In a statement, Salzgitter said the No. 3 line will have 500,000 metric tons of capacity and will be put into service in the second half of 2020. The company said the new line is intended to supplement the output from the integrated plant’s existing two lines and will reinforce its market position in high-strength and ultrahigh-strength automotive steels. 

"The investment is a renewed commitment to steel production in Germany. This line will allow us to continue to expand Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH’s importance as a supplier to customers in Europe and throughout the world," said chairman and chief executive Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann.