JSW Steel commissions 2.3 million tonnes capacity cold rolling facility

The new facility is the most sophisticated plant by configuration with capability to produce high strength and advanced high strength steel

Private steel firm, JSW Steel has commissioned Cold Roll Mill 2 (CRM-2) facility of 2.3 million tonne capacity at Vijaynagar in Karnataka, which will produce high end steel for the auto sector.

"The new CRM-2 complex, with a production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes per annum, is the most sophisticated plant by configuration with capability to produce high strength and advanced high strength steel, both in uncoated and coated categories," a company release said.

The Japan based JFE Steel, which has a 15% stake in JSW Steel has been providing technical assistance to develop various grades of auto steel, it added.

"The CRM-2 is equipped with the latest technology to produce continuous annealed CR upto a strength level of 980 MPA (UTS) and auto galvanizing line with capability to produce both GI & GA upto a strength level of 590 MPA (UTS). At present, the high strength and higher grades are mostly imported," Deputy Managing Director of JSW Steel, Vinod Nowal said.

The company also said that the phase-2 of CRM-2 plant consisting of 0.95 million tonne per annum Continuous Annealing Line (CAL-2) is targeted to be commissioned during first half of FY16.

JSW Steel, the flagship company of the JSW Group, has a production capacity of 14.3 million tonne per annum.