Tata Steel marks 25 years since the commissioning of its Cold Rolling Mill (CRM) Complex in Jamshedpur, a facility that has played a key role in producing cold rolled and galvanised steel for India’s automotive, appliance, and construction sectors. Commissioned on April 24, 2000, the CRM Complex was completed in just 26.5 months and inaugurated by the late Ratan N Tata, then Chairman of Tata Steel. The project was part of the company’s broader Phase-3 modernisation strategy, designed to enhance its product offerings and build value-added capabilities into its production line.
The decision to set up the CRM Complex followed the expansion of the Hot Strip Mill, with the goal of producing high-quality cold rolled products. Initially designed for a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), the plant has since increased its output to 2.0 MTPA, keeping pace with rising demand for high-strength steel in the automotive industry.
The facility introduced new production lines and technology aimed at meeting the specific requirements of automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), helping localise supply chains and reduce dependence on imports. It was among the first in India to develop and supply Cold Rolled and Galvannealed Skin Panels, high-tensile steels, and galvannealed grades used in fuel tanks.
Since its inception, Tata Steel’s market share in the automotive segment has risen from approximately 20% in FY2001 to 50% in FY2025. Over 13.5 million tonnes of cold rolled and galvanised products have been supplied to automotive customers to date. In total, the CRM Complex has processed around 38 million tonnes of steel. Beyond automotive, the facility has supported sectors including appliances, solar, and infrastructure by delivering specialised materials such as Zero-Spangle Galvanised steel—another first in India.
Chaitanya Bhanu, Vice President – Operations at Tata Steel Jamshedpur, commented: “Marking 25 years of the Cold Rolling Mill in Jamshedpur gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the role it has played in our manufacturing capabilities and customer offerings. We will continue to focus on efficiency, quality, and aligning with the needs of key industries.”
The CRM Complex remains an important part of Tata Steel’s long-term strategy for producing value-added steel and supporting downstream industries. Tata Steel Group is one of the top global steel companies, with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. It is highly geographically diversified, with operations and commercial presence across five continents, and recorded a consolidated turnover of approximately US$27.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2024.
Tata Steel, along with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, employs over 78,000 people globally. The company has set ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving Net Zero by 2045, and is undergoing a multi-year digital transformation to become a leader in ‘Digital Steelmaking’.
Its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar, and IJmuiden plants have received the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition, and the company has been awarded the ‘Digital Enterprise of India – Steel’ Award 2024 by Economic Times CIO. Tata Steel has also been acknowledged for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, earning the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse 2023 recognition.
A consistent performer on the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012, it has ranked among the top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016. Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur Plant is India’s first site to receive ResponsibleSteelTM Certification, followed by its Kalinganagar and Meramandali plants, with more than 90% of its steel production in India now coming from ResponsibleSteelTM certified sites.
Tata Steel’s numerous accolades include the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17, seven consecutive Steel Sustainability Champion recognitions from worldsteel, the 2023 Climate Change Leadership Award by CDP, and recognition as the most valuable mining and metals brand in India in 2024 by Brand Finance. The company has also been recognized with several awards, including the 2023 Global ERM Award of Distinction, ‘Masters of Risk’ at The India Risk Management Awards, and the ICSI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Award 2023.
