SAIL’s Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) has awarded SMS group a turnkey contract to modernize its two 6-strand billet casters in Durgapur, West Bengal, as part of efforts to enhance long product capacity and efficiency.
The upgrade is expected to increase annual production capacity by over 60pct and introduce a new 150×150 mm billet section (with potential for 160 mm round billets) for rebar and wire rod production.
The project will be executed in two phases, with billet caster No.1 scheduled for commissioning in Q4 2027 and billet caster No.2 in Q3 2028.
The modernization will utilize existing civil infrastructure to limit capital expenditure, while aiming to reduce operating costs, improve safety and enhance overall productivity and machine availability.
The casters were originally supplied by SMS in the early 1990s. The upgrade is driven by rising market demand and the need for more efficient production.
SMS will supply core casting equipment, automation systems and technical support, including ladle turrets, mold systems, oscillation drives and Level 2 automation, along with safety and handling systems.
The project will be carried out alongside ongoing plant operations, with commissioning of each caster planned within a five-month shutdown period.
SAIL currently produces about 20.6 mln tons of crude steel annually and plans to expand its capacity to 35 mln tons per year by FY2031. SAIL’s Durgapur Steel Plant is a major producer of long steel products and manufacturer of forged railway wheels and axles in India.
