Advanced Minimill Adds EPS Coil Line

Talleres y Aceros (TYASA; Ixtaczoquitlan, Mexico) has ordered a two-cell EPS® Coil Line to complete what is arguably the most advanced, environmentally-friendly minimill facility in the world. The EPS line, which will employ the latest Version 2.2 technology, will descale hot rolled strip up to 1.9 mm (0.075 in) thick and 1830 mm (72 in) wide in coils up to 33,100 kg (73,000 lb). Startup is projected for 1Q 2017. 

The TYASA steel campus was envisioned from the beginning as being a highly efficient, low emissions source of prime steel products for Mexico’s construction and manufacturing industries. The steelmaking itself takes place in the world’s first Simetal EAF Quantum electric arc furnace, designed and built by Siemens VAI Metals Technologies. This state-of-the-art meltshop has an annual capacity of 1.2 million tons.

Much of that capacity will supply a new Castrip® thin-strip casting facility, the first Castrip mill outside of Nucor. The new EPS line, built by Red Bud Industries (Red Bud, IL), is specially configured to process this thin-strip product. The line consists of a Coil Staging/Loading System, Uncoiler, Peeler/Breaker, entry Crop Shear, Stitcher, the EPS Cells, Strip Dryer, Electrostatic Oiler (used for the occasional requests for oiled EPS), exit Crop Shear, Tension Stand, Recoiler and exit coil staging/packaging area.

Oscar Chahín Trueba, the chief executive officer of TYASA, commented on the decision to bring EPS technology to the Ixtaczoquitlan facility: “Since our beginning in 1985, we have focused on producing the highest quality steel products for our customers, with no compromises. The technologies we selected for this new facility continue that tradition, but allow us to do so in the most efficient, most sustainable way possible. EPS is the natural fit because it produces a much better surface finish than acid pickling, it is more efficient, and it has no wastes or negative impacts on the environment. And it is proven technology.” The TYASA installation will be the second EPS operation in Mexico. Steel Technologies De Mexico has operated a four-cell EPS Coil Line near Monterrey, Mexico, since 2013.

The EPS trademark is owned by The Material Works, Ltd. and is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and is used by Red Bud Industries, Inc. under license.

Castrip is a registered trademark of Castrip LLC.

The EPS process is an environmentally friendly replacement for acid pickling of hot rolled steel strip developed by The Material Works, Ltd. (TMW; Red Bud, IL) This patented process removes the mill scale (oxide) from the surface of hot rolled steel, imparting a very clean, uniform surface. Unlike acid pickling, the EPS process uses no hazardous substances to accomplish its ‘pickling’ – just ordinary water and fine steel grit – which are recirculated for continuous use. The process also leaves the steel inherently rust resistant, so it does not require the oil film that is applied to acid pickled steel to prevent rusting. For further details please click here.

TMW is a privately-held company committed to excellence in the toll processing of flat rolled metals. With headquarters near St. Louis, MI, they perform slitting, blanking, cut-to-length, leveling and EPS processing for service centers and OEM manufacturers throughout the central and southern U. S.  Their technology division researches and develops new steel processing technologies that are used worldwide, including the EPS process replacement for acid pickling.

www.thematerialworks.com, www.rebudindustries.com

www.talleresyaceros.com