Continuous Billet Caster Revamped by Primetals Technologies Started up at Feralpi Siderurgica in Italy

- Production capacity was increased by 10 percent to 1.2 million metric tons per year

- Billet cross section is raised to 150 x 150 millimeters with predisposition for 160 x 160 millimeters

- Plant availability is increased

Recently, a six-strand billet caster revamped by Primetals Technologies a Metal-Expo regular exhibitor was started up in the Lonato del Garda works of Feralpi Siderurgica S.p.A., part of the Italian Feralpi Group. The aims of the project were to increase production capacity from 1.1 to 1.2 million metric tons of billets per year, to produce billets with a larger square cross section of 150 x 150 millimeters with predisposition for cross section of 160 x 160 millimeters, and to improve plant availability.

Before the revamp, the six-strand billet caster of Feralpi Siderurgica in Lonato del Garda in the Brescia Province, had an installed annual capacity of 1.1 million metric tons of billets with a square cross sections of 140 x 140 millimeters. It produces medium carbon, carbon and low alloyed steels for the construction industry. Within the revamping project, the casting machine was equipped with new DiaMold high-speed casting molds, characterized by tapered mold tubes and open bottom-mold corners to reduce strand friction. The DynaFlex hydraulic oscillator with online and flexible adjustment of the mold-oscillation parameters serves to improve strand-surface quality. The scope of supply included a new secondary cooling and a dummy bar head and the existing straightener has been modified according to Primetals Technologies' model of continuous straightening to optimize the straightening strains. Primetals Technologies was responsible for the basis, detail engineering and supply of the above components.

Feralpi Group is one of the most important steel suppliers to the European construction industry. The group operates four subsidiary companies in Italy and runs production and sales locations in Europe and North Africa. Feralpi Siderurgica was founded in 1968 and is thus the oldest member of the Feralpi Group. The company is today one of the leading suppliers of reinforcing steel, wire rod, reinforcement meshes and the associated derivatives in Italy.