High- and ultra-high-strength steels from Salzgitter: New no. 3 hot-dip galvanizing line under construction

In June 2019 Salzgitter Flachstahl commenced construction of the “no. 3 hot-dip galvanizing line” at its works in Salzgitter, one of the largest individual investments of the past ten years. Düsseldorf-based plant manufacturer SMS Group is partnering the project. The foundations were laid by Kümper+Schwarze and Max Kroker, and the building itself was constructed by Donges SteelTec. 

The new production plant supplements Salzgitter Flachstahl’s two existing galvanizing lines with an additional capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year. The new line will produce hot-dip galvanized sheets in thicknesses between 0.7 and 2.5 mm and widths of between 900 and 1,700 mm. 

With work on the main buildings and the switchrooms now well advanced, at the beginning of June SMS began to erect the plant itself. Numerous components such as parts of the furnace, the strip accumulator and motor parts have already been delivered to Salzgitter. First to be installed were the pre-cleaning tanks (cleaner and caustic soda solution). 

The no. 3 hot-dip galvanizing line will commence operation in 2022. It is scheduled to produce ultra-high-strength steels for vehicle body and chassis applications which will play an important role both in reducing weight as well as in vehicle safety. 

Of particular relevance are the technical innovations to be found in the furnace modules. The range of materials processed will extend from ultra-high-strength dual phase steels via complex phase steels to 3rd generation AHSS (advanced high strength steel). The overall configuration of the plant also meets both structural and technical criteria to support the implementation of further innovative material concepts.