A Teesside company is behind the world's most environmentally-friendly slag processing plant.

VAI UK built an emmission-free factory that turns slag, a byproduct of the reduction of iron ore to iron, into a fine powder which can be used in cement-making.

The first two castings were successfully completed at the Huttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) plant in Duisburg, Germany.

The plant is the first of its kind because of its zero emissions process which keeps potentially harmful vapours in the system.

The work was the culmination of a three-way partnership between VAI UK, in Stockton, Teesside, Deutsche VAI, in Germany, and VAI Linz, in Austria.

The project involved a slag granulation plant including steam condensing unit, cooling tower, storage area and material handling systems, electrics, automation, civil works and erection.

Geoff Wingrove, director of VAI UK's iron and steel division said: "This was a very challenging turnkey project requiring innovative engineering solutions to produce high value granule with minimal environmental impact, all accomplished within the confines of an existing work."

VAI UK has offices in Stockton, Teesside and in Sheffield, in addition to premises at Bournemouth International Airport following the move last year from its offices in Poole. It employs about 450 staff in the UK.