Production start at record level
Steelmaking and CSP® plant
In December 2016, the EAF shop and the CSP® plant started production with only 18 hours from first heat to first coil. Erection and cold commissioning of the CSP® plant had taken only for months. The ramp-up of the plant was the fastest in the first four months of operation. Already in November 2017, Big River Steel broke the one million mark of tons produced on CSP®. The last upstream plant to start operation was the RH degasser in June 2017.
Contractual milestones
- Erection and cold commissioning duration 7 months
Actual milestones
- Erection and cold commissioning duration 4 months
- 1st melt, cast and coil on the 11th of December 2016
How we achieved this
- Plug & Work
- Area wise erection, I/O check and cold commissioning in parallel
- Excellent cooperation between BRS and SMS group
The ramp-up at Big River Steel was the fastest in terms of tons produced in the first four months of operation. Hats off to the professionals at SMS that helped us achieve that record
Cold mill and strip processing lines
The batch annealing line was the first facility to start production at Big River Steel in March 2016 already. Pickling line/Tandem cold mill and the combined annealing and galvanizing line followed twelve months later in March 2017.
Contractual milestones
- Cold commissioning duration: 3 months
Actual milestones
- Cold commissioning duration: approx. 2 months
- 1st coil in Pickling Line on the 10th of March 2017
- 1st coil in PL-Tandem Cold Mill on the 20th of March 2017
- 1st coil in CGL on 1st of May (2nd coil prime quality)
How we achieved this
- Plug & Work
- Area wise erection, I/O check and cold commissioning in parallel
- Excellent cooperation between BRS and SMS group
The good production start is the result of a strong partnership based on trust.