Primetals Technologies to upgrade wire rod mill for Swiss EAF-based steelmaker

Swiss long steel products maker Stahl Gerlafingen, part of Italian merchant bar manufacturing group Beltrame, has contracted Primetals Technologies to upgrade its wire rod mill, the Europe-based plant maker said Jan. 17.

The scope of supply includes an Intelligent Pinch Roll and High-Speed Laying Head, the units that will boost performance by ensuring uniform packaging of the coils.

By improving coil packaging, Stahl Gerlafingen, in the canton of Solothurn in the northwest of Switzerland, will ensure its reheating furnace is fully utilized. With the new equipment, the overall coil can be shortened too for ease of transportation.

The startup of the new high speed pinch roll and laying head assemblies is expected in the summer of 2023.

The wire rod mill produces 600,000 mt/year of coils, while the bar outlet has an annual capacity of 80,000 mt/year. Both machines are fed from the same roughing and intermediate mill train.

The upgrades will lower the vibration levels, which will result in reduced wear.

New automatic control motors will be supplied for the pinch roll and laying head. The motors are controlled by high performance low voltage variable frequency drives with an active front-end rectifier.

The largest producer of recycled steel in Switzerland, Stahl Gerlafingen primarily produces rebars for domestic and international markets.

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, assessed last week Northwestern European rebar price at Eur762.50/mt ex-works, up 2.35% week on week.

— Ekaterina Bouckley