when our talents, resources, and know-how come together, innovation flourishes. It is a strong message that we are conveying today on a European and international scale: Belgium is and remains a leader in advanced technologies, thanks to the complementarity and collaboration of its regions.”

Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister of Economy, Work, Innovation and Agriculture : “ArcelorMittal emphasizes their commitment to sustainability with Magnelis® and once again proves that they use innovation to strengthen their competitive edge. As the Flemish Minister for Economy and Innovation, I am proud that we have been investing together with ArcelorMittal for many years, in knowledge development and innovation around steel in Flanders.”

Carina Van Cauter, Governor of the Province of East Flanders: “The sustainability of the industry brings great challenges, but also opportunities. In North Sea Port, we find numerous companies and knowledge institutions joining forces to create added value with innovative products and to distinguish ourselves from other countries and continents. With the development of Magnelis®, ArcelorMittal once again proves that it is an essential partner in the sustainability of our industry and society.”