Primetals Technologies has completed the installation of a new combination mill at Baoshan Iron and Steel in Shanghai, China, featuring both a wire rod mill outlet and a bar-in-coil line capable of producing 600,000 tons per year. This marks Baoshan’s first greenfield long rolling investment since the original mill was established in 1998.
The new mill enhances rolling capacity and expands size ranges, with the wire rod outlet handling rods from 7.5 to 29 millimeters and the bar-in-coil line accommodating bars from 8 to 50 millimeters. To minimize downtime, Primetals utilized four eDrive mini-finishing mills with ultra heavy-duty roll housings, enabling efficient single-family rolling through a standardized mill train. The eDrive system enhances long rolling capabilities by increasing load capacity, lowering long-term costs, and facilitating low-temperature thermomechanical rolling.
The project involved equipment supply, engineering, and site supervision as part of a consortium between Baowu Steel Group and Primetals Technologies. Key equipment included four eDrive mini-finishing mills, guide optics, a pinch roll and laying head, high-speed pouring reels, and a mechatronics package with essential mechanical software. Baoshan Iron and Steel, a subsidiary of Baowu Steel Group, specializes in processing, sales, and technical services for stainless steel and carbon steel alloys, including high-quality wire rod products, since the late 1990s.
