VDM Metals is planning to expand its strip production at the Werdohl site. To this end, the company is investing around EUR 21M in a new bright annealing line.
This investment is needed because the currently used annealing unit constructed in 1977 is meanwhile feeling the effects of age and no longer corresponds to the state-of-the-art.
Construction of the new bright annealing line will enable the company to boost its production capacity by 30%, while extending its portfolio in the area of strips at the same time. Strips with a width from 350 to 830 mm and a thickness from 0.40 to 4 mm will then be produced. The coil weight will also be increased. Amongst other things, the annealing of metallic materials sets their mechanical properties.
The new hall with the prominent furnace tower will be 73 meters long (240 ft), 14 meters wide (46 ft) and 50 meters high (164 ft). The annealing furnace and two loop accumulators will be housed in this tower. Further system components will be housed in the new hall.
Construction work on the hall including tower is set to commence in the middle of 2017.
