IUSA (Mexico)- Order for Innovative Copper Tube Plant

Danieli receives order for an ECT (Endless Copper Tube) plant for Industrias Unidas SA (Mexico) On August 2006 Danieli was awarded an order for an innovative production complex for the production of high quality copper tubes by Industrias Unidas S.A. of Mexico.The target of the plant is to produce, in endless mode, up to 140,000 tpy of industrial and sanitary copper tube, mainly for the NAFTA market. The main feature of this revolutionary plant is the innovative endless production process, carried out by means the following main equipment: Two induction melting furnaces; two horizontal continuous casting machines, four strands each;two milling lines; one high reduction cross roll planetary rolling mill; breakdown drawing line with four chain tracks machines (CTDMT); tube finishing and packaging facilities. Danieli Automation, the in-house group automation specialist, will co-ordinate and control the complete electrical and automation systems. The main targets of the project are the reduction of transformation costs (up to 30%, compared with traditional technology), the reduction of about 60% of manpower requirements, the achievement of a plant yield of approx. 92%, producing top quality finished product with minimised eccentricity.The plant will be installed in Laredo (TX), USA, and its commissioning is expected by the end of 2007. With this process Danieli confirms its leadership in developing innovative solutions not only in the steel business but also in the non-ferrous technology.With this new investment, Industrias Unidas S.A. will consolidate their market position in the NAFTA region and become one of the largest copper producers in the world.