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Original Date: 08/26/1996
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Tin Mill
The Tin Mill at Weirton Steel Corporation (WSC) is the largest, single, tin-producing facility with the greatest capacity in the country. In 1996, it was producing 70,000 tons per month. Its unique equipment and extensive capabilities provide customers with a wide range of thin gauge products with various mechanical properties. Input material comes into the Tin Mill from the Strip Mill in the form of coils of full-hard strip steel. These coils are cleaned, annealed, single or double reduced, and plated with tin, chrome, zinc or prepared as a non-coated product. The Tin Mill provides the finishing touches to the company’s basic products according to the customer’s requirements.
The Tin Mill production facilities include cleaning lines that remove residue left from the Strip Mill operation and prepare the coils for the annealing process. Annealing is accomplished in a batch operation or through a continuous annealing process. Annealed product is then processed through temper mills or double reduction mills, depending on the end-product requirement. Once reduced to its final thickness, the product is processed through one of the plating lines, final coiled, and wrapped for shipment. The Tin Mill features advanced, computer-control systems and employs a variety of automated functions. Through a continuous improvement program, these facilities are constantly reviewed and updated to world-class, state-of-the-art capability.
As part of the continuous improvement process, the Tin Mill is constantly benchmarked against other steelmakers to stay current on the latest processes and technology. WSC participates on the tinplating committee of the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI), and shares problems and concerns with its counterparts from other participating companies. These participating companies not only benchmark one another but also, in some instances, join together to fund common research projects.
The tinplate business offers WSC a target for market expansion. With this in mind, the Tin Mill management aggressively pursues facility upgrades and modernization opportunities. Its 1996 goal was to surpass its 1995 business base by $8 million; WSC has already achieved that goal.
For more information see the
Point of Contact for this survey.
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