Greater flexibility, higher precision, faster delivery: Europe’s only rolling mill with two roll blocks from Kocks in Georgsmarienhütte, the GMH Group aims to set new standards in terms of diversity, quality and delivery performance.
GMH Gruppe, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of bar, rolled, and crude steel, has officially inaugurated a new state-of-the-art rolling mill at its Georgsmarienhütte site. According to GMH, the investment is unique in Europe and offers one flexible system that unlocks new possibilities for customers in terms of diversity, quality, and delivery performance.
The €26 million expansion marks another milestone in GMH Gruppe’s modernisation strategy, enabling the company to offer tailor-made steel solutions for the most demanding industries, from automotive and e-mobility to energy, construction, and mechanical engineering, the company says.
“Our new rolling mill gives customers exactly what they require: flexibility, precision, and reliability,” says Marc-Oliver Arnold, Plant Director of Georgsmarienhütte GmbH. “We can now respond faster to changing market needs, produce a broader range of sizes and grades, and ensure consistent top quality with minimal downtime.”
Technological innovation
At the heart of the new rolling mill are two high-performance three-roll blocks – RSB 370++ and RSB 445++ – that can be operated together or independently. This configuration gives GMH customers access to one of the most flexible production systems in Europe.
While the RSB 370++ has been in operation since 2001 and was modernised in 2012 for load application, the RSB 445++ has been built entirely from scratch, including the extensive infrastructure it requires. The customised system was developed jointly with the manufacturer, Friedrich Kocks, and its high capacity enables significantly faster production cycles.
The principal innovation with the system is that both Kocks blocks can be flexibly combined in a technical breakthrough that allows the production of specialty steels with diameters from under 35 mm to over 100 mm that cover a wide size range of between 20 to 130 mm (perspective up to 142 mm). Moreover, the new RSB 445++ can be moved between the two rolling lines within minutes, no small engineering feat, as the block alone weighs 185 tons.
“This project is not just about technology – it’s about our customers,” says Dr. Alexander Becker, CEO of GMH Gruppe. “By increasing flexibility, efficiency, and energy performance, we are helping our partners stay competitive and sustainable in rapidly changing markets, especially in e-mobility and other advanced sectors.” Together with the installation of two electric single-bar quenching and tempering units (EVA), and the Buderus Edelstahl rolling mill, the group is strengthening its position as a European leader in high quality specialty steels.
Source: GMH Gruppe
