Yamato Steel Co., a leading Japanese producer of beams and structural steel, has awarded SMS group a contract to modernize its section mill in Himeji.
The project will replace two existing mill stands with SMS’s compact cartridge mill stand (CCS) technology, designed to deliver higher rigidity, improved product quality, and efficient integration into brownfield facilities.
The upgrade will include CCS 1000 and CCS 500 E mill stands capable of producing H- and I-beams as well as U-type sheet piles, along with new roller tables, flange cooling, and high-pressure descaling units.
SMS will also supply its tandem rolling mill control system (TCS) for real-time process control, automatic roll adjustments, and reduced downtime.
Completion is scheduled for summer 2028, with SMS providing engineering, automation, equipment, and technical support. The modernization will boost Yamato Steel’s production efficiency and reinforce its position in Japan’s heavy section and sheet pile market.
