Turkish steel producer Ekinciler Demir Celik has selected Danieli to supply a sixth-generation Horizontal Billet Welder (HBW) equipped with K-Welding technology for its rolling mill in Turkey.
The new system will enable head-to-tail billet welding, allowing the introduction of the first endless-rolling operation in the country. The HBW is designed to achieve productivity of up to 180 tons per hour while integrating with the existing mill layout to enhance operational efficiency.
Danieli’s HBW is a fully automated billet welding system designed for endless rolling. The K-Welding technology allows billets to be continuously fed to the rolling mill, improving yield by eliminating billet gaps and reducing short bars typically produced on the cooling bed.
The new generation system also features a redesigned structure that cuts cleaning operations by around 50pct, a cartridge-based design for faster off-line maintenance, and an upgraded current-control system that reduces welding time and improves weld quality.
The installation is also expected to support Ekinciler’s sustainability targets by reducing energy consumption per ton of rolled product, lowering material waste and decreasing emissions linked to reheating and billet handling.
Start-up of the new unit is scheduled for Q2 2027.
Based in Iskenderun, Hatay, Ekinciler Demir Celik is one of Turkey’s major long steel producers, with a crude steel capacity of around 2 mln tons per year, producing mainly rebar and wire rod.
