In a statement, Primetals Technologies said the upgrades to the caster included installation of its Single-Roll DynaGap (SRD) segments, making it the first billet caster in the world to be equipped with the technology. 

“The SRD segment has been specially developed for use in the area of final solidification, and it enables the upper rolls to be pressed down individually onto the solidifying strand. This enables the final solidification point to be followed precisely,” Primetals Technologies said. 

Other technology packages also were installed to further improve the internal billet quality with regard to center porosity and center segregation.

The caster serves the No. 3 steel shop at Zenith’s integrated mill and has a rated capacity of 2 million metric tons per year. It produces billets in cross sections of 160 x 160 mm and has a maximum casting speed of 2.4 m per minute. Steel grades processed include low-, medium- and high-carbon steels as well as tube, spring, cold-heading and tire cord steels.