UK-based plantmaker Primetals Technologies has announced that Chinese steel producer Maanshan Iron and Steel (Masteel) has commissioned a six-strand combined billet and beam blank caster supplied by Primetals at its steel plant in Maanshan. The company managed to start up the new equipment two weeks ahead of schedule despite issues with global supply chains and Covid-19 restrictions.
The caster, ordered in December 2021, has an annual capacity of 1.1 million mt and casts structural steel, low-alloy grades for bridges, weather-resistant grades, and steel for the mining industry. With the caster designed for high productivity of up to 330 mt per hour, Masteel will be able to increase its annual production.