Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has received an order from the Southwire Company to supply a copper rod rolling mill for the largest non ferrous metal producer in China. The end customer is Chinalco Kunming Copper Co Limited. The new mill will be erected on a Greenfield site in Kunming, with commissioning by year end 2011.

Siemens VAI is responsible for the engineering, manufacturing and commissioning of all the equipment for the SCR 4500 rolling mill. Designed with the greater power and torque required to roll tin and silver alloys, the new mill will also be capable of rolling electrolytic tough pitch copper. The scope includes 11 stands, which will run 35 tons per hour, producing rods from 8 to 25 mm in diameter. The contract also includes entry and intermediate shears, a pickling line, pinch rolls and a coiler.

Chinalco is the country's largest producer of aluminum. Since 2007, it has focused on expanding its copper business, taking stakes in several copper companies to become China's third largest domestic producer of copper. With total sales of more than USD 21 billion last year, Chinalco is a Fortune Global 500 company.

Southwire has worked together with a predecessor company of Siemens VAI, Morgan Construction, for more than 40 years. During that time, the company built more than 80 non ferrous mills for Southwire customers, in addition to completing nearly 30 upgrades.