Primetals Technologies to Modernize 5-Strand Bloom Caster in China for Premium Steel Manufacturing!

Primetals Technologies has secured a major modernization contract from a leading Chinese steel producer to upgrade its 5-strand bloom caster facility in eastern China. The project is aimed at significantly improving product quality, operational flexibility, and production efficiency while strengthening the producer’s capabilities in manufacturing high-value premium steel grades for demanding industrial applications.

According to the company, the upgraded bloom caster is expected to begin operations by the end of 2026 and will incorporate a wide range of advanced mechanical, metallurgical, digital, and automation technologies designed to optimize casting performance and internal steel quality.

The modernization project is intended to help the steel producer enhance process consistency and improve the internal integrity of blooms used in critical applications such as bearing steel, spring steel, and high-carbon wire rod production. These premium steel grades require highly controlled metallurgical characteristics and superior internal quality to meet strict industrial and engineering standards.

A major component of the upgrade involves the installation of a new withdrawal straightening unit (WSU) capable of delivering 200 tons of reduction force per pinch roll, compared to the existing system’s 130 tons. The higher reduction force is expected to significantly improve strand containment and enhance internal bloom quality during the continuous casting process.

Primetals Technologies stated that the upgraded system will also increase the number of pinch rolls from nine to eleven, enabling more uniform distribution of reduction forces along the steel strand. This enhancement is designed to improve soft reduction precision, reduce internal segregation, and achieve more consistent metallurgical quality throughout the bloom structure.

The closer roller pitch between the pinch rolls will further support refined process control and improved operational stability during casting operations. Such enhancements are especially important for high-performance steel grades where even minor variations in internal quality can affect final product performance and reliability.

In addition to the mechanical upgrades, the project includes the installation of an advanced secondary cooling system engineered to support a broader range of casting speeds. The improved cooling technology will allow the steel producer to achieve greater operational flexibility while maintaining optimized strand temperatures required for high-quality metallurgical performance.

Primetals Technologies will also integrate several of its advanced digital and automation solutions into the upgraded caster system. These include DynaPhase, Dynacs 3D, and DynaGap Soft Reduction 3D technologies, which utilize sophisticated thermodynamic models and real-time process calculations to monitor strand conductivity, density, and temperature throughout the casting process.

By continuously analyzing metallurgical conditions during production, these digital systems help optimize casting parameters, improve process consistency, and enhance internal steel quality. The modernization project also includes the installation of a new electromagnetic stirrer, further contributing to improved internal structure and reduced segregation within the steel blooms.

According to Primetals Technologies, the combined improvements are expected to achieve a segregation index of 1.05, representing a very high standard of internal bloom quality suitable for demanding industrial and engineering applications.

Once completed, the modernized bloom caster will be better equipped to produce premium steel products including bearing steel, high-strength spring steel, and high-carbon wire rod. These materials are widely used in automotive, heavy engineering, industrial machinery, and high-performance manufacturing sectors where material consistency, durability, and mechanical properties are critical.

The project reflects a broader trend within the global steel industry where manufacturers are increasingly investing in advanced casting technologies, automation systems, and intelligent process controls to improve competitiveness and support the growing demand for high-performance steel products.

Modern continuous casting systems are becoming increasingly dependent on digital process optimization, advanced cooling technologies, electromagnetic control systems, and precision soft-reduction capabilities to meet stringent quality requirements while improving production efficiency and operational flexibility.

Through this modernization project, Primetals Technologies aims to help the Chinese steel producer strengthen its premium steel production capabilities while supporting higher process reliability, improved product quality, and long-term operational performance in increasingly competitive global steel markets.