Introduction to SSAB’s Ghedi Steel Service Center
The SSAB Steel Service Center in Ghedi, Italy, is a critical hub for SSAB’s steel processing operations. With its capability to handle various steel grades, this facility plays a vital role in providing tailored steel solutions to customers across multiple industries. Recently, SSAB announced a major upgrade to the cut-to-length production line at the Ghedi facility, aimed at expanding its ability to process ultra-high-strength steels up to 1350MPa. This investment is poised to enhance the center’s service capabilities and improve the quality of the steel products it delivers to customers.
Upgrading Ghedi’s Steel Processing Capabilities
A Leap to Ultra-High Strength Steels
Previously, the Ghedi production line was limited to handling steel coils with a yield strength of up to 700MPa. With the recent upgrade, the facility will be able to process steel grades up to 1350MPa, marking a significant leap in the facility's capabilities. This increased strength range will allow SSAB to produce a wider array of products for applications that require extremely high-strength materials, such as precision cutting and structural applications. This move will enable SSAB to better serve industries that rely on heavy-duty steel products, including automotive, construction, and manufacturing.
Expansion of Product Offering
The upgrade to the Ghedi production line will significantly expand the range of steel products available for customers. SSAB plans to cut steel coils to virtually any length, allowing for customized lengths tailored to specific customer needs. The wider product offering will include premium steel grades such as Hardox abrasion-resistant steels and Strenx structural steels, both of which are widely used in industries requiring high performance and durability. These enhancements ensure that Ghedi will be able to meet the growing demand for ultra-high-strength steels and support customers who require specialized steel solutions.
Improving Product Quality with Advanced Technology
Enhanced Surface Quality and Flatness
One of the most significant improvements made to the Ghedi facility is in its surface quality and flatness. SSAB has invested in new equipment designed to remove scale (iron oxide) produced during the steel straightening and leveling process. This includes three new brushing machines connected to a filtration system, which will extract the scale to protect workers, machinery, and the environment. These enhancements will result in cleaner steel sheets with fewer imprints and a smoother surface, making them ideal for precision applications, including laser cutting.
The improved flatness of the steel sheets is also a critical upgrade. The new equipment will better remove stress from the steel, resulting in flatter sheets, which is essential for producing high-quality SSAB Laser grades. SSAB Laser steels are known for their excellent surface quality and dimensional accuracy, making them suitable for industries that require precise cutting and shaping.
Improved Worker Safety and Environmental Impact
The investment in advanced technology not only improves the quality of the steel but also enhances worker safety and reduces the environmental impact of production. By extracting scale more efficiently and reducing imprints on the steel, the process will also minimize the need for manual handling and processing of steel sheets. This improves the working conditions at the facility while ensuring that the steel produced meets the highest quality standards.
Efficiency Gains Through Faster Production and Delivery
Faster Shipment of Steel Coils
Before the upgrade, SSAB shipped cut-to-length sheets from its production mills in Sweden to the Ghedi center, which took longer and was less efficient than shipping steel coils directly. With the new capacity, SSAB will be able to ship a broader range of steel coils directly to Ghedi, bypassing the need for long-distance shipping of pre-cut sheets. This will speed up the overall production process, enabling SSAB to deliver finished products to customers in Italy and nearby regions faster.
Streamlining Production with Enhanced Equipment
Another key aspect of the upgrade is the addition of cassette-mounted rollers, which will dramatically reduce maintenance time for the production line. Previously, roller replacements could take up to a day or more, causing delays in production. With the new cassette system, roller replacements will only take about an hour, improving overall efficiency and reducing downtime. This will also improve worker safety, as fewer manual handling tasks will be required during maintenance.
Sustainability at the Ghedi Facility
Fossil-Free Steel Production
SSAB is committed to sustainability, and the Ghedi Steel Service Center plays a key role in this initiative. The facility operates using solar energy, ensuring that the steel processing conducted at Ghedi is powered by renewable sources. This aligns with SSAB's broader efforts to produce fossil-free steel and reduce its carbon footprint. The ability to produce fossil-free steel is an important milestone in SSAB’s goal to become a leader in the green steel industry, helping to meet the increasing demand for sustainable products.
Collaborative Effort for Continuous Innovation
A Joint Effort Between SSAB Europe and SSAB Special Steels
The Ghedi upgrade is the result of a collaborative effort between SSAB Europe and SSAB Special Steels. This partnership has enabled the integration of advanced technologies and improvements that will benefit customers across different regions. By working together, the two divisions of SSAB can expand the service offering at Ghedi, improving both product availability and quality. The collaboration also underscores SSAB’s commitment to continuous innovation, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of the steel industry.
Conclusion: Preparing for Future Demands
With the upgrade to the Ghedi production line, SSAB is positioning itself to meet the future demands of customers who require high-strength, precision-cut steel products. By expanding its capabilities, improving product quality, and reducing production time, SSAB will be able to offer faster, more efficient, and higher-quality steel solutions. The Ghedi facility’s ability to process ultra-high-strength steels and its commitment to sustainability ensure that SSAB will continue to be a leader in the global steel industry.
Key Takeaways:
• Upgraded Ghedi Facility: SSAB’s Ghedi plant in Italy will now handle steel coils with strengths of up to 1350MPa.
• Expanded Product Range: The upgraded facility will provide ultra-high-strength steels for precision applications, including laser cutting.
• Improved Surface Quality: New equipment will ensure better surface finish, with fewer imprints and enhanced flatness for higher quality steel sheets.
• Faster Production and Shipping: The Ghedi facility will now ship steel coils, allowing for quicker production and delivery compared to previous methods of shipping pre-cut sheets.
• Mini-Mill Compatibility: Ghedi can now process coils up to 2050mm wide, aligning with SSAB’s future mini-mill capabilities that will produce 2-meter wide coils.
• Sustainability: The Ghedi center operates with solar energy, supporting SSAB’s goal to produce fossil-free steel and reduce its carbon footprint.
• Efficiency Gains: New cassette-mounted rollers will reduce maintenance time, improving production efficiency and worker safety.
• Collaborative Innovation: The project is a result of teamwork between SSAB Europe and SSAB Special Steels, improving service and product quality.
• Annual Processing Capacity: The Ghedi center processes 80,000 metric tons of steel annually, including SSAB's top brands like SSAB Laser, Strenx, and Hardox.
