Mexican steelmaker Altos Hornos de Mexico S.A.B de C.V. (AHMSA) commissioned Siemens Metals Technologies to increase the capacity of the normalizing line at its Monclova facility to 300,000 metric tons of plate per year. The normalizing line, which was originally designed for 200,000 metric tons per year, was ordered from Siemens in October 2013. It can process plates with thicknesses of 4.5-50.8 mm (0.12-2 inches), widths of 1,500-3,048 mm (59-120 inches) and lengths of 3,000-16,000 mm (118-630 inches). AHMSA, which operates the largest integrated steelworks in Mexico and is the country's only producer of heavy plate, expects the line to become operational in the third quarter of 2015.

The normalizing line processes carbon-steel plates produced by a Steckel rolling mill also supplied by Siemens. Normalizing results in a homogenous, finely grained structure while simultaneously improving the tensile strength, ductility and weldability of the plates.