Acerbrag, Argentina, recently started up its new 350,000 tonne/year Danieli meltshop.

The state-of-the-art steelmaking plant features a 50-tonne Danarc EAF fitted with two Modules for O2 and C injection. The facility also includes a 2/3-strand billet caster directly connected to the rolling mill for hot-charging operation.

Danieli’s scope of supply also included plant auxiliaries including the ferro-alloy system, fume dedusting plant, an 80/130-tonne ladle handling crane and Danieli Automation electricals and automation for the whole plant.

The new meltshop was the last step of the modernization program for the existing steelworks. Earlier stages of the modernization program included the bar and rod mill multi-stage reconstruction program, which concluded in March 2004 with startup of the renewed hot rolling mill area.

The 60-tph Danieli rolling mill is designed for producing of 8- to 25-mm diameter plain/deformed bars, up to 50-mm angles, corresponding flats, and 5.5- to 14-mm diameter wire rod in up to 1.5-tonne coils.

With a 350,000 tonne/year nominal capacity, Acerbrag's new minimill is one of the most modern complete steelmaking and rolling plants in operation in Argentina, and will grant high production and efficiency in the production of long products.