The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has awarded an order to a consortium led by Siemens VAI Metals Technologies for the construction of a new rolling mill for long products in Durgapur, West Bengal. As from mid 2012, it is scheduled to produce one million tons per annum of structural steels of various sizes and cross-sections.

The new long-product rolling mill in Durgapur will expand SAIL's production capacities for structural steels for the home market by about one million tons per annum. The range of products will include round and square bars, angle and channel sections, and beams up to the maximum dimension of 300 mm.

The new rolling mill project in Durgapur is being handled by a consortium comprising Siemens VAI and the Indian company Shriram EPC, Chennai. The mechanical equipment of the rolling mill comprises the descaler for billets and blooms, 16 RedRing rolling stands, a 102 meter long cooling table, straightener units and a cold cutting area. The rolling line is completed by systems for stacking, strapping, weighing and labelling the end products. Siemens is also supplying the complete electrical equipment, including medium and low-voltage transformers, and the low-voltage distribution system. The order also includes main and auxiliary drives, motors, motor control centres (MCC), the uninterruptible power supply, the basic and process automation, operator control and visualization systems, an intercom and a CCTV system. A workshop for refurbishing rolls and guides will also be built.

Shiram EPC is responsible for the construction work and the procurement of materials, and will supply auxiliary plants, including a water treatment plant, the gas system, the high-voltage supply and the fire protection equipment.

The state-owned Steel Authority of India is the country's largest steelmaker, producing over 13 million tons of raw steel products per annum. The company runs five integrated iron and steel complexes at its Bhilai, Durgapur, Bokaro, Burnpur and Rourkela locations, and four iron and steel alloy production plants in Bhadravati, Chandrapur, Durgapur and Salem.