Article

InfraBuild, an Australian steel producer, upgraded its electric arc furnace with ABB's VD4-AF vacuum circuit breakers to enhance safety and reliability. The VD4-AF features a servomotor-driven system, capable of over five times the operations of traditional breakers, and provides significant performance improvements while reducing maintenance costs.

InfraBuild ordered two breakers specifically designed for steel furnace applications, installed within air-insulated UniGear ZS3.2 switchgear. The upgrade is part of a broader electrical infrastructure enhancement, following transformer upgrades and the addition of a new furnace.

The VD4-AF circuit breakers are expected to operate for decades with a higher 2,500-amp rating, allowing for potential future productivity improvements. The installation, completed in early 2022, involved complex logistics but resulted in successful operation of the furnace.