The Plate Rolling Dept. of Posco’s Pohang Works recently held a ceremony to commemorate completion of improvements in the Plate Mill II, making its first step to launching a system of high-quality steel production.

Improvements in the plant took 16 months from April 2004, with applied blasting and shearer transfer techniques completing all processes on June 2, 2005, five days earlier than scheduled. The first process after completion was achieved on July 15th, 45 days ahead of the general processing schedule.

As a result of the improvements, plate rolling production capacity of the Plate Mill II has been increased by 0.4 million tonnes and the rolling reduction of rolling mill to 2,000 tonnes. The cooling capacity of the online accelerated cooling facility has also been expanded to increase production of high-strength, high-quality steel.

In addition, the sawing machine has been replaced to increase maximum cutting thickness from 40 to 50 mm, and logistics-related facilities and systems have been completely restructured to improve the logistical flow and quality of automated procedures.

The improvements enable Pohang’s Plate Rolling Dept. to establish specialized production systems for high-strength thick steel products for shipbuilding and steel products resistant to low temperatures for compound vessels transporting LPG and ammonia. The Department also has a plan to develop API-X100 steel by the end of this year, develop 570Mpa steel products with good workability and welding characters for architectural purposes, and expand the capacity of steel products for life-saving purposes up to 420 Mpa. These initiatives will extend the scope of its productions and are aimed at satisfying the increasing needs of its clients.

It is anticipated that the production of high-quality steel will take over 50% of all plate rolling productions of Posco by 2008, thus greatly increasing Posco's competitiveness in plate rolling through high value-added products.

Ultimately, Pohang’s Plate Rolling Dept. expects to achieve high global standards in the rolled steel productivity and the hit ratio of production of TMCP steel and high-quality API steel for shipbuilding, and to meet the standards of Six Sigma with the quality deviation of its products.