Oct. 16, 2006 — Nucor Steel has placed an order with SMS Meer, Italy, to supply and commission a new reheat furnace for its facility in Darlington, S.C.

The new 120 ton/hour pusher furnace will be used to heat 7- x 7-inch square billets with lengths ranging from 20 to 35 feet. The furnace’s eco-friendly construction features composite refractory material in the whole furnace chamber together with a high-quality skid pipe lining to ensure high thermal efficiency. SMS Meer says the furnace will provide uniform temperature distribution, high throughput rates and low specific energy consumption.

SMS Meer’s scope of supply includes charging equipment, complete furnace steel construction, the burner and combustion system, refractory and insulation materials, and discharge facilities. SMS Meer will also provide the hydraulic and lubrication systems and all ancillaries, as well as the electrical equipment and the automation Level 1 and 2. The automation system will control both the thermal combustion process and the material handling system. Erection and commissioning supervision as well as the training also form part of the SMS Meer scope of supply.

This investment is part of Nucor’s extensive upgrade program being conducted throughout its facilities. Commissioning of the new pusher furnace is scheduled for the end of 2007.

Nucor Steel Darlington is part of the Nucor Bar Mill Group.

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, nonferrous 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.