Mexican mimimill, Talleres y Aceros SA de CV.(Tyasa) has ordered a new compact steelmaking plant with a capacity of 1.2Mt/y for its Ixtaczoquitlan site.

The heart of the plant is a Simetal EAF Quantum electric arc furnace. This new furnace design reduces the specific conversion cost for production of steel by around 20%. The project also involves the provision of secondary steelmaking facilities and a combination continuous caster. It is scheduled for completion by mid 2013.

The Quantum EAF to be supplied has a tapping weight of 100t. The secondary steelmaking facilities include a 100t double ladle furnace and a 100t double vacuum degassing plant.

Up to 1.2Mt of low, medium and high-carbon steels will be produced per annum. The steel will be cast in a six-strand combination continuous caster into billets with cross-sections ranging from 130x130mm to 200x200mm, as well as rough profiles with dimensions of 300x200x8mm. The new plant will enable Tyasa not only to increase its production capacity substantially but also to widen its range of products.