New continuous casting machine CC 6

It is a project without parallel: the new continuous casting machine CC 6. With an investment volume of more than EUR 400 million, the biggest single investment at the Dillingen steel plant will allow production of the world’s thickest slabs (500 millimeters). Its official presentation on 5 July 2016 will be attended by Saarland’s Minister-President Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Saarland’s Minister of Economic Affairs Anke Rehlinger.

“With the new continuous casting machine, which has now successfully been put into trial operation, we want to diversify into new dimensions and quality grades and to cover an increasingly advanced product mix. This will further strengthen our position as the leading European heavy plate producer,” Fred Metzken, Spokesman for the Board of Management and Chief Financial Officer of AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke (Dillinger), said during the welcoming address, adding: “This extraordinary machine is a key element of our innovation strategy and a demonstration of our commitment to the steel-producing in the Saar region.”

In her address, Minister-President Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer also underscored the importance of the project for Saarland: “A major investment such as this should not be taken for granted. It demonstrates impressively once again that Saarland and its industry are high-tech – and set standards worldwide.” Minister of Economic Affairs Anke Rehlinger stressed the world-class dimensions of the new line: “We are proud that Dillinger Hütte and its employees have once again successfully underscored their leading role in technology. We will continue fighting for the right conditions to ensure that Saarland’s steel industry will be able to compete effectively in future international competition.”

During the subsequent tour, guests got the chance to view the double-strand vertical casting machine CC 6 in person.

Dr. Bernd Münnich, Chief Technical Officer: “The CC 6 is the next logical step in the development of our continuous casting technology. With its unique combination of state-of-the-art system and process technology, input material of unsurpassed quality can be manufactured for both of Dillinger’s heavy plate rolling mills, in the world’s largest slab dimensions – up to 2,200 mm x 500 mm.”

Incidentally, the slabs that can be cast with CC 6 are not the first world record for Dillinger continuous casting technology: the company put itself at the forefront of advanced technology back in 1961 when it launched operation of the world’s first double-strand casting machine for the continuous casting of heavy slabs. The Dillinger continuous casting machine 5, which began operating in 1998 and was modernized in 2010, is likewise among the most capable machines of its type and holds the world record to date for slab thickness, at 450 mm.