Nov. 2006 — Anshan New Steel Corp. Ltd., Anshan, China, has placed an order with SMS Meer, Germany, for the supply of a new seamless tube mill employing the PQF^® (Premium Quality Finishing) process.

The mill will be used to produce seamless tubes in the diameter range from 73.0 up to 177.8 mm with a planned capacity of 250,000 tonnes/year.

SMS Meer is to supply all the key components of the mill equipment, including the media systems and technological automation. SMS Meer’s scope of supplies and services also comprises the project management, supervision of erection and commissioning, and training of the operating personnel.

Anshan New Steel had previously commissioned a conventional MPM plant (Multistand Pipe Mill) at the beginning of 2003, and has now decided in favor of the latest technology for the production of seamless tubes. This plant represents the sixth of its kind worldwide and the third in China to employ this technology, which that was introduced three years ago.

This project will be carried out in close cooperation with SMS Demag Innse SpA, Milan, Italy. The mill is scheduled to go into full production at the beginning of 2008.

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.