Dalian Jin Niu Co. Ltd. awarded LOI Thermprocess GmbH, Essen, Germany, a contract for a HPH bell-type annealing plant for its heat treatment of rolled wire at its facility in Dalian, China. LOI will supply a total of eight annealing bases, five heating hoods and three jet-cooling hoods. Four of the heating hoods will be gas-fired and one will be equipped with an electric heating system. A 100% nitrogen atmosphere will be used for heat treatment. The clear diameter of all annealing bases will be 4,200 mm (165 in.), with a maximum useful height of 4,500 mm. (177 in.). The plant will be designed for a charge weight of 36 tons and a maximum annealing temperature of 900C (1650F).