Aug 25 2006
ThyssenKrupp Mexinox, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Stainless, today inaugurated a new bright annealing line in San Luis Potosi (Mexico). The line will provide the stainless steel with bright anneal finish. With this additional production line, ThyssenKrupp Mexinox is expanding its capacities and increasing its range of high-value, high-quality products. The plant's annual capacity will rise by around 30,000 to 250,000 metric tons of stainless steel cold-rolled strip. Jürgen Fechter, Executive Board Chairman of ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG: "This project will strengthen our outstanding position on the key stainless steel markets in particular North America on a sustained basis. It will allow us to meet the requirements of our customers even more accurately."
The new bright annealing line at ThyssenKrupp Mexinox was previously in operation at the Terni (Italy) plant of ThyssenKrupp Acciai Speciali Terni, also a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Stainless. In an investment project worth around 21 million euros, the line was dismantled, shipped to Mexico, completely overhauled and rebuilt in a period of just 18 months. A new building was erected to house the line. The furnace, in which the cold-rolled strip is annealed in a controlled atmosphere, is installed in a 62 meter tall tower - which has become the plant's new landmark. To be able to supply the additional production volume in strip and sheet of various sizes according to customer requirements, an additional 13 million euros has been invested to fit the finishing shop with new cutting and polishing facilities.
Today's inauguration ceremony is attended by the Governor of the State of San Luis Potosi, C. P. Marcelo de los Santos, and Prof. Ulrich Middelmann, Executive Board Vice Chairman of ThyssenKrupp AG. The event will also be held to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of ThyssenKrupp Mexinox.