Fives: Close Collaboration Allowed for Successful SDI Project
08/06/2020 - In spite of the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Steel Dynamics Inc.’s (SDI) Mississippi sheet mill coated the first coil on its new galvanizing right on schedule, reports project contractor Fives.
In a statement, Fives said the first prime coil came off the line on 9 July, adding that it brought the project across the finish line in spite of logistics challenges. The challenge, it said, lay in having to ship in the mill equipment from several countries, each with varying degrees of public health measures put in place to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our team persevered, and using a strong focus, work ethic and stringent policies to prevent COVID-19 infection on-site, we achieved a positive result safely,” said SDI galvanizing and paint manager Jeff Roach.
Fives DMS project manager Anthony le Blan said close cooperation between the two companies was a key to the successful outcome.
“We worked together 24/7, including remote expert assistance to achieve this goal. For example, we programmed the annealing furnace remotely from Europe with local support. This success could not be achieved without close cooperation from the team on-site.”
The new line has a production capacity of 400,000 tons per year and is intended to diversify SDI’s product portfolio, Fives said.
Fives designed and supplied the entry and exit coil handling units, degreasing equipment, a horizontal annealing furnace, cooling, a skinpass mill, a strip leveler, strip inspection sections, and the automation technology.