California Steel Industries (CSI), located in Fontana, California, has placed an order with SMS Meer, Germany, for the delivery of a 24-inch HF tube welding line. The line will be used primarily to produce up to 400,000 tons of line pipes according to API 5L. In addition, to increased production capacity, the new line will enable CSI to expand its tube product range to 24 inches outside diameter, with 80-foot lengths. CSI currently offers HF tubes with outside diameters up to 16 inches.
SMS Meer further developed the process and systems technology for CSI. The line is designed to produce pipes at a rate of 35 m/min.
SMS Meer’s scope of supply includes the engineering, commissioning and customer training. All components for the entire HF tube welding line will also be supplied from strip preparation to the forming section. The plant will be brought into service in 2014.