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Chromium(VI)-free Coating Technology for Special Chromium-Coated Packaging Steel

Coating line VA13 for tinplate packaging

State-of-the-art coating line for the production of REACH-compliant ECCS

Photos: thyssenkrupp Steel Europe Fotografie; Nils Röscher

A state-of-the art coating line for packaging steel has been completed in recent years at thyssenkrupp Rasselstein in Andernach. This is where blackplate is chromium-coated in line with an innovative procedure. The new coating technology – called Trivalent Chromium Coating Technology (TCCT®) – is based on chromium(III) instead of the so far used chromium(VI). The company is thus providing its customers with a future-proof product for the manufacture of chromium-coated steel packaging that meets the specifications of the EU’S REACH regulation.

With an investment in the range of hundreds of millions of euros, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein is continuing to promote sustainability, process efficiency, quality, and competitiveness. At the same time, this change has improved measures for health protection and environmental conservation.

From steel to packaging steel – before finally becoming a can

From the ends and bottoms of pet food cans, to mounting cups on aerosol cans, right through to crown corks and offset ink tins – the cutting-edge coating facility supplies special chromium-coated steel for different types of steel packaging. Thanks to its extremely thin coating, the material is ideal for further processing and protected against corrosion.

Chromium(VI)-free production on the new coating line

With TCCT®, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein's portfolio now only includes special chromium-coated packaging steel that is 100% chromium(VI)-free.

For producers of steel packaging, the company thus offers a REACH-compliant solution with which entirely dispenses with the use of chromium(VI) in the manufacturing processes, while maintaining the usual high product quality. TCCT® is produced in accordance with the revised European standard EN 10202:2022 and is notable for the following advantages:

  • very good adhesion to organic coatings
  • very good wettability
  • suitable for challenging forming processes
  • stable and simple process
  • TCCT® specifications are similarly available to ECCS specifications

Boost to innovation with energy-saving effects

The new building in which coating line 13 has been constructed covers 10,000 square meters, or about one and a half soccer fields.

On coating line 13 blackplate will be surface coated with a nanometer-thin protective layer in an electrolytic bath. A further advantage of the modern system is as follows: “We are at the cutting edge of technology in every sense of the word – including in terms of energy consumption and occupational safety,” says Thomas Bohlmann, Head of Tinning 2. Chief Technology Officer Oliver Hoffmann reveals another groundbreaking aspect of the system: “We will now be able to work with an even broader production range.” This means that even wider and thinner plates from the site that are even more sturdy and robust can now be delivered as input stock for cans. “Our customers will of course benefit from this. Further progress will also be made possible, as our new measuring technology will go far beyond today’s standards.”

Cans made from tinplate are recycling champions

The modern system is state of the art from a technological perspective, especially because additional more efficient and energy-saving processes will be implemented using the digitalized workflow. Bohlmann makes the following predication: “After further tests and calculations we can look forward to lower CO2 emissions from production.” The can also contributes to the recycling process: as the most frequently and most efficiently recycled packaging material, tinplate remains unparalleled when it comes to ecological sustainability.

The VA 13 in Andernach will ensure environmental conservation, occupational safety, and resource efficiency.

Steel production in the million ton range

  • 1.5 million tons of packaging steel are processed on the systems in Andernach near Rasselstein.
  • That corresponds to 15 percent of thyssenkrupp’s production in Duisburg.
  • 400 customers in 80 countries order packaging steel for cans from here.
  • The product range comprises thicknesses ranging from 0.100 to 0.499 mm.
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