Once the project is complete, the new facilities will be capable of producing high density coils of ‘rebar’ (re-inforcement bars) – demand for which is strong – and will greatly reduce the cost of finishing. It will help ArcelorMittal Zenica boost its market share in the Balkan and southeast Europe regions and extend the plant’s product range. Machinery will be installed by SMS Group, one of the world’s leading specialists in steel production machinery.
Commenting, ArcelorMittal Zenica’s CEO, Mr Biju Nair said: “This is yet another demonstration of our firm commitment to building a long term, sustainable future for steelmaking in Zenica. Efficient, cost-effective production, high quality and keeping our customers’ needs in focus are vital elements of our plans, and the addition of state-of-the-art coil production to our capability answers all those requirements.
It will further strengthen our position as the leading steel producer in the Balkans and give us a strong competitive edge as customers increasingly demand higher quality and better service. Additionally, it will provide substantial economic opportunities for local businesses and thus the entire local community.”
ArcelorMittal Zenica has invested more than €154m since it acquired the steel factory in 2004. Many of its plants had been previously disused for over 17 years, since the conflicts of the 1990s. The latest investment announcement follows the launch in December 2014 of a €5.5m project to install new filters in the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel plant that will bring major improvements to the factory’s environmental footprint.
ST