The main advantage of FeSi is its deoxidizing effect (i. e. it reduces metals from their oxides), but it also helps to prevent the loss of carbon. Furthermore, ferrosilicon is used in electrode coatings and in the production of silicon, hydrogen and magnesium.

Ferrosilicon is produced either in a blast furnace or electric arc furnace by the reduction of quartz sand (SiO2) with coke in the presence of iron. The melt is poured out of the furnace and solidifies in the form of a flat sheet.

After cooling, this sheet is crushed by appropriate machinery and then further processed in a crusher. The resulting particle size distribution ranges from fine dust-like particles to cm-sized chunks. The FeSi is sifted into different size grades for further use.