Brazil-based Gerdau Group's steelmaking subsidiary Gerdau Açominas has ordered a plate mill and a Steckel mill from Siemens VAI Metals Technologies to be constructed at Ouro Branco in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil for $290 million.
Siemens VAI has already supplied a single-strand continuous slab caster, with a capacity of 1.5 million metric tons per annum, which was put into operation in May 2009. As part of the current order, a second strand with the same capacity is also to be added to this casting machine.
As from the end of 2012, 1.1 million mt of heavy plate and over 800,000 mt of hot rolled coil are scheduled to be produced annually. Siemens is supplying all the mechanical, electrical and automation equipment for the two rolling lines.
The two new rolling lines are part of an investment program for the Ouro Branco Steel Works, which is intended to launch Gerdau Group as a flat carbon steel producer in Brazil.