Zekelman Industries will invest over $150 million to build what it says is the world’s largest continuous electric-resistance-welded (ERW) tube mill. The mill will be capable of producing hollow structural sections (HSS) with a size range of 8 inches square x 0.750-inch wall thickness up to 22 inches square x 1-inch wall thickness. Atlas Tube, a division of Zekelman Industries, will produce square, rectangular and round structural sections in the mill, which is scheduled for start-up in September 2021. The automated production line will create over 75 new manufacturing jobs.

The mill is capable of producing more than 400,000 tons per year of products that will meet or exceed ASTM A500, ASTM A1085, CSA G40 and ASTM A252. According to Zekelman Industries, this will be the first time ERW sections above 16 inches square will be available domestically. The mill will also be engineered to allow for full change-over times of less than 60 minutes, as well as special forming and sizing technology for precise dimensional tolerance.

Zekelman Industries selected SMS group as partner and main equipment supplier for the ERW mill.