Padua, Italy-based special steel producer Acciaierie Venete Group has announced it is starting work on phase two of the large diameter (LD) bloom project which it commenced back in 2009. Phase one of the project consisted of the installation of bloom caster No. 4.
Alessandro Banzato, CEO of Acciaierie Venete, stated that the project “was developed in order to meet new markets needs, such as those of the energy industry”. The large diameter blooms produced by the continuous caster No. 4 answer the requirements for production of components for wind turbines.
Under the project’s phase two, the Italian special steel producer will upgrade and enhance its rolling mills in order to roll blooms of 600 mm diameter. Mr. Banzato highlighted that the company will be able to increase its rolled output by 30-40 percent, while widening its portfolio. Phase two is expected to be completed on early 2014.
The equipment to be installed include a controlled cooling plate, a heating furnace, a reverse stand mill for large diameters and all of the related equipment. Design, construction and installation of the machinery has been awarded to Austrian plantmaker Siemens VAI Metals Technologies. “We are still committed to the important investment we have targeted, despite the difficulties we are facing nowdays,” concluded CEO Banzato.