Order Intake Booming for SMS Group

Order intake during 2021 for the Düsseldorf, Germany-based company was at its highest level in ten years at €3.5 billion. This year that number is expected to be comparable, with the company expecting “a sustainable and perceptible increase in incoming orders and a marked improvement in results over the next few years.”

The global steel industry is adopting transformation strategies as countries set ambitious climate targets for decarbonization, and “as a systems supplier, we are in a position to support customers comprehensively in every situation,” SMS CEO Burkhard Dahmen said in a statement.

SMS thinks its is well placed to help its customers during the entire lifecycle of their plants including designing and commissioning and decades-long operations, as well as during all upgrades and revamps.

Having acquired the remaining shares of the Paul Wurth company in April 2021, SMS says its position as a technology provider and full-line supplier for the steel industry has been strengthened even further.

Expecting significant growth in the industrial services market over the next few years, SMS recently acquired a 50% interest in global industrial services provider KAEFER Isoliertechnik GmbH & Co.

Additionally, SMS says it is “rigorously pursuing the expansion of its service business,” focusing on electrics/automation, digitalization, and technical service.

Recent North American Flat-Rolled Mill Projects

SMS is providing Nucor Steel West Virginia with its new melt shop which will include two 190-metric-ton direct current EAFs, two twin ladle furnaces, and two vacuum tank car degasser facilities. The project is expected to be complete by 2024 with hot commissioning currently scheduled for the second half of 2024.

The company provided the single-strand caster for ultra-wide and thick slabs at Nucor’s new heavy-plate mill in Brandenburg, Ky., and is providing on-site maintenance services for the caster.

SMS also provided US Steel’s Big River Steel with mechanical equipment, electrical and automation systems, and digitalization technology at its mill in Osceola, Ark.

North Star BlueScope’s mill in Delta, Ohio, was provided a thin slab caster and digitalization of its hot strip production by SMS. The flat-rolled steelmaker recently celebrated the expansion and commissioning of its new EAF melt shop.

SMS in addition recently supplied the Nucor-JFE Steel Mexico 50-50 joint venture in Silao, Mexico, with a new continuous galvanizing line.

By Laura Miller, Laura@SteelMarketUpdate.com