Valin ArcelorMittal Automotive Steel Company (VAMA), a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Hunan Valin Group of China, has ordered an additional post treatment section for its high-quality Combi CAL-CGL line, which can alternate production of both annealed and galvanised strip.
The Combi CAL-CGL line was designed to attain a maximum speed of 700m/min and produce close to 900kt/yr of steel strips with superior surface quality for use as high-quality automotive structural components aimed at improving vehicle safety and weight reduction.
The line produces advanced and ultra-high strength steel grades destined for major car manufacturers in China.
Rapid growth in demand for automotive steels was, of course, anticipated by VAMA. The CAL-CGL line, therefore, was already primed for future upgrades such as CMI’s post treatment section.
“The chemical post treatment will be another feature to increase the quality of a line already providing above-average strip quality and production flexibility,” said CMI. “It is added for Alu/Si coated strip, to allow the customer to apply an extra protection to the strip by means of a chemical surface passivation treatment for specific applications in the automotive industry.”
A roller coater and cooling tower with CMI patented Blowstab technology are essential components of the post treatment section along with a state-of-the-art gas jet-based cooling and drying system. CMI says that it will also provide a comprehensive range of services including planning, design, manufacture, assembly and commissioning.
The new addition to the CAL-CGL line is expected to be operational in September.