Oct. 2006 — Arcelor Laminados, SA of Zaragoza, Spain, recently awarded an order to SMS Meer, Italy, to modernize two rolling mills.

Arcelor Laminados will transfer its production activities, presently located in the urban area of Zaragoza, to the outskirts in the “López Soriano” Recycling Technology Park. As a result of the comprehensive modernization measures, the current annual production capacity of approximately 325,000 tonnes of steel will be nearly doubled.

SMS Meer’s scope of supply and services comprises dismantling, transport, and supply of new equipment as well as erection and commissioning of both rolling mills.

For Rolling Mill No. 1, SMS Meer will supply an 80-tonne/hour pusher-type furnace, targeting a future production rate of 90 tonne/hour. In Rolling Mill No. 2, the existing 80-tonne/hour pusher-type furnace will be revamped and transferred to the new premises. SMS Meer will also supply finishing stands for Rolling Mill No. 1, and roughing and finishing stands for Rolling Mill No. 2, as well as cooling beds and various other equipment for the finishing areas of both mills. Auxiliary facilities for the two rolling mills as well as the electrical and automation systems will also be provided by SMS Meer.

Arcelor Laminados, a part of the Mittal Arcelor Group, is a steel manufacturer specialized in angles and flat bars fundamentally for the construction sector, machinery industry and electrical distribution subsector.

SMS Meer GmbH forms part of the Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology Business Area of the SMS group. SMS GmbH is the holding for a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2005 some 9,250 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.33 billion.