Designed to produce 1.6-million tons a year of deformed bars, the new high-capacity rolling mill built by technology manufacturer SMS group for construction steel manufacturer Abul Khair Steel – situated in Sitakunda Chattogram, Bangladesh – has started production.

The new mill will help to meet the country’s growing demand for high-quality construction steel, supporting Bangladesh’s rapid infrastructure development.

The new rebar mill is engineered to manu- facture deformed bars ranging from 8 mm to 40 mm in diameter, and it achieved a “record-breaking production speed” of 52.5 m/s throughout its initial operational phase, later achieving 55.04 m/s when producing 2 mm X 10 mm deformed bars.

SMS group delivered the entire high-capacity rolling mill from a single source, equipping it with innovative technologies to ensure sustainable and efficient production.

The mill includes the versatile SMS ECOFlame+ burner, designed for low nitrogen oxide emissions and installed in the reheating furnace to reduce energy consumption and fossil fuel use.

Additionally, an Elotherm induction furnace has been strategically positioned at the entry side of Stand 1 to recover billet heat losses after welding, thereby maximising thermal efficiency.

Moreover, SMS group notes that its EBROS endless bar rolling system increases productivity, with a general increase of up to 8% over an hour-long production period.

The system ensures uninterrupted billet-to-billet welding, and more than 10-million billets have been successfully welded to date using this innovative process.

Further, the rolling mill is also equipped with MEERdrive blocks, providing “exceptional operational flexibility and ensuring consistent product quality” across all production sizes.

The individual drive technology – one motor per pass – reduces wear and maintenance, typically reducing roll ring stocks by about 60% compared with conventional blocks.

Additionally, the high-speed delivery (HSD) system ensures precise and HSD of rebar, with 8-million tons produced using HSD drums, which require no maintenance.

SMS group notes that, through this suite of technological solutions, Abul Khair Steel has significantly reduced both capital and operational expenditure, making its production processes more competitive.

This investment reflects Abul Khair Steel’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s growing infrastructure development, while adopting environmentally-responsible manufacturing practices.

SMS group Asia–Pacific and Middle East chief sales officer Bernhard Steenken states that this project shows SMS group’s expertise in delivering innovative rolling mill technology that combines speed, efficiency and sustainability.

“By achieving record-breaking speeds and ensuring reliable operations, we are helping Abul Khair Steel serve its customers more effectively and contribute to Bangladesh’s infrastructure growth,” Steenken concludes.