NLMK said that on Tuesday, two 100-metric-ton mill housings for the first finishing mill stand arrived at the Belgium facility. Primetals Technologies is building the mill housings. Two more stands are set to arrive this year. 

In addition to the new mill stands, the project includes a new automation system, new drives and motors, as well as a new runout table, modernized cooling and water systems, and a new downcoiler.

The upgrade will allow the mill to produce thin, high-strength, hot-rolled coil and increase the yield strength of its sheet beyond 1,000 MPa. 

The first phase of the project is to be completed by the end of this year, and a second phase will be completed in 2021.