SMS group is building the caster for the greenfield mill, and it expects to begin providing pre-commissioning and on-site maintenance early next year. 

“The primary focus of this maintenance contract will be in maintaining and repairing the continuous caster molds and containment segments. Maintenance by SMS assures that the casting machine will always be state of the art, as technical service provided by SMS also includes the transfer of latest developments to existing production equipment,” the company said. 

The caster, said to be one of the largest in the world, will produce slabs in thicknesses from 200 mm to 305 mm and up to 3,150 mm wide. It will be equipped with electromagnetic stirring, casting platform robotics and an HD mold with fiber optics. 

In addition to the caster, SMS group is supplying a customized roller apron, a quenching unit and a cutting line.