Nucor invests in Yamato JV mill

Germany-based SMS Group has been selected by Nucor-Yamato Steel Co. for the replacement and upgrade of rolling equipment at the firm’s heavy section mill in Blytheville, Arkansas.

The Blytheville site includes two rolling facilities commonly referred to as Mill 1 and Mill 2, capable of producing an annual capacity of 2.4 million tons of finished product. SMS group will upgrade Mill 2, which produces large wide flange and H-pile sections. The core of the upgrade is the substitution of two existing rolling mill stands with a new SMS tandem-reversing mill type CCS 1500.

“The upgrade will allow Nucor-Yamato to expand our production capabilities and include new high-strength steel grades,” says Thad Solomon, vice president and general manager of Nucor-Yamato Steel. “We are committed to growing our market leadership position in structural steel and this project advances that goal.”

Adds Thomas Maßmann, a vice president Section with SMS Group, “This project solidifies the excellent relationship between our two companies following the successful outcome on the earlier upgrade project SMS completed on Mill 1.”

SMS Group says it will supply the mechanical equipment and the mill control automation, and that the start-up of the new tandem reversing mill is planned for the second half 2020.