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VAI-Led Consortium to Upgrade Hadeed Hot Mill

Consortium leader Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau (VAI) was recently awarded a contract by Hadeed (Saudi Iron and Steel Co.) for expansion and modernization of an existing hot rolling mill. The contract is valued at approximately 100 million Euro.

In addition to the current order, VAI had previously supplied a complete steelmaking plant for long products (1980s), which has undergone continuous upgrades to incorporate the latest technologies.

“For over 25 years, VAI has been supporting a traditionally good business relationship with Saudi Arabia and can refer to a series of important and successful orders, which we would like to continue with in the future. The current order is further proof of our Life-Cycle Partnership with our customers”, reports DI Gerhard Falch, Chairman of the Managing Board of VAI.

The consortium will increase capacity of the plant in Al-Jubail, which was constructed by VAI in the 1990s, from one million to two million tons of flat steel products. Hadeed is reacting to the increased national demand for flat steel products.

The turnkey modernization project includes the following:

  • Expansion of the slabyard and coilyard.
  • Addition of a 2nd reheat furnace.
  • Addition of 6th finishing stand.
  • Addition of 2nd downcoiler.
  • Installation of a skinpass mill.
  • Automation.
  • Training.

The modernization is set to be complete at the beginning of 2006.


Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau (VAI), a company of the listed VA Technologie AG, is one of the world’s leading engineering and plant-building companies for the iron, steel and aluminum industries with a multinational company structure and special focus on technology, automation and services. VAI achieved total sales of 976 millions EUR in 2003 and employs approximately 3,400 people worldwide.