Steal deal for Siemens

Mexican steel producer

has awarded a major project to

(I&S) for the expansion of their meltshop and plate-production facilities in

. The contract value for Siemens is €210m.

The order comprises the supply of steelmaking, dedusting and casting facilities in addition to the modernisation and conversion of the existing plate mill into a Steckel mill.

When the project is complete in mid-2009, AHMSA will be able to increase its current production of plates from 500,000 t/a to 1,000,000 t/a.

AHMSA, located in Monclova in the state of Coahuila, is a leading integrated iron and steel producer in Mexico and the only producer of plates in the country. The company produced more than three million tons of steel in 2006, the bulk of which was flat-steel products comprising hot-rolled coils, cold-rolled coils, tinplate, tin-free steel and wide plate. The plates are used in shipbuilding, in the construction and petroleum industries as well as for the production of machinery, tools, pressurised vessels and containers.

To further strengthen their dominant position in the regional steel market, AHMSA decided to increase crude steel production by approximately 1.2 million t/a, which will also allow the output of plates and coils to be increased to 1,000,000 t/a.

Siemens was awarded the contract for the design, engineering and supply of a 150-ton electric arc furnace capable of producing 1.2 million t/a steel, a 150-ton ladle furnace, an alloy/additive system, dedusting facilities, a single-strand, dynamic soft reduction slab caster capable of casting 96” (2,438 mm) wide slabs, the conversion and modernisation of the existing plate mill into a Steckel mill in addition to the automation systems, media supply (electrical and water supply) and training.

The contract for the meltshop extension will be carried out by Siemens VAI Metals Technologies. Linz/Austria and Siemens VAI Metals Technologies UK Limited will supply the Steckel mill.