JFE Steel Starts Up SMS group-Supplied Stamp-Charging Coke Oven Battery
10/13/2026 - SMS group announced operations at JFE Steel Corp.’s Battery 6-A in Fukuyama, Japan, the country’s first Paul Wurth stamp-charging coke oven battery, have begun.
The company said that the battery is equipped with SOPRECO® smokeless charging technology. Battery 6-A has 52 ovens and an estimated capacity of about 420,000 metric tons. The higher and more homogeneous bulk density from stamp charging supports consistent coke quality and efficient oven operation.
“Introducing stamp charging in Japan while meeting demanding requirements for emissions, efficiency and reliability required close coordination from engineering through to start-up. This project shows what can be achieved when strong technology and close customer collaboration come together,” said Bernard Steenken, chief strategy officer in Asia-Pacific and MENA at SMS group.
The battery has a smokeless charging system along with SOPRECO to help with emission control. It also features an ultralow-NOx heating system to support heating while reducing NOx emissions.
“Through the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, this project has successfully realized both environmental improvements and highly efficient operations,” said Kunihiro Nuta, construction project manager at JFE Steel.
The company said the scope of the project also includes a stamping, charging and pushing machine and a new charging-gas transfer car.
“Introducing stamp charging in Japan while meeting demanding requirements for emissions, efficiency and reliability required close coordination from engineering through to start-up. This project shows what can be achieved when strong technology and close customer collaboration come together,” said Bernard Steenken, chief strategy officer in Asia-Pacific and MENA at SMS group.
The battery has a smokeless charging system along with SOPRECO to help with emission control. It also features an ultralow-NOx heating system to support heating while reducing NOx emissions.
“Through the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, this project has successfully realized both environmental improvements and highly efficient operations,” said Kunihiro Nuta, construction project manager at JFE Steel.
The company said the scope of the project also includes a stamping, charging and pushing machine and a new charging-gas transfer car.
