Posted on 05 Sep 2013
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (“NSSMC”) and Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (“Baosteel”) have been planning to construct the fourth hot-dip galvanizing line at a site neighboring the existing lines in BNA (Baosteel-NSC Automotive Steel Sheets Co., Ltd.), the joint venture between Baosteel and NSSMC, which operates within the compound of Baosteel in Shanghai, responding to the growth in demand for galvanized steel sheet (GA) for automotive use mostly from Japanese auto makers further building up their capacities in China, and also responding to their needs for Advanced High Strength Steel to permit further weight reduction for better performance in fuel economy, with automotive demand expanding in China.
BNA has now obtained approval of the project from the government of the City of Shanghai. This is a major investment for capacity increase following the third hot-dip galvanizing line, which was put into operation in 2010. This new line, though similar in type to the existing first and third hot-dip galvanizing lines, is additionally capable of manufacturing Advanced High Strength Steel materials (e.g. galvanized dual-phase 980 steel), with a production capacity of 420,000 tons/year of high-grade automotive galvanized steel sheet. The start of operation of the new line is slated for 2015.
