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Production increase for BlueScope

AUSTRALIAN-based steel producer BlueScope Steel says its $100 million investment to bolster production at its Port Kembla Steelworks plant will help support its Asian expansion and meet increasing demand for flat steel products from the domestic market.

Emily Roberts
Production increase for BlueScope

As well as lifting capacity of the hot strip mill from 2.4 million tonnes per annum to 2.8Mtpa, the new second walking beam reheat furnace would make the production process more efficient, the company said.

"Through this investment we will further improve our competitiveness in the global market for hot rolled coil," said Kirby Adams, chief executive officer.

"It will enable is to lower our unit costs by taking more of our product downstream to create additional value and reduce risk in the hot strip mill."

Works are due to be finished in the latter half of 2006, and the project is expected to generate more than 150 construction-related jobs.

BlueScope is currently building a $280 million steel metallic coating and painting facility in Jiangsu Province, China, which is scheduled for completion in 2006. It will join a new coating and painting facility in Vietnam, a second coating line in Thailand and a steel painting facility in Indonesia as part of Bluescope's plans to increase downstream steel product supply in the region.

ConstructionEquipmentNews.net, July 29.

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