German plantmaker SMS Demag AG has announced that it has been awarded an order by German steel producer ThyssenKrupp Steel AG for a hot strip mill and a cold rolling complex. The plants will be located in Alabama (US) where ThyssenKrupp is building new facilities. However, the total value of the order has not been disclosed by any of the parties due to a confidentiality agreement.
The hot strip mill in question covers the entire production range for all steel grades from carbon to stainless steel and is designed to have an annual production capacity of 5.4 million mt. After its completion, the mill will be the world's largest facility of its type for manufacturing quality, high-strength steel products for the automotive industry.
The cold rolling complex will consist of a coupled pickling/tandem mill capable of producing 2.5 million mt of cold strip per annum, and will include a continuous pickling line and a skin-passing mill.
The construction of the plants in Alabama is scheduled to start in early 2008 and to be completed in March 2010.