Steel Mills

ArcelorMittal Plans New Hot Strip Mill in Mexico

February 10, 2018

ArcelorMittal Mexico has contracted with Primetals Technologies for the construction of a new hot strip mill at Lázaro Cárdenas. Primetals will erect the hot strip mill and a hot skin pass mill, including power supply, mechanical equipment, drives and automation.

The mill is designed for an annual capacity of 2.5 million metric tons of hot strip steel. The hot skin pass mill will have a processing capability of 650,000 tons per year. Startup is anticipated for 2020.

ArcelorMittal Lázaro Cárdenas is Mexico’s largest steel producer and slab exporter. The company produces high-quality slab with a uniform grain structure using DRI input. Liquid steel production capacity is 5.3 million metric tons per year and slab production capacity is approximately 3.8 million metric tons per year.

The new hot strip mill and hot skin pass mill will allow ArcelorMittal Lázaro Cárdenas to process slabs on site.

The hot strip mill consists of a roughing mill and a seven-stand finishing mill. It will roll slabs with thicknesses of 220 or 250 millimeters. A slab reheating furnace, a crop shear, a strip cooling line including Primetals Technologies Power Cooling system, two downcoilers and a modular coil shuttle car system are also part of the turnkey mill.

All equipment will be engineered and supplied by Primetals Technologies, including the water treatment plant, the high and medium voltage electric power supply down to the local subdistribution, the roll shop, a laboratory, as well as the required bays and cranes. One indoor and two outdoor coil storages will also be integrated.

The hot skin pass mill will consist of a powerful mill stand, entry and exit reels, a flattener, a side trimmer and inspection equipment.

ArcelorMittal operates six facilities in three ports in Mexico with a steel production capacity of more than 6.5 million tons per year. The largest facility is Lázaro Cárdenas located in the state of Michoacan.