- Milestone marks successful completion of commissioning phase and start of production operations
- Advanced line designed to produce exposed automotive-grade steels and advanced high-strength steels (AHSS)
- Proprietary Rapid Cooling and Transverse Flux Induction Heating technologies support production of high-value automotive products
- Project demonstrates successful collaboration between Nucor, Primetals Technologies, and CLECIM SAS
Nucor and Primetals Technologies have successfully produced the first prime coil on a new continuous galvanizing line (CGL) at Nucor’s sheet steel mill in Berkeley County, South Carolina, the U.S.A. The achievement marks the successful completion of the line’s commissioning phase and represents a major milestone in Nucor’s strategy to expand its production of value-added steel products for the automotive market.
Primetals Technologies, in partnership with CLECIM SAS, was responsible for the engineering and supply of the galvanizing line, including a vertical furnace with galvanneal capability, advanced automation systems, and key process technologies designed to enable the production of sophisticated automotive steel grades.
“Production of the first prime coil is the result of an outstanding collaboration between Nucor, Primetals Technologies, CLECIM, and numerous project partners,” said Ron Devoe, Head of Downstream Business for Primetals Technologies USA. “This milestone positions Nucor to serve growing demand for advanced automotive steel products.”
Designed for High-Value Products
With an annual production capacity of approximately 500,000 tons, the new galvanizing line is among the most advanced facilities of its kind in North America. The line is designed to produce exposed automotive-quality steel as well as advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) used in structural and safety-critical vehicle components. The line is capable of producing galvanized, galvanneal and zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated products, providing Nucor with increased flexibility to meet the evolving requirements of the US market.
The new equipment supports Nucor’s strategy to increase production of higher-margin, value-added steel products while strengthening its position as a supplier to automotive manufacturers throughout the region.
Key process technologies include Primetals Technologies’ proprietary Rapid Cooling system and a Transverse Flux Induction Heating (TFIH) system. Together, these technologies provide the precise heating and cooling rates required to achieve the metallurgical properties demanded by modern automotive applications.
The line’s vertical furnace consists of a radiant tube section and a direct-fired section that incorporates Primetals Technologies’ proprietary MID burner technology. This installation marks the first U.S. application of this in-house combustion system.
Global Collaboration for a Complex Project
Throughout project execution, Primetals Technologies leveraged expertise from across its global organization and partner network. Teams from the United States, Japan, India, and consortium partner Clecim contributed specialized knowledge in engineering, furnace technology, metallurgical process development, equipment supply, installation, and commissioning.
Primetals Technologies’ service workshop in Berkeley County played a particularly important role by supporting looper roll installation, furnace roll alignment, and fabrication of essential installation components.
About Nucor
Nucor Corporation is North America’s largest steel producer and the largest recycler of any material in the Americas. Nucor Steel Berkeley is a division of Nucor Corporation that operates a sheet steel mill in Huger, South Carolina. Nucor operates six sheet mills that produce flat-rolled steel for automotive, appliance, construction, pipe and tube and many other industrial and consumer applications. The capacity of the sheet mills is estimated at approximately 14,500,000 tons per year and each of the sheet mills are equipped with galvanizing lines, while four of them are also equipped with cold rolling mills for further processing of hot-rolled sheet steel.
Nucor Steel Berkeley, Primetals Technologies, and Clecim personnel at the new continuous galvanizing line in Huger, South Carolina, following successful production of the first prime coil.
Primetals Technologies, Limited, headquartered in London, United Kingdom, is a pioneer and world leader in the fields of engineering, plant building, and the provision of lifecycle services for the metals industry. The company offers a complete technology, product, and services portfolio that includes integrated electrics and automation, digitalization, and environmental solutions. This covers every step of the iron and steel production chain—from the raw materials to the finished product—and includes the latest rolling solutions for the nonferrous metals sector. Primetals Technologies is a Group Company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with around 7,000 employees worldwide. To learn more about Primetals Technologies, visit the company website www.primetals.com.
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