The recently installed £7 million coil slitter at Tata Steel’s Hartlepool Tube and Pipe mill is already demonstrating significant benefits, enhancing operational efficiency, lowering CO2 emissions, and reducing costs within the UK operations.
As the new slitter surpasses 10,000 tonnes of processed coil, Works Manager Andrew Ward reflects on the strategic reasons behind the investment, highlights a recent visit from new MP Jonathan Brash, and emphasizes the collaborative efforts with the Corby tube-making facility.
Andrew explained, “To create the hot rolled coil used for our smaller diameter pipes, we traditionally needed to cut the slab lengthwise at Port Talbot and roll a narrower slab on the hot mill. This method slowed down production and limited the mill’s capacity, which was the primary motivation for our investment in Hartlepool.”
The Port Talbot Hot Mill, which processes approximately 3 to 3.5 million tonnes of slab annually, has often been a bottleneck. The smaller size range accounts for around 50-60,000 tonnes of Hartlepool’s orders. Andrew added, “The ability to slit wider coils here enables the Port Talbot Hot Strip Mill to boost its capacity by about 50,000 tonnes, translating into millions in savings. There are also added benefits in yield, quality, and potential energy savings due to an enhanced ability to hot connect—rolling slabs that retain much of their heat rather than needing to be reheated.”
He acknowledged that installing the machine was a significant learning experience. “We have been collaborating closely with the team in Corby, who have several slitting lines. Their insights have been invaluable, leading to notable improvements since our summer shutdown.”
“Improving edge quality is crucial for the fracture toughness and mechanical properties of the weld line in our High Frequency weld process,” he stated. Looking ahead, he mentioned, “We need to manage the transition over the next few years carefully. This investment is essential, especially as many overseas suppliers are hesitant to provide coils narrower than 1,000mm. We’ve designed this to be one of the widest and thickest slitting lines in the UK, making it vital until the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) is operational.”
Ward noted that customers are increasingly requesting low CO2 ‘green’ steel for specific projects. “They expect us to prove our reduced CO2 impact, and some are even willing to pay a premium for our green steel capabilities. If we don’t adapt, we risk being left behind.”
He concluded with optimism about the future: “We are a versatile, multi-operational, multi-product business, which allows us to meet varying demand trends. We’ve worked diligently to develop new products, and the mill is busy. With ongoing support, we’re improving quality, safety, and productivity.”
Tata Steel Group is globally recognized as one of the most ethical companies and ranks among the leading steel producers, with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes. Its UK division, the largest steel manufacturer in the region, is committed to achieving net-zero steel production by 2045 and aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.
Primary operations are centered in Port Talbot, South Wales, with supporting sites across Wales, England, Northern Ireland, and additional operations in Norway, Sweden, France, and Germany. Employing over 8,000 people in the UK, Tata Steel produces 5 million tonnes of crude steel annually, supplying high-quality products for sectors such as construction, automotive, packaging, and engineering. The Tata Steel Group maintains a strong global presence, underscoring its leadership in the steel industry.
