Chinese steel giant Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd (Baosteel) has given an order to German steelmaker SMS Demag for the delivery of a new roughing stand for its 5-m heavy plate mill in Shanghai.
SMS Demag said that the mill in question, which has been operative since March 2005, will have its annual production capacity raised from the current 1.4 million mt to 1.8 million mt as a result of the expansion. The mill will also enable Baosteel to manufacture plates in thicknesses of up to 400 mm - sizes which are becoming increasingly important in shipbuilding.
The first plate is slated for rolling on the new roughing stand in December 2008.