ArcelorMittal Inaugurates Arceo, an Innovative Vacuum Plasma Coating Line

Regulatory News:

Today, world steel leader ArcelorMittal inaugurates Arceo, its industrial prototype for a vacuum plasma steel coating line located in Liège, Belgium. This breakthrough technology, developed as a world first by the Group’s Research and Development in partnership with the Walloon Region, will open up a host of new uses for flat steel products. With this process steel can be a sensor, a reflector, a source of light, an anti-bacterial or self-cleaning surface, or just simply more aesthetic or endowned with better anti-corrosive properties. This process is one of ArcelorMittal’s promising development projects and will contribute to renewing and expanding its product range.

The vacuum plasma process is respectful of the environment. It does not use solvents or chemical preparations; neither does it generate effluents or gases that require treatment. Furthermore, it enables the production of environmentally friendly products that allow for sustainable development.

After successfully developing the first investment phase, Christophe Cornier, EVP Flat Carbon Western Europe, announced the launch of a second phase specifically devoted to increasing the anti-corrosive properties of steel.

Christophe Cornier commented: “ArcelorMittal can be proud of its faith in this project. Developments so far have proved that the process is robust and respectful of the environment. Several tests are currently being carried out for clients interested in the process. With Arceo, ArcelorMittal will transform the future of steel, opening up new horizons for it.”

Greg Ludkovsky, VP Research and Development, added : “We are very happy to see that this project initiated within our reseach centers is becoming an industrial success.”

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's number one steel company, with 320,000 employees in more than 60 countries. The company brings together the world's number one and number two steel companies, Arcelor and Mittal Steel.

ArcelorMittal is the leader in all major global markets, including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with leading R&D and technology, as well as sizeable captive supplies of raw materials and outstanding distribution networks. An industrial presence in 27 European, Asian, African and American countries exposes the company to all the key steel markets, from emerging to mature, positions it will be looking to develop in the high-growth Chinese and Indian markets.

ArcelorMittal key pro forma financials for 2006 show combined revenues of USD 88.6 billion, with a crude steel production of 118 million tonnes, representing around 10 per cent of world steel output.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MTP), Brussels (MTBL), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).