Zhongshou Special Steel Group and Primetals Technologies have reached a significant milestone at Zhongshou’s Arvedi ESP line project in Luanzhou, Hebei Province. Just 12 months after the contract launch, the first rolling stand was successfully installed, followed by all four high-reduction mill stands within a week.
Next, the remaining five finishing stands will be installed, completing China’s first ESP line with a unique configuration of four high-reduction and five finishing stands. Startup is slated for November 2025, setting a record for the fastest execution of such a complex project.
Once operational, the plant will be the most powerful ESP line globally, featuring an extra-long caster and nine rolling stands. With caster exit thicknesses as low as 130mm, the line will deliver high productivity for both commodity and high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels, including automotive-grade products. Coil thickness will range from 0.7mm to 12.7mm, optimized for endless rolling.
Zhongshou’s transition from BOF-based production to an electric arc furnace (EAF) and Arvedi ESP line supports its goal of sustainable steelmaking.