Giant Austrian-based plantmaker Siemens VAI Mining and Metals Technologies GmbH & Co. has announced the receipt of an order from Chinese steel producer Shougang Group Co. for the supply of three new continuous-casting machines, including a caster capable of producing ultra-thick slabs of up to 400 millimeters for the new facility of its subsidiary Tangshan Shougang Baoye Iron and Steel Co. Ltd (Shougang Baoye).
Continuous casting machine No. 1 (CCM 1) is designed to cast up to a total of 1.4 million mt of steel which will be directly fed into a plate mill and will produce slabs with thicknesses from 250 to 400 mm and with widths from 1,600 to 2,400 mm. CCM 1 will additionally be equipped with a three-dimensional spray system, as well as with I STAR Revolver rollers requiring only a minimum of spray water cooling. In order to facilitate the removal of steel inclusions, the caster's vertical length will be extended by one meter.
CCM 2 will produce slabs with thicknesses from 220 to 300 mm and with widths from 1,600 to 2,500 mm, while CCM 3 will cast slabs with thicknesses between 230 and 250 mm and with widths varying between 1,600 and 2,150 mm.
The deal includes Siemens' detail engineering for core systems and equipment, basic engineering for the run-out area and maintenance facilities and process automation systems, in addition to a wide range of technological packages.
Moreover, Siemens will be responsible for advisory services for local manufacturing, erection, testing, start-up and commissioning, in addition to personnel training.
The Shougang Baoye's new facility is scheduled to start operating in September 2009.
The order was received shortly after the order from the Shougang Group for the supply of a 400-mm-thick-slab caster at its steel works, Qinhuangdao Shouqin Metals Material Co. Ltd.