Kardemir and SMS group signed agreement for new casting plant

The new plant is planned to be operational by the end of 2025, with an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes.

The five-strand combi-continuous caster machine will increase Kardemir's production flexibility, enabling production in a wide range of steel grades and formats. This development will enable Kardemir to respond more quickly and efficiently to the changing demands of the industry. The casting plant is designed to produce three square billet sizes, one bloom size and one beam hollow section size. The new continuous casting plant, with a radius of 10.25 metres, is capable of producing a wide range of steel grades, including construction and high carbon rail grades.

SMS technology will offer significant innovations to maintain high quality and reliable casting processes. The large, long-life tundish and CONFLOW stopper mechanism will ensure high product quality by keeping the steel levels in the mould stable and accurate. In addition, CONVEX mould tubes and CONSTIR electromagnetic stirrers will improve casting speed and internal product quality.

SMS will also offer AI-powered digital solutions to optimise system operation and improve production efficiency. Advanced level 1 and level 2 automation systems will be used to optimise the processes of the supplied machines. These systems include fault-tolerant hardware to improve production reliability and quality and contribute to product certification.

‘We are confident that it will set a new standard in the Turkish steel industry’

Kardemir and SMS have a long-standing partnership that goes back more than 25 years. Kardemir's management team, whose customer has once again chosen SMS to continue their successful partnership with the five-strand combi-continuous caster, expressed their excitement about the new co-operation: ‘Our long-standing and trusting partnership with SMS group has enabled us to work effectively to realise this project. We are confident that the project will be executed quickly and smoothly and will set a new standard in the Turkish steel industry.’