Bangkok based Siam Yamato Steel Co Ltd has placed an order with Concast and SMS Meer GmbH for the supply of a minimill for the production of medium sections at its Rayong Works in Thailand. Concast will supply the steelworks with continuous caster and SMS Meer the medium section mill. The laying of the foundation stone was celebrated on January 31st 2008, commissioning of the minimill is scheduled for the second quarter of 2009.

The steelworks is designed for a capacity of 700,000 tonnes per year and comprises an 80 tonne EAF, a ladle furnace and a combination continuous caster. Various auxiliary systems such as scrap transport, dedusting and material charging is also included in the scope of supply. The whole planning of the works will be carried out jointly by Concast and SMS Meer. The plant configuration also permits hot charging of the cast billets and blooms into the reheating furnace.

The Electric Arc Furnace is equipped with the latest generation of ConSo oxygen technique to reduce the electrical energy consumption and simultaneously increase productivity. The dedusting system for the whole steelworks is designed to meet high standards of air pollution

The continuous caster is equipped with CONVEX technique and a hydraulic compact oscillation system, has five strands and provides for the production of a wide range of section sizes from 150mm x 150mm up to 230mm x 450mm. The simultaneous casting of different formats is also possible. The arrangement of the discharge equipment allows part of the production to be transported directly into the reheating furnace, while the excess blooms are discharged onto a cooling bed.

The semi continuous medium section mill from SMS Meer with an annual capacity of 400,000 tonne of finished products will be used to produce beams from 100 x 50 up to 350 x 175, as well as channels and angles. A later expansion to include round and flat formats with an increase in production will be possible in a further development stage. The plant includes a walking-beam furnace with a capacity of 130 tonnes per hour, a two-high reversing stand and a continuous finishing train with nine stands, six of which are designed as universal/two-high stands. The roll stands are modular compact stands of CS design. The stands are interchangeable and can be used alternatively as horizontal/ vertical or universal stands. Quick stand changing without the use of a crane is thus possible. The finishing section consists of a rake-type cooling bed, a nine-roller straightening machine with adjustable roller pitch, a saw line with three cold saws as well as five stacking machines, tying and loading facilities.

The scope of the order comprises the supply of the complete mechanical and electrical equipment and automation, as well as the supervision of erection and commissioning and the training of the operating personnel.