Turkish specialty steel producer Asil Celik has announced that it has ordered a continuous casting machine from the Swiss plantmaker SMS Concast. The new casting unit is expected to be commissioned in early 2015.
The new continuous casting machine will produce round blooms ranging between 300-600 mm, with an annual production capacity of 600,000 metric tons. With this investment, the company aims to expand its product range, improve quality and equate the company's bloom production capacity with its crude steel capacity.
Answering questions posed by SteelOrbis, Asil Celik CEO Osman Kılavuz said that with this new investment Asil Celik aims to use its full crude steel production capacity of 630,000 mt, since its current annual production rate is about 480,000 mt. However, the Asil Celik CEO went on to say that, as no rolling mill investment is planned, the company will sell its surplus bloom in the domestic and export markets. Asil Celik's current continuous casting machine has an annual production capacity of 475,000 mt, though its actual annual production rate remains at 410,000 mt.
Asil Celik will invest €16 million in the new continuous casting machine, including mechanical, electric, electronic and automation works, while the total investment in the project, including construction of the 12,000 m2 facility, assemblage and other works, is expected to reach €30 million, Mr. Kilavuz stated.