Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) commissioned STAL 3, the latest expansion of its 20-year STAL joint venture to produce precision stainless steel strip for China and the Asian markets. Thought to be the most advanced in the world, STAL 3 increases capacity by approximately 65%.
âThis expansion allows us to meet the growing demands of the Asian market,â? said Robert S. Wetherbee, President, and CEO of ATI. âThis enables us to produce the ultra-thin, ultra flat, and ultra-hard precision stainless steel products that are crucial to the functional parts of the consumer electronics industry; giving protection and rigidity to smartphones, as well as enabling more energy efficient flexible solar panels and narrow tolerance applications in many other industries.â? STALâs products are sold across Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and India.
The expansion includes a 1219 mm (48â?) wide Cold Rolling Mill enabling the production of sheets thinner than a human hair, a bright anneal line and associated auxiliary finishing equipment.
The STAL joint venture was formed in 1995 with the purpose of specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of precision-rolled stainless steel strip products for the Asian market. It is located in the Xin-Zhuang Industrial Zone of Shanghai. The joint venture brought together what was then Allegheny Ludlum now Allegheny Technologies owning 60% and Shanghai No. 10 Iron and Steel Works now China Baowu Steel Group owning 40%. It was last expanded in 2007 when STAL 2 was brought on-line.
