India-based global steelmaker Tata Steel has announced that it has commissioned a new heat treatment plant at its Hayange plant in the Lorraine region of France, which will produce train tracks capable of lasting up to three times longer than standard rails.
The new heat treatment plant will operate alongside an existing heat treatment line at the Hayange mill which can process rail of up to 36 meters in length. The new facility will more than double the annual output of heat-treated rail from 55,000 to 125,000 mt. Steel for the Hayange mill is produced at Tata Steel's Scunthorpe plant in the UK before being transported to France for rolling.
According to Tata Steel, the new facility provides a full range of heat-treated rails of up to 108 meters in length, allowing rail operators to enhance performance and reduce costs associated with more frequent worn rail replacement.
As previously reported by SteelOrbis, in July 2012 Tata Steel announced an investment of more than €12 million in new technology in order to produce longer wear-resistant rails at its French steel mill.