Hyundai Hysco, Korea, has placed the first order for SMS Demag's Continuous Vertical Galvanizing Line (CVGL) facility. SMS Demag will incorporate the CVGL into an existing annealing line (CAL) at Rotem, a company of the Hyundai group.

SMS Demag developed the prototype for the CVGL over a four-year period, which included installation of the prototype in an existing hot-dip galvanizing line at Wuppermann AG in Judenburg, Austria.

The new CVGL facility will be used to galvanize steel strip up to 1860 mm wide and from 0.35 to 2.3 mm thick. It will be capable of line speeds up to 240 meters/minute (for GI material) and 190 meters/minute (for GA material), and will have an annual production capacity of approximately 750,000 tonnes per year.

The CVGL facility can be used to produce CQ, DQ, DDQ, EDDQ and HS grades. Strategic installation will allow Hyundai Hysco to use the CVGL facility both as annealing and hot-dip galvanizing line. The process may be chosen according to the production schedule. Benefits of the facility include the non-contact, free strip travel in the metal bath, a separate production and storage pot, and a short immersion time (due to a smaller production pot).

Installation has been scheduled for August 2006.

SMS Demag AG forms part of the Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology Business Area of the SMS group. The SMS group is internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2003 around 9500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of around EUR 2.20 billion.