Integrated steel manufacturing, distribution and recycling business InfraBuild has increased the throughput rate of its billet caster at its Rooty Hill, Sydney Steel Mill, boosting efficiencies and promising benefits for its customers.

The company, which operates electric arc furnaces in Sydney and Laverton, Melbourne, conducted an engineering study with the billet caster’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and was able increase the diameter of steel billets produced from 127mm square to 130mm square size.

The first moulds were cast in March this year and the results were immediate with prime quality billets continuing to be produced since then, according to Infrabuild.

Executive general manager of manufacturing Shane Murphy said the conversion to 130mm meant the mill can produce five percent more steel tonnage with the same linear speed of the strand.

Murphy said: “This was a great effort from a number of our Meltshop teams and has had a positive impact on our throughput rate over the past three months.

“The 130mm billet is also a more common international standard and the increased billet mass for the same length means we have fewer inter-billet gaps in rolling and fewer crop cuts.”

Infrabuild describes itself as Australia’s only fully vertically-integrated steel manufacturer spanning scrap metal recycling, steel manufacturing and downstream distribution.

The company produces reinforcing bar, reinforcing mesh, tubular and hollow sections, merchant bar and wire products.

Internationally, the company operates recycling centres in Poland, the US and Hong Kong and has a manufacturing facility in Dalian, China.

Murphy said: “InfraBuild’s mission is to build futures through sustainable steel and process improvements such as this conversion all play a part in helping our teams live this mission through their work every day.”

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

As part of @AuManufacturing’s and International Exhibition & Conference Group’s editorial partnership for this month’s Modern Manufacturing Expo in Sydney, today we profile Mitsubishi Electric’s Data Analytics Solutions. https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/how-data-analytics-solutions-support-operational-excellence

Check out our latest AUSTRALIAN MAKERS: @GodfreyHirst One of Australia’s largest manufacturers and exporters of residential and commercial carpets. Part of a global flooring network, they manufacture thousands of metres of carpet every day. https://youtu.be/18kQ8rr6cuQ