Hybar orders second SMS CMT mill to expand low-carbon rebar production

US steel producer Hybar has placed an order with SMS group for a second CMT 550 continuous minimill at its Osceola site in Arkansas. The investment will create what SMS describes as the world's first twin CMT 550 installation and add 630,000 short tons of annual reinforcing bar capacity.

The new mill will be installed alongside Hybar's existing CMT 550 plant, allowing the company to share infrastructure, logistics and renewable electricity supply between the two facilities. Groundbreaking is planned for late 2026, with start-up scheduled around 24 months later.

Renewable power supports lower-carbon production

A key feature of the project is its connection to the site's 105 MW solar park and 160 MWh battery storage system. According to SMS, the combination could reduce carbon emissions by up to 35% compared with a conventional minimill.

The new CMT 550 will integrate steelmaking, casting and rolling in a continuous production process. SMS will supply the complete mill, including an electric arc furnace based on its EDGE DC platform, a twin ladle furnace station and automation and digital systems.

The plant will produce reinforcing bars with diameters ranging from 12.4 to 35 mm. Provision will also be made for the future installation of VCC vertical compact coiling technology for coils weighing up to eight tons.

Continuous process targets efficiency and productivity

The meltshop is designed for production of more than 80 tons per hour. A single-strand endless caster will connect the steelmaking operation with the rolling mill through an induction equalisation furnace, reducing the requirement for conventional fossil-fuel-fired reheating.

The rolling section will include 14 housing-less stands and a six-pass MEERdrive high-speed finishing block, together with laser-based dimensional measurement and high-speed delivery technology.

"Building on the success of our first CMT® mill at Hybar’s Osceola site to produce long products, we see huge potential to expand our capacities here at Osceola by combining logistics and labor expertise already on-site with this CMT® twin solution," David Stickler, CEO of Hybar, said.

SMS will also expand its existing lifecycle support at the Osceola site to cover the second plant, including spare parts planning, equipment monitoring and operational support.

Source and Photo: SMS Group