Celsa retarts production at former ASW plant in July

Celsa retarts production at former ASW plant in July

Following the detailed review of the plant and UK long market where it was determined that Celsa has enough confidence particularly in the construction sector to restart the mill acquired last January, Spanish group is going to recommence production at newly formed Celsa Steel Ltd (previously owned by ASW) next month and re-employ former workers of ASW. According to market sources company is planning to make the first rolled product deliveries in the second half of July and be in full production by December. Futhermore, setting up a new EAF to rise the annual melting capacity to 1.2 million tons and upgrading rolling mills at Cardiff works are among company's other plans. The two rolling mills at Cardiff will be supplied by one of the two existing EAFs with an initial production capacity of 900'000 tons per annum and produce wire rods and reinforcing bars, and sections with an annual capacity of 700'000tons and 400'000tons respectively. Celsa, claiming to be the most diversified longs mill in Europe has a pretty wide product range covering rebar in coils, mesh making and drawing quality wire rods, flats, equal and unequal angles, channels, narrow stirps, tubes and other drawn products. Besides all above, Barselona-based Celsa is aiming to reach a total annual capacity of approximately 6 million tons by 2005 once Celsa Steel in Cardiff will operate in full pace and the construction of the two new EAFs at its Barcelona works is completed. Added to that, Celsa looking to expand outside Spain for several years, is known to be struggling for the former SAM mini-mills in France which were last acquired by the Italian steelmaker Riva. Meanwhile, Spanish group is developing its product range at its plant in Spain.