Primetals Technologies and WISCO to Set New Benchmark in Zero-Defect Rail Steel Casting

• New order for a 6-strand bloom caster as part of WISCO’s plans to improve production line layout
• Strengthens WISCO’s portfolio in high-end segments such as rail steel

Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. (WISCO) and Primetals Technologies recently signed a contract for a 6-strand bloom caster project. Located in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, the project is a key part of WISCO’s strategic initiative to improve its production line layout. The new caster will further strengthen the company’s manufacturing capabilities in high-end areas such as rail steel, automotive, and photovoltaic applications, and marks another milestone in the partnership between the two companies.

Primetals Technologies will provide overall design, core equipment supply, and automation control systems, including mechanical, fluid, and electrical automation, as well as technical guidance for installation and commissioning, delivering full-process support from design through implementation.

Targeting High-Quality Rail Steel 

To meet the stringent quality standards required for rail steel, the project will enable stable and precise continuous casting through advanced equipment and optimized process configurations, ensuring both bloom surface and internal quality at the source. At the same time, by improving molten steel cleanliness and bloom compactness, the project will reach industry-leading quality levels while also increasing productivity and efficiency through optimized production control.

The project integrates multiple advanced technologies, including tubular and plate molds, the DynaFlex dual-arm oscillation system, mold and strand electromagnetic stirrers, Dynacs 3D dynamic secondary cooling, DynaGap 3D dynamic soft and heavy reduction, DynaPhase, and the Quality Expert system.

Together, these technologies form a highly efficient and stable continuous casting production and quality control system, targeting zero surface defects and no internal cracks. In short, the project will deliver more stable and reliable high-quality blooms for further processing.

About WISCO

WISCO is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group. Located in Qingshan District, Wuhan City, along the Yangtze River, WISCO is the first large-scale integrated steel enterprise established after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, with official operations beginning in 1958.

WISCO is committed to building a world-class steel product portfolio. Its core products include cold-rolled silicon steel, automotive sheet, high-performance structural steel, pipeline steel, container steel, and rail steel. With outstanding quality, WISCO’s products are widely used in national strategic fields such as power transformers, automotive manufacturing, engineering machinery, bridge construction, national power grids, and high-speed railways.

Cooperation between Primetals Technologies and WISCO dates back to the 1990s and has expanded from continuous casting to hot rolling, cold rolling, silicon steel, and other core processes.