The latest endless casting and rolling Arvedi ESP line commissioned by Primetals Technologies at Zhongshou Special Steel in China has recorded a series of production milestones during its commissioning phase, including productivity of 7 tonnes per minute and production of ultra-thin hot-rolled coils. The plant produced its first coil on May 13, 2026. Sixteen days later, it was producing 1.0-millimetre ultra-thin hot-rolled coils. Within 30 days of the first coil, the line reached a productivity of 7 tonnes per minute with a 1,250-millimetre-wide strip.
The plant subsequently produced its first 0.8-millimetre-thick coil 11 weeks after startup and its first 0.7-millimetre coil 17 weeks after startup. Since the second sequence after startup, the plant has operated in full endless mode, producing prime-quality endless hot-rolled coils (eHRC).
According to Primetals Technologies, the plant’s productivity, measured by specific mass flow in tonnes per hour per metre of coil width, is approximately 20% higher than that of other thin-slab casting and rolling plants. The performance is attributed to the Arvedi ESP process and developments in caster technology.
The line incorporates Primetals Technologies’ patented anti-bulging bender and a 34-metre caster containment length. The caster operates with a 135-millimetre-thick strand and feeds the rolling mill in endless mode. The high mass flow and thermal profile of the strand support the subsequent endless rolling process.
The Zhongshou plant is equipped with a 135-millimetre-thick caster, four roughing stands and five finishing stands. According to Primetals Technologies, it is the most powerful and productive Arvedi ESP line installed to date in China. Zhongshou Special Steel and Primetals Technologies will continue working on production ramp-up, process optimisation and efficiency improvements, with a focus on increasing production of high-end steel products.
Arvedi ESP technology is designed to produce endless hot-rolled coils with reduced energy consumption and production costs compared with conventional steelmaking routes. When powered by renewable energy, the process can operate without direct CO2 emissions, according to Primetals Technologies.
The process can produce hot-rolled coils across a broad range of gauges, from ultra-thin products of 1 millimetre and below to heavy gauges of up to one inch. The ability to produce thin gauges directly through the process can reduce the need for subsequent processing in selected applications.
eHRC produced using the Arvedi ESP process can be used in conventional steel applications as well as specialty products, including automotive sheet applications that can be used directly without cold rolling. The Zhongshou line is designed to process a range of steel grades, from low-carbon steels to high-strength low-alloy steels. Its caster, four roughing stands and five finishing stands are designed to achieve a minimum gauge of 0.7 millimetres with a 135-millimetre-thick strand. Primetals Technologies and Zhongshou will continue to work together to further optimise the line and expand its production capabilities.
