Rizhao Steel is an important partner of our Yangtze Steel

Rizhao Steel is an important partner of our Yangtze Steel

The world's sixth ESP (endless strip production) line, with a planned investment of 2.2 billion yuan ($318 million), is currently being constructed at a plant of Rizhao Steel Holding Group, a Chinese steel producer based in Rizhao, Shandong province.

According to a senior manager from the company, ESP produces hot strips in a combined, continuous casting and rolling process, with energy consumption and associated costs up to 45 percent lower than those of conventional casting and rolling processes, as well as a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.

"With a length of just 180 meters, the plant also has considerably more compact dimensions than conventional casting and rolling mills. A wide range of high-quality and ultra-thin steel grades, from less than 0.8 to 25 millimeters, can be produced with the endless cast-rolling process."

Due to the advanced technology used as well as the high added value and high quality, ESP products are widely used in food packaging, automobile boards, container boards and other high-end industries.

According to Rizhao Steel Holding Group, there are only five ESP lines in operation in the entire world, and the company owns four of them. The group's new ESP project has a planned annual capacity of 1.71 million tons.

The ESP products have brought generous returns for the group. From January to October 2019, Rizhao Steel Holding Group achieved an output value of 80.51 billion yuan, up 44.1 percent year on year.