World’s largest steelmaker invests heavily for automotive customers

ArcelorMittal has invested US$267 million in its Duisburg plant in Germany, with US$180 million spent on a state-of-the-art wire rod mill capable of processing high strength and ultra high-strength steels.

The wire rod mill relies upon thermo-mechanical rolling technology and is supported by an adjacent quality control laboratory.

The company's Ruhrort site has also been subject to investment by the steel giant with a view to satisfying automotive customers looking for high quality steel ingots for forgings.

ArcelorMittal has invested US$8.6 million switching to a symmetrical format for its continuous casting line number two. "After construction of the new wire rod mill, this is the next step towards securing the future of jobs and steel production in Duisburg," said Thorsten Brand, CEO at ArcelorMittal Duisburg.

The company claims that its planned investments will change the mould format of continuous casting line number two from the current 265x385 mm (rectangular) to 320x320 mm (square) and will improve the rolling tolerance, which will enhance the quality of the product.

According to ArcelorMittal, the new format will extend its product range and increase the flexibility of its customers who process steel to make forged parts such as gearboxes and crankshafts, predominantly for commercial vehicles.

"The investment will deliver forgings made from semi-products at ArcelorMittal Duisburg which will meet the highest requirements of the strict European guidelines on noise emissions for commercial vehicles," the company said.

The Duisburg plant supplies semi-products for forging, as well as high-strength and ultra-high-strength wire rods for automotive and renewable energy applications, such as offshore wind farms.

The plant refit will take place in mid-2015.