German plantmaker SMS Group has been awarded a turnkey contract by Indian state-owned steel producer Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to modernize billet casting machines at its Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) in West Bengal, India.
According to SMS Group, the scope of the project includes upgrading SAIL’s existing two 6-strand, six-meter billet casters at the Durgapur facility. The modernization is expected to enhance continuous casting performance for long products, increasing the plant’s annual production capacity by more than 60 percent. In addition, a new 150 mm x 150 mm billet section, with the possibility of producing 160 mm round billets in the future, will be introduced to support downstream bar mill production, including rebar and wire rod.
According to SMS Group, the project will be implemented in two phases. Billet caster No. 1 is scheduled to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2027, followed by billet caster No. 2 in the third quarter of 2028.
The company added that project execution will take place during ongoing operations. Each continuous casting unit will be commissioned within a defined five-month shutdown period, ensuring that overall plant operations continue without major disruption.
