JSW Steel targets auto sector with new cold rolling mill

In a bid to be ready for demand for high-end steel from the automotive sector when the uptick happens, JSW Steel has inaugurated its Cold Roll Mill 2 (CRM-2) plant at Vijayanagar Works, Karnataka.

The new CRM-2 complex, with a production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), is the most sophisticated plant by configuration with capability to produce high strength and advanced high strength steel, both in uncoated and coated (galvanised and galvannealed GI and GA) categories and wider width up to 1870mm.

The CRM-2 plant includes a continuous annealing line, which is said to be the first to start operations in India. JFE Steel, which has a 15 percent stake in JSW Steel, has been providing Technical assistance to develop various grades of auto steel, including steel for external panels.

According to Dr Vinod Nowal, deputy managing director, JSW Steel, “The CRM-2 is equipped with the latest technology to produce continuously annealed CR up to a strength level of 980 MPA (UTS) and the auto galvanising line has the capability to produce both GI and GA up to a strength level of 590 MPA (UTS). At present, the high strength and higher grades are mostly imported.”

JSW Steel has commissioned  phase 1 of CRM-2 consisting of 2.3 MTPA pickling line coupled with tandem cold mill (PLTCM), 0.95 MTPA Continuous Annealing Line (CAL-1) and 0.4 MTPA Continuous Galvanising Line (CGL).

Phase 2 consisting of 0.95 MTPA CAL-2 is targeted to be commissioned during the first half of FY16.

JSW Steel has manufacturing facilities at Toranagallu in Karnataka, supplemented by units at Dolvi, Vasind, Tarapur, Kalmeshwar in Maharashtra and Salem in Tamil Nadu. It has entered into technological collaboration with Japan’s JFE Steel Corp, for manufacturing high-grade steel for specific industry applications such as automobiles.

At present, its product portfolio comprises of  hot rolled coils / MS plates, cold rolled, galvanised, galvalume, pre-painted galvanised, pre-painted galvalume, TMT rebars, wire rods and special steel bars, rounds and blooms. JSW Steel has also acquired a pipe and plate making steel mill in Baytown, Texas, USA.

The company has also signed a joint venture agreement with Japan’s Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc (MISI) to set up steel processing centres in India. The JV company is equipped to process flat steel products such as hot rolled, cold rolled steel and coated products to cater to the needs of automotive industry among other sectors.