Thyssenkrupp Steel plans to retrofit a continuous casting line at its Duisburg-Nord plant due to changes in the supply of medium-width strip steel.
It is planned to install a separator that will allow the required narrow slabs to be poured, the message explains. The necessary investment funds have already been approved in the amount of several million dollars, estimated in double digits.
The steel mill recently announced that it will cease shipments from HKM after 2032.
The steel mill has purchased narrow slabs produced at HKM's Duisburg plant (Hüttenwerke Krupp-Mannesmann) for rolling at its Hohenlimburg plant into a 600 mm wide medium-width strip used by automotive and other industrial enterprises.
According to an experienced industry observer, in the past, the medium-width strip was produced by various EU steel mills. They were replaced by a strip of regular width, which is then cut into narrower strips.
"Making a medium-width strip using a special technology requires a lot of effort, but it has its advantages," he tells Kallanish. For example, higher pressure may be required to roll harder steels with higher carbon content, he says.
The representative of tk Steel agrees with this and notes that the final products are often small in tonnage, but with tight tolerances when it comes to small precision parts such as blades, or some parts used in the automotive industry.
According to her, Thyssenkrupp Steel is the only European steel manufacturer that produces medium-width strips on custom equipment.
Christian Kel Germany
kallanish.com
