Alter Steel has finalised its contract with Italian engineering firm Danieli to supply the technology and equipment for its $750 million steel mill in Pinkenba, Queensland, with the down payment now made to secure delivery. When complete, the facility will produce 500,000 metric tonnes of reinforcing steel products annually to meet Queensland’s growing construction demand, using 100% local scrap.

This will also be the first steelmaking facility in Australia to deliver wire rod, hot-rolled mesh, spooled coil and bar directly from a single site, supporting faster delivery, reduced handling and streamlined fabrication. “We undertook a deliberate process to ensure the technology we selected was proven, commercially scalable and fit for Australia’s future manufacturing needs,” said Grant Johnston, Managing Director of Alter Steel.

Alter began reviewing global steelmaking technologies more than 18 months ago, conducting a detailed assessment of the world’s leading OEMs. Over the past six months, the company has worked closely with Danieli on engineering, site preparation, and securing essential service connections. Alter Steel selected Danieli’s MIDA QLP® with Digimelter® (EAF) for its compact layout, energy efficiency and global track record. The Mi.Da® system has been deployed in 27 locations internationally, including in the US and Europe.

Built around a regional, product-focussed model, Mi.Da® eliminates billet reheating and cold storage, cutting energy use by up to 75% compared to traditional methods. Its endless casting and rolling process turns scrap into finished product in under two hours. The system also produces tangle-free, precision-aligned bundles, improving handling and processing at reinforcement facilities.

The project has secured conditional development approval with practical completion targeted for late 2027. The facility is designed for 100% renewable energy compatibility and will emit just 0.37 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of steel, an 80% reduction compared to traditional blast furnaces. This will be the first greenfield steel mill built in Australia in more than four decades.