
Thyssenkrupp starts new electrical steel processing line
Thyssenkrupp Steel says it has enhanced its non-grain oriented electrical steel production after commissioning the new annealing and isolating line at its Bochum plant.
It invested €150 million ($156m) in the line, which has a capacity of 218,000 tonnes/year, depending on the portfolio, Kallanish understands. For strip widths of 700-1,350mm, the line enables production of 0.2mm to 1.0mm thin sheet with particularly homogeneous mechanical and magnetic properties. They are specially designed to meet the requirements of highly efficient motors used primarily in electric vehicles, the firm notes.
The rolling mill upstream of the annealing and isolating line, a double reversing stand, has already been completed. The two new units are set to be complemented by a new electrical steel inspection line and a finishing line for cutting and tailoring. The finishing line is scheduled to go on stream in 2026.
The overall investment at the Bochum site amounts to €300m. In the new plant, the structure of the cold-rolled strip is recrystallised during the annealing process. The appropriate texture can then be set, and the sheet is coated with an insulating layer after the annealing process.
Christian Koehl Germany