Shagang Group has commissioned new Castrip lines at its Zhangjiagang plant in Jiangsu Province, China, according to equipment supplier, Primetals. Since introducing Castrip technology in 2018, Shagang has invested in three additional Castrip lines.
Castrip technology offers flexible ultrathin cast strip (UCS) production with low energy consumption and emissions. Key features include eliminating the need for strip reheating and producing near-net shape strips, which reduce rolling force requirements and enhance decarbonization. Primetals Technologies, a Castrip licensee, supplied core mechanical equipment, technological packages, and automation systems.
The startup of lines No. 2 and 3 was notable for its efficiency, thanks to close collaboration between Primetals Technologies, Shagang Group, and Castrip. The process involves casting liquid steel through counter-rotating rolls to produce a continuous strip, which then enters a controlled atmosphere “Hot Box” to minimize oxidation and scale formation.
The Castrip line includes a single-stand hot-strip mill that reduces strip thickness by 10 to 55 pct, followed by a controlled cooling zone to achieve desired properties. The strip is then coiled and cut by a rotary drum shear, ensuring an uninterrupted production process.
Castrip steel sheets are used in construction, agriculture, automotive parts, and welded tubes. The plant’s annual capacity is 500,000 tons, producing strips in thicknesses from 0.7 to 1.9 mm and widths from 1,345 to 1,680 mm, with various grades including low carbon, medium carbon, HSLA, weathering, high carbon, and high-strength.
