ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has inaugurated a 2 million tonne per annum advanced Pickling Line and Tandem Cold Mill at its Hazira plant in Gujarat.
The product will enhance the automotive manufacturing capabilities and will soon be configured to produce high-quality, cold-rolled base steel, which will be used to produce patented steel solutions from parent companies ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel.
The new unit will contribute to meet the growing demand for high-quality, value-added automotive steel in India, which currently stands at 7.8 million tonnes per annum for flat steel and is projected to grow by 6-7 per cent annually.
The facility is designed to support the manufacturing of advanced automotive steel for Advanced High Strength Steel, Galvannealed, Galvanised and Press Hardened Steel applications, providing end-to-end solutions to all automotive companies.
The solutions are designed to meet global sustainability standards, enable lightweighting of vehicles for improved efficiency and performance and enhance safety in line with Bharat NCAP norms.
The dedicated automotive line will significantly strengthen ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India’s downstream capabilities, aligning them with global benchmarks and supporting the production of AHSS with strength levels of up to 1180 MPa.
The new addition was part of AM/NS India’s ongoing ₹ 60,000-crore expansion project at Hazira, to develop upstream, downstream, and other enabling facilities.
Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan to India said Japanese advanced technology has contributed significantly to the launch of high-end steel product manufacturing in India.
Japan and India share a mutually complementary relationship, where Japan’s technology and capital are complemented by India’s manufacturing capacity and growing demand, he added.
Dilip Oommen, Chief Executive Officer, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India said the company has been building modern steel making assets by leveraging the technology and expertise of parent companies, ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel – global leaders for best automotive steel solutions.
The new product launched will support import substitution, enhance supply chain resilience, and enable the automotive industry’s transition towards safer, lighter and more sustainable mobility solutions, he said.