At its steel production site in Raahe, Finland, SSAB uses gas planers to smooth steel slabs before further processing. Conventional burner head designs led to rough surfaces, deep grooves, and higher scrap rates, limiting productivity and process efficiency. SSAB therefore aimed to develop a new burner head with optimized gas flow to improve surface quality, output, and sustainability.
Next Generation Burner Head for SSAB Steel Production
Summary
Challenge
Solution
By adopting an additive manufacturing driven design approach, SSAB and its partners developed a next generation burner head made from additively manufactured copper alloy. Advanced simulation, design optimization, and Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology enabled complex internal geometries, optimized gas flow, and improved thermal performance that could not be achieved with conventional manufacturing.
Value
– Significantly improved surface quality and higher production yield
– Reduced burner weight, resulting in less vibration and extended machine lifetime
– Enhanced process efficiency and operational reliability
– Substantial sustainability impact with estimated annual CO₂ emission reductions of up to 30,000 tons
Products & Services
– Metal Additive Manufacturing (Laser Powder Bed Fusion)
– Copper alloy materials for high-thermal-performance applications
– Design optimization and simulation
– Industrial AM systems and process expertise
AM I Navigator Maturity Model
0
1
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3
4
5
Strategy
S0
S1
S2
AM is applied to a strategically relevant production challenge with clear productivity and sustainability objectives; enterprise-wide AM governance is not evidenced
S3
S4
S5
Product Design
PD0
PD1
PD2
PD3
Advanced simulation and design optimization enabled complex internal geometries and gas-flow improvements not feasible conventionally
PD4
PD5
Material
M0
M1
M2
M3
A copper alloy is deliberately selected for demanding thermal performance in an industrial application; broader material governance is not described
M4
M5
Process Engineering
PE0
PE1
PE2
PE3
LPBF process expertise is combined with simulation and optimization to achieve functional performance
PE4
PE5
Production Setup
PS0
PS1
PS2
An industrial AM production route is established for the burner head, but scalable factory integration and automation are not documented
PS3
PS4
PS5
Manufacturing Execution
ME0
ME1
ME2
The case demonstrates a repeatable production application; digital production planning, traceability, and execution-system integration are not stated
ME3
ME4
ME5
Quality
Q0
Q1
Q2
Improved surface quality, yield, reliability, and thermal performance indicate validation, while formal qualification and quality-control methods are not detailed
Q3
Q4
Q5
Maintenance & Service
MS0
MS1
MS2
Lower vibration and longer machine lifetime show lifecycle benefits, but a structured AM service or spare-parts model is not evidenced
MS3
MS4
MS5
Environmental Sustainability
ES0
ES1
ES2
ES3
The solution reports a substantial quantified potential reduction of up to 30,000 tons of CO₂ annually
ES4
ES5
People & Organization
PO0
PO1
PO2
SSAB and partners combine design, simulation, material and LPBF expertise; permanent roles, training, and organization-wide capabilities are not described
PO3
PO4
PO5
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