Acerinox Group announced that the Bahru Stainless factory in Johor Bahru in Malaysia has started up. On December 12th 2011, the first coil in the annealing and pickling line API was successfully processed, the last line which completes phase I of the project. The first tests are being very satisfactory, with good quality and with the equipment behaving in a steady way.
With this line the construction phase finishes and begins the start up of phase I consisting of a cold rolling with a 1,500mm width Sendzimir, a combined annealing and pickling, a skin pass and a finishing mill. Its production capacity amounts to 240,000 tonnes per annum, out of which 182,000 tonnes will be cold rolled and for USD 370 million have been invested, despite the tough economic environment.
This event is the culmination of a long process started in 2007 with the feasibility studies and approved by Acerinox board of directors in February 2008. This landmark strengthens Acerinox Group position as the most global of the stainless steel producers all over the world with four factories in four continents. Besides, this last investment is located in the area with the strongest consumption growth.
The construction of Phase II is proceeding at a good pace. This phase, which start up is scheduled for the first quarter 2013, will increase the production capacity to 400,000 tonnes per annum. Likewise, it will allow Bahru Stainless to produce special steel grades and thin thicknesses, which are products with more added value.
The investment of the second phase is estimated in USD 310 million, including a cold rolling mill, a cold annealing and pickling line, auxiliary lines, a laboratory, and an electric substation, which in the future will also feed the electric furnaces when they will be in operation. The project in its final stage will be an integrated stainless steel factory with a melting capacity of 1 million Mt and a cold rolling capacity of 600,000 tonnes.
Bahru Stainless is a subsidiary of Acerinox Group (67% stake) which has been incorporated together with Nisshin Steel (30% stake) and Metal One (3% stake). The current staff totals 227 workers, 96% are Malaysian. Most of them have been trained in the factories of Acerinox Europe (Spain) and Columbus Stainless (South Africa). For the start up they also count with the support and experience of Spanish, North American and South African technicians, a true and great multinational team, of which only Acerinox Group can be proud in the sector, due to its unique distribution of assets.
Malaysia joins the club of countries producers of Stainless steel, which will contribute to a higher economic growth and development of the region, driven by Bahru Stainless activities, which to a great extent will be aimed to export.
