ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA, a part of Germany-based steelmaker ThyssenKrupp, has announced that it has commissioned a hot strip annealing and pickling line and a second 20-roll cold rolling mill at its Calvert, Alabama plant to produce stainless flat steel products in widths of 72 inches (183 centimeters). Thus, the company has become the only manufacturer in NAFTA countries producing this particular kind of steel product.
This size is especially used in the manufacture of large tanks for the chemical, oil and gas industries, and also for milk tanks. The extra-wide coils and sheet also provide advantages for customers in terms of processing and welding.
ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA has also announced that construction work is continuing on schedule on a melt shop with a one million metric ton per year capacity. The melt shop is scheduled to go into operation in December 2012, until when ThyssenKrupp's European mills will supply hot band and slabs for the Calvert plant.