SMS Concast to modernize billet caster at Henan Jiyuan Iron and Steel

Henan Jiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd. has awarded SMS Concast, a company of the SMS group, the contract to upgrade its eight-strand continuous casting machine CCM#2 at the Jiyuan plant no. 2. The modernization will enhance product quality, productivity, and flexibility, targeting an annual billet output of over one million tonnes.

The existing caster, originally supplied by a local manufacturer, features eight strands with a ten-meter radius and is capable of casting billets from 150 to 180 millimeters square. After the revamp, it will also support casting of up to 210 millimeters square, covering a wide range of high-carbon and special bar quality (SBQ) steels for automotive and engineering applications.

Advanced technology for quality and flexibility

The comprehensive redesign includes Dynamic Mechanical Soft Reduction (DMSR) to improve internal billet quality by precisely controlling central porosity and segregation — a complex integration given the narrow strand spacing of just 1,200 millimeters.

Additional upgrades include:

• CONFLOW® stopper technology for precise mold flow control

• Compact CONDRIVE® oscillation system for adjustable electromechanical oscillation parameters

• Air-mist secondary cooling for improved heat extraction

• Deburring system for cleaner billet surfaces

The modernization will also integrate existing systems into the new caster design. Quality assurance will be managed by a Level 2 automation system featuring billet tracking, “slice-by-slice” identification, heat extraction modeling, and equipment lifetime monitoring. “At SMS, we apply decades of experience to bring existing casters up to the latest technological standards,” said Pierpaolo Rivetti, Deputy Vice President of SMS Concast. “This approach delivers measurable improvements in quality, productivity, and operational flexibility while minimizing downtime.”

Li Yutian, Chairman of Henan Jiyuan Iron and Steel, added: “Following the successful commissioning of CCM#5 for round blooms in 2013, this project further strengthens our partnership with SMS and marks an important milestone in enhancing our billet production capabilities.”

Commissioning planned for mid-2026

Project completion and commissioning are scheduled for June 2026, with SMS emphasizing precise planning and coordination to minimize plant downtime during installation. Once operational, the upgraded CCM#2 will rank among the most modern billet casting plants in China, equipped for flexible SBQ production and consistent high-grade steel quality.

Source and Photo: wwww.sms-group.com