March 2007 — Chengde Iron and Steel Group, P.R. China, recently signed a contract with Danieli for the installation of a 1780-mm hot strip mill capable of producing over 3.3 million tonne/year of hot rolled strip in the thickness range from 1.2 to 19 mm.

The new plant will be comprised of three main sections, in addition to infrastructure and auxiliary facilities. The first section will consist of slab reheating furnaces, primary descaling, and a reversing rolling stand. A high-pressure descaling system will be installed prior to the high reduction mill to aid product quality.

The second section of the new plant begins with a coilbox for maintaining and equalizing the temperature of the intermediate strip in preparation for the finishing mill. The finishing mill is made up of seven four-high stands, equipped with fast-response HAGC, positive heavy bending and roll shifting. The finishing mill will produce strip thicknesses ranging from 1.2 to 19.0 mm in widths of up to 1650 mm.

The last section of the new plant includes an advanced and flexible cooling section at the exit of finishing mill. Downcoilers and coil handling facilities will complete the complex.

The new mill will be capable of producing a large product mix, including API X70 and HSLA grades. It will be capable of producing hot rolled strip with better dimensional tolerances and mechanical properties than those currently required by the market, with advantages in terms of revenues and better environmental impact .

Plant startup is scheduled for second quarter 2008.