Steel processor and supplier BSi Steel plans to improve the slitting capabilities of its Shearcut division, following a R15-million investment in a precision slitting line imported from South Korea.

BSi Steel Shearcut director Jerry Govender points out that the new mechanically robust line is capable of slitting and recoiling full- diameter 25 t coils. The line is also used to process steel and stainless steel and is expected to be fully commissioned by January 2012.

“A growing number of end-users purchase full-diameter slit coils to reduce downstream change-over times and scrap losses typically associated with smaller-diameter slits.

“By introducing this second slitting line to the Shearcut division, BSi Steel positions itself and its customers with a competitive advantage in terms of improved turnaround times and output capabilities,” he says.

The division currently has a slitting capacity of 3 000 t/m and is capable of slitting coils of between 0.4 mm and 3 mm. The introduction of the new machine will enable the division to increase its capacity by over 4 000 t/m, as well as increase its slitting thickness capabilities to 6 mm.

In addition to increased capacity, the introduction of a new machine also eliminates the risk of any unforeseen delays related to downtime when operating with just one slitting line.

The new line will be installed with a 12 m loop pit adjacent to the current slitting line, which is located on site at the company’s R150-million central steel processing and distribution centre at Kliprivier, Midvaal, in Gauteng.

“During the slitting process, it is typical to note a length variation between slits as a result of the incoming material ‘as rolled profile’. “The 12 m loop pit exceeds the machine builder’s minimum requirement of 8 m to accommodate any excessive rolling profile variation within the thickness range of the slitter, thereby offering full slit coil build- ups,” Govender says.

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