Nucor recently started up a new 5-pass Kocks/Danieli Reducing and Sizing Block at the company’s NN1 SBQ mill in Norfolk, Neb.

Installation and startup of the new block was conducted during a very limited stoppage of the mill. Plant operation was interrupted on November 15th and restarted with the first bar rolled through the RSB on December 2nd. During this period, existing equipment — including foundations — was dismantled and new foundations were prepared. Danieli credits an accurate project planning together with the action of a fully experienced and dedicated operating team for allowing the achievement of this rapid turnaround.

The new block, which replaced some of the mill finishing stands, can operate either as finishing block for straight bars and bar-in-coil production or for preparing the feeding section for the high-speed wire rod finishing block. The new block’s flexibility enhances plant efficiency and final product quality.

Danieli’s scope also included installation of new cropping shears along the mill.

Nucor's NN1 mill produces 12.7- to 68.3-mm diameter straight bars, 18.7- to 39.7-mm diameter bar-in coils, and 5.5- to 17.8-mm diameter wire rod, squares, hexagons and flats in low, medium and high carbon and alloy steels.