TKAST orders new HR annealing/pickling line

ThyssenKrupp Acciai Speciali Terni (TKAST) ordered a new annealing/pickling line from SMS Demag. This production line, which will replace several existing lines, will be designed to have an annual capacity of around 650,000 metric tons. The end product of this line - hot rolled pickled stainless steel strip with a maximum width of 1,570 mm and thicknesses of 1.5 to 7.0 mm - is used as feedstock for the group's own cold rolling mills and for the supply to end users, e.g. the tube and pipe industry. The line, which will cost Euro 50 million, is scheduled to be operational in the third quarter of 2007.