Siemens VAI Metals Technologies received an order from Jindal Steel & Power Ltd for the supply of a new single-strand slab caster which will be built at Angul in the Indian state of Orissa.

The machine, which will be equipped with a wide range of technological packages, will be one of the most advanced slab casters in India. The slab caster will be part of a green-field integrated production facility currently under construction at the Angul site where an annual steel output of approximately 6 million tonnes is planned.

Start up is scheduled for September 2011.

The nominal capacity of the caster will be approximately 1.5 million tonnes per year with steel grades ranging from ultra low to high carbon steels as well as micro and low alloyed grades. Initially, production will concentrate on slabs for pipeline and plate applications, which will be rolled in a new Siemens VAI 5 meter wide plate mill which is currently under construction.

The caster is equipped with a straight mold and the casting radius is 10 meters. Slabs will be cast at thicknesses of 200mm, 260mm and 300mm and in widths from 1,000mm to 2,300mm. Cut slab lengths will range from 4.5 meters to 12 meters.

Siemens VAI responsibilities for this project include plant engineering, equipment design and supply, advisory services for erection, installation, start-up and commissioning in addition to personnel training. All of the major process equipment will be provided such as the main casting-floor equipment, mold, strand-guiding system and discharge facilities in addition to the torch-cutting machine, deburrer, marker, roll-gap checker and pusher/piler. Electrics, hardware and software for Level 1 automation and Level 2 process optimization as well as hydraulic, lubrication and cooling systems are also included.