In 2001, the width extension of the strand, with the increase of the pallet width from 5 to 5.5 m, increased the new effective sinter area up to 572 m2. A new ignition furnace was built in order to ensure a nominal production of 21,000 tons of sinter per day at constant quality. The new ignition furnace makes it possible to decrease the total thermal needs by 25 MJ/t of sinter. The safety of the installation is improved and the process control is easier. Total productive maintenance was used from the design to the realization. All the experiments and knowledge were capitalized. This was used for the training of the operators.