As one of the leading suppliers of electric slag cleaning and matte settling furnaces, Metix – as part of SMS group – has gone a step further and developed a new generation of these furnaces. In continuous operation, the novel, rectangular furnace design boasts significant advantages compared to conventional circular furnaces. The electrodes are arranged in-line to ensure uniform power distribution and cover the whole furnace vessel. The system also has additional positive effects during the cleaning and settling process, ensuring that the copper content in the cleaned slag is reduced to a minimum. SMS group offers its customers cooling and lining concepts that increase the lifetime of the furnace significantly.

Moreover, SMS group is working on innovative concepts to boost recycling rates. Electric slag cleaning furnaces are primarily used in the nickel, copper, lead, and PGM (platinum group metals) industries, recovering metals from slags. This began in the 1950s when SMS group installed its first units. The units are so successful that more than 40 units have been supplied by SMS group / Metix to date. Depending on the slag properties and volumes, rectangular or circular solutions are possible.