Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., a leading global steel producer, has placed an order with Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co. KG for a state-of-the-art Reducing & Sizing Block (RSB) as part of a greenfield project. The advanced RSB 370++/4 in 5.0 design, featuring Kocks’ reliable 3-roll technology, will be the centerpiece of Baoshan’s new rolling mill, aimed at producing high-quality long products.
This strategic investment supports Baoshan’s relocation of its Shanghai production facility, replacing an RSB originally installed in 2003. In the new mill, the Kocks 3-roll RSB 370++/4 will serve as a finishing block following 20 H/V stands in a 620,000 tons-per-year Special Bar Quality (SBQ) mill. This setup will produce straight bars with diameters from 20-100 mm, ensuring the highest dimensional tolerances.
The order includes remote control capabilities for stand and guide adjustments, roll shop equipment, and Kocks software solutions for optimal rolling performance. The RSB 370++/4 is scheduled for commissioning in mid-2025.
As part of the Baowu Group, Baoshan Iron & Steel has an annual production capacity of 34.9 mln tons, making it China’s second-largest and the world’s fifth-largest steel producer. The Baowu Group, with a total output of around 130 mln tons annually, is the largest steel producer in China and a global industry leader.
