Steelmakers in China and Thailand are both working with Italian plant builder Danieli.

In China, Changshu Longteng Special Steel has ordered a 400kt/yr continuous mill for flat bar products. A new SBQ mill and wire rod line was recently started up at the same site and was also supplied by Danieli.

The new 75 tonnes/hr mill will replace a three-high mill and will increase annual production and product quality, claims Danieli.

Finished products will be 70mm to 130mm thick flats for end plates

According to Danieli, the new mill will consist of 11 stands arranged in a H/V configuration and a downstream process that will include a transfer bed and equipment for collecting spooled flat products from coiling machines.

The start-up date is early 2021.

Meanwhile, in Thailand, Sahaviriya Steel Industries contracted the Italian plant builder to replace a downcoiler reel for its Bang Saphan hot strip mill.

Danieli claims that once upgraded the downcoiler, which was originally designed by another plant manufacturer and in operation since 1994, will benefit from a considerable reduction of maintenance cycles and a projected service life of over 1.5Mt.

According to Danieli, a completely new kinematic of the machine was developed and now the new reel is being manufactured at Danieli workshops in Italy. The gearbox will be refurbished in Thailand in January next year and the plant will continue normal operation.