© DB Cargo

DB Cargo concludes a ten-year contract with ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel manufacturer and Europe's largest steel producer, to supply the blast furnace in Eisenhüttenstadt. DB Cargo is thus securing the supply of raw materials for one of Germany's largest steel locations until 2031.

DB Cargo is investing in cutting-edge logistics for its customer: the rail freight operator is purchasing 352 multifunctional double wagons with a total of 1,408 special containers for the transport of ore, coke and limestone by next summer. The logistics provider Innofreight has designed them specifically for transporting these raw materials and optimized their loading volume. DB Cargo is also having its partner build two semi-automated unloading facilities at the Eisenhüttenstadt plant by summer 2021 and will operate them itself. The new transports will start immediately afterwards. A total of up to 4.2 million tons of raw materials can then be transported annually.

"As the backbone of the German economy, we have been supplying ArcelorMittal with raw materials for many years and transporting the steel produced to customers, particularly for the automotive industry and plant construction. We are now investing a lot of money in this long-standing and proven collaboration: our new wagons for ArcelorMittal are characterized by a durable substructure, while the removable superstructure is flexibly designed for frequent replacement. The highlight: we can adapt the superstructure individually to changing requirements," explains Pierre Timmermans, Member of the DB Cargo Management Board responsible for Sales.

"ArcelorMittal Eisenhüttenstadt is implementing one of the most modern raw materials logistics systems in Europe here," says Sybille Klipstein, Lead Buyer Rail at ArcelorMittal. "By using special container types optimized for the different properties of ore, coke and limestone, we can increase the net load per train by around 20 percent and therefore require significantly fewer trains. This protects the environment and reduces our shunting effort at the plant. In addition, automated unloading offers employees a low-dust and noise-protected workplace. We are thus setting new standards in terms of efficiency, environmental protection and occupational safety."