Xiangtan Iron and Steel has again selected Primetals Technologies to upgrade its Multi-Purpose Interrupted Cooling (MULPIC) line, aiming to improve cooling performance for new, higher-value alloys and increase throughput at its plate mill in Hunan province.
The revamp will enable the producer to better serve demand for wide and heavy plates used in shipbuilding, pipelines and energy applications such as wind, hydropower and hydrogen, while leveraging existing infrastructure. The project is scheduled to start in Q2 2026 and run through mid-2026.
The upgrade targets improved flatness and mechanical properties for plates up to 350 mm thick, using enhanced, uniform temperature control across plate length and width. Primetals’ scope includes a next-generation spray system and a comprehensive Level 1 and Level 2 automation overhaul to deliver modern process control from the existing 15-year-old line.
Xiangtan Iron and Steel, part of Hunan Valin Group, was founded in 1958 and operates an integrated steelmaking complex with annual capacity of about 12 mln tons. The company runs the world’s largest production base for wide and heavy plates, with output of around 5 mln tons per year.
