Andritz received an order from North Star BlueScope Steel for supply of a tunnel furnace and two shuttle furnaces to convey the slabs from both casters to the two-stand roughing mill at its Delta, Ohio, plant. The shuttle furnaces will be installed during the fourth quarter of 2020, and the tunnel furnace is scheduled to start production by the end of 2021. This order is part of an expansion project by North Star BlueScope that will also add a third electric-arc furnace (EAF) and a second continuous caster. The expansion will increase the facility’s annual capacity by 800,000 to 900,000 metric tons.

As part of the order, Andritz will also supply Level 1 and Level 2 automation systems. North Star BlueScope supplies hot-rolled coils for end uses in various industries, including automotive, construction, agriculture and general manufacturing.