ITmk3^®

ITmk3^® (pronounced “eye tee mark three”) stands for “ironmaking technology mark three.” It represents the third generation of ironmaking, with the first generation being the blast furnace and the second generation gas-based direct reduction. ITmk3^® uses iron ore fines and non-coking coal to produce a premium quality pig iron product, thus avoiding the need for oxide pellets or sinter and coke. It is elegantly simple, performing reduction and melting functions within one vessel, the rotary hearth furnace (RHF).
 

Ironmaking

ITmk3^® is an ideal way to process either magnetite or hematite and supply a premium quality pig iron product to the steelmaking industry. Plants can be located at mine sites or in steelmaking facilities. ITmk3^® enables mining companies to produce a value-added product and steelmakers to obtain a premium quality feedstock for EAF or BOF use. The 1st plant began operations in 2010 and additional plants are in development worldwide.

Since the process performs both reduction and separation of metal from slag, it effectively concentrates the iron ore. This opens the possibility of utilizing lower grade iron oxide, such as very fine tailings from beneficiation plants. ITmk3^® is very flexible regarding carbon sources.


ITmk3^® Process Options and Flexibility