Indian state-owned steel producer Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has announced that new end-forging equipment has been installed with an investment of approximately INR 455.4 million ($8.5 million) at its Bhilai steel plant's rail and structural mill for forging of thick web asymmetric rails.
The new forging equipment will produce end-forged ZU-1- 60 rail profile which will be used in manufacturing railroad switches for Indian Railways. SAIL stated that this is an important milestone in the field of import substitution.
SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant, the sole supplier of rails to Indian Railways including long rails in lengths of 130 and 260 meters, has begun commercial production of the new rail profiles. This type of profile is currently imported by Indian Railways.