Under the contract, SMS will rebuild the No. 1 and No. 2 bow-type casters at the steelmaker’s Avilés facility, reconfiguring them as vertical-and-bending casters. SMS said the goal of the project is to improve slab quality and increase production capacity.

The casters, which SMS built and installed in 1987, are each able to make 1.9 million metric tons of slabs annually.

SMS said the radius on the rebuilt casters will measure about eight meters and have a vertical length of 2.4 meters. The metallurgical length will be increased from 34 to 38 meters, and the casting speed will increase to 1.95 meters per minute.

The casters will be equipped with SMS’ remote adjustable mold, which allows for width adjustments and automatic setting of the mold taper during production. They also will feature a new secondary cooling concept based on a width-dependent spray cooling unit installed in the machine head, SMS said.  

To save on construction time, the casters’ existing foundations and fixing bolts will be reused.

The integrated facility makes sheet, plate and tinplate.