As the mining industry increasingly prioritizes both operational efficiency and environmental stewardship, ME Elecmetal North America is taking a significant step toward achieving both. The company is making a major investment in its Duluth, Minnesota foundry, transitioning from Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) melting technology to more sustainable and efficient Induction Furnace (IF) systems.
To meet rising expectations for both productivity and environmental performance, ME Elecmetal North America is making a game-changing investment at its Duluth, Minnesota foundry. By 2027, all three Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) will be replaced with a single, high-efficiency Induction Furnace (IF)—a move that aligns with the company’s global roadmap to double output by 2030 without expanding its carbon footprint.
Approved by ME Elecmetal’s Board in May, the project has secured a US $4.3 million grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Industrial Facility Air Toxic and Criteria Emission Reduction program—funding aimed at reducing pollution in Environmental-Justice communities. The upgrade will deliver cleaner air for Duluth neighbors while strengthening a key link in ME Elecmetal’s global supply chain.
ME Elecmetal’s Duluth, Minnesota foundry already excels at circularity: more than 85 % of every casting is produced from recycled scrap in its Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs). Yet EAFs still consume significant power, generate more dust and noise, and require carbon electrodes.
Induction-furnace (IF) technology takes sustainability a step further.
Moving to induction furnace technology therefore accelerates ME Elecmetal’s sustainability roadmap. The induction system’s precise, electromagnetic heating:
In short, both EAFs and induction furnaces support a circular, scrap-based steel supply—but induction furnaces push the envelope further, delivering efficiency-driven sustainability that aligns with ME Elecmetal’s 2030 and 2050 environmental targets.
“This technology addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: sustainability, energy efficiency, job security and future demographics…This is one of those projects where everyone wins: the business, the workers, the environment and the community.”
— Ted Angelo, President ME Elecmetal North America
“We have been granted funding to carry our flagship foundry into a modern melting era. We are extremely grateful for the support and investment from our esteemed Board of Directors and the MPCA.”
— Scott Schudalla, Vice President of Manufacturing
By 2027, Duluth will retire all three EAFs and commission a single, state-of-the-art induction furnace—engineered in partnership with Vulcan Engineering. The installation will:
According to the 2024 Sustainability Report, 94 % of Duluth’s finished products already originate from recycled material; induction melting will push that figure even higher while minimizing fossil-fuel dependence.
The investment is not just about infrastructure—it’s about people. The project has already had a positive motivational impact on the Duluth team, underscoring ME Elecmetal’s confidence in its North American operations and local workforce.
Once fully installed in 2027, the new induction furnace will completely replace the existing melting systems—enhancing production capabilities, lowering environmental impact, and ensuring long-term competitiveness.
The MPCA safeguards Minnesota’s air, land, and water while driving climate resilience. Through partnerships and innovation grants—such as the funding for ME Elecmetal’s furnace conversion—the agency helps communities and industries adopt cleaner technologies that bolster public health and economic vitality.
Together with our customers, communities, and people, ME Elecmetal is forging a cleaner, more efficient future for steelmaking and the mining industry.
