India-based global steel giant Tata Steel has announced that it will invest more than €12 million (£10m) in new technology in order to produce longer wear-resistant rails at its French steel mill.
The new technology will enable Tata Steel to heat-treat rails of up to 108 meters in length at its Hayange facility in the Lorraine region of northeast France. Heat-treated rail can last up to three times longer than standard rail when used in high-wear conditions such as heavy traffic, high-axle loads or tight curves.
The new heat treatment plant will be in addition to an existing heat treatment line at the Hayange mill which can process rail of up to 36 meters in length. The new plant, which is expected to be completed by autumn 2013, will double the annual output of heat-treated rail from 55,000 mt to 120,000 mt. Rail production will not be affected by the construction project.
Paul Hodgson, manager of the Hayange facility, said "This latest announcement means Tata Steel will have invested almost €50 million in this facility over the last three years." The latest investment follows the €35 million upgrade of the Hayange rail mill, which was completed in September 2011, enabling it to produce 108 meter-long rails.