JSW Steel inaugurates CRM-2 facility in Karnataka

JSW Steel noted that with India on the road to becoming a global hub for automobiles, the demand for high end steel by the auto sector is likely to see an exponential growth.

According to the company officials, the new CRM-2 complex, with a production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), is the most sophisticated plant by configuration with capability to produce high strength and advanced high strength steel, both in uncoated and coated (galvanized and galvannealed GI and GA) categories and wider width upto 1870mm.

The CRM-2 facility includes a Continuous Annealing Line, which is the first to start operations in India, the officials asserted.

JFE Steel, which has a 15 percent stake in JSW Steel has been providing technical assistance to develop various grades of auto steel, including steel for external panels for automobiles, to meet the high demand from both domestic and international arenas.

Vinod Nowal, Deputy Managing Director, JSW Steel, said, "The CRM-2 is equipped with the latest technology to produce continuously annealed CR upto a strength level of 980 MPA (UTS) and auto galvanizing line with capability to produce both GI & GA upto a strength level of 590 MPA (UTS). At present, the high strength and higher grades are mostly imported."

JSW Steel has commissioned  the phase-1 of CRM-2 consisting of 2.3 MTPA Pickling Line Coupled with Tandem Cold Mill (PLTCM), 0.95 MTPA Continuous Annealing Line (CAL-1) and 0.4 MTPA Continuous Galvanising Line (CGL), the officials informed.

The phase-2 of the CRM-2 plant consisting of 0.95 MTPA CAL-2 is targeted to be commissioned during first half of FY16. The new plant will be the cornerstone of JSW Steel’s growth story, enhancing the share of value added products in the product basket of the company.