New bowls support steelmaking capacity increase at InfraBuild

InfraBuild has taken a step forward in its plan to increase the business’ steelmaking capacity with the installation of a new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) bowl at Laverton.

The new lower shell EAF bowl was installed in the Meltshop after nearly two years of planning and a second will be put into service in January 2026.

The investment supports the objective of increasing site production by 25% to one million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) this year while in Sydney studies have commenced to determine the optimal path to also reach 1 Mtpa, including regulatory approvals required.  

InfraBuild CEO Francisco Irazusta said the new equipment prepares the company for the next stage of growth. 

“This is an exciting moment for InfraBuild as we see this critical investment come to life with the installation of these bowls at Laverton enabling a larger tap mass and supporting increased output,” Francisco said.

“Investing in our manufacturing assets is how we continue to grow, improve efficiency and meet increasing demand for more sustainable steel,.”  

“Our ability to produce more sustainable steel means we are here ready to help our customers and the construction industry transform so we have a more sustainable construction industry.” 

The bowls are part of a rotation system in which one is re-lined offline and exchanged with the operating bowl approximately every six weeks.  

InfraBuild’s circular steel making model at the Victorian and New South Wales sites uses EAF technology to recycle scrap metal and produce steel for Australian infrastructure and construction projects and other sectors. Scrap-based EAF technology emits approximately 70% lower CO2 emissions per tonne of steel than traditional blast furnace methods according to worldsteel 2023 data.