Turkish steelmaker Kardemir has decided to replace some of the equipment at its special bar quality plant (SBQ) in Karabuk, Turkey to improve its exporting capabilities.
The company placed an order with the SMS Group, which originally built and installed the plant in 2013. The new equipment will optimize production for more compact coils, which will be better suited for container shipping, SMS noted in a release on Feb 24.
Packing density will also be improved with a new ring distribution system. SMS will also replace the automation system for the coil forming area. The outside diameter of the coils will be reduced from 1.080mm to 1.040mm. Meanwhile, the inner diameter will be reduced from 850mm to 820mm.
The plant has an annual output capacity of 700,000mt of bar steel, bar-in-coil, and wire rod products. Kardemir’s total yearly steel production capacity is about 3.5mn mt.