Tata Steel has just announced the signing of a contract with SNCF covering over 200,000 tons of track.
As part of this contract, Tata Steel will supply rails produced on its site in Hayange, Lorraine, over the next two years.
The operation was made possible by an investment of ? 35 million, enabling the Hayange plant to produce 108 m long rails, the length required by SNCF on the majority of the network.
Henrik Adam, Chief Commercial Officer of Tata Steel Europe, said: "We know that by working closely with our customers, we are able to innovate and provide them with the products they need. In response to SNCF's request, we invested 35 million euros in 2011 to produce 108 m long rails. With this new heat treatment site, we can now produce highly wear-resistant rails in line with the requirements of most of our customers in Europe. "
Steel produced at the Tata Steel site in Scunthorpe, Great Britain, is used for the Hayange mill and heat treatment site.
In addition to the new maximum length of 108 m, the Hayange site can also produce shorter rails on demand. Whatever their length, the rails benefit from improved levels of performance and strength due to the heat treatment. This operation reduces the frequency of replacement and therefore the cost.
Gérard Glas, head of the rail sector at Tata Steel, said: "We worked closely with SNCF to understand their needs and invested in the site and the best technology to ensure that we met them. "
This announcement comes a few weeks after the inauguration of the new Hayange thermal treatment site. This reflects Tata Steel's commitment to meeting customer demand.
Heat-treated rails are up to three times stronger than standard rails when used under high wear conditions (high traffic, high axle loads or tight turns). This new facility significantly increases the annual production of heat treated rails from 55,000 to 125,000 tons.
About Tata Steel Europe
Tata Steel Europe is the second largest steel producer in Europe. Its main steel mills are in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Tata Steel Europe supplies steel and related services to the construction, automotive, packaging, lifting & excavating, energy, aerospace and other Markets with stringent requirements around the world. Tata Steel is one of the top ten steel producers in the world. The Group's total crude steel capacity, which employs approximately 80,000 people on four continents, exceeds 28 million tonnes.
As part of this contract, Tata Steel will supply rails produced on its site in Hayange, Lorraine, over the next two years.
The operation was made possible by an investment of ? 35 million, enabling the Hayange plant to produce 108 m long rails, the length required by SNCF on the majority of the network.
Henrik Adam, Chief Commercial Officer of Tata Steel Europe, said: "We know that by working closely with our customers, we are able to innovate and provide them with the products they need. In response to SNCF's request, we invested 35 million euros in 2011 to produce 108 m long rails. With this new heat treatment site, we can now produce highly wear-resistant rails in line with the requirements of most of our customers in Europe. "
Steel produced at the Tata Steel site in Scunthorpe, Great Britain, is used for the Hayange mill and heat treatment site.
In addition to the new maximum length of 108 m, the Hayange site can also produce shorter rails on demand. Whatever their length, the rails benefit from improved levels of performance and strength due to the heat treatment. This operation reduces the frequency of replacement and therefore the cost.
Gérard Glas, head of the rail sector at Tata Steel, said: "We worked closely with SNCF to understand their needs and invested in the site and the best technology to ensure that we met them. "
This announcement comes a few weeks after the inauguration of the new Hayange thermal treatment site. This reflects Tata Steel's commitment to meeting customer demand.
Heat-treated rails are up to three times stronger than standard rails when used under high wear conditions (high traffic, high axle loads or tight turns). This new facility significantly increases the annual production of heat treated rails from 55,000 to 125,000 tons.
About Tata Steel Europe
Tata Steel Europe is the second largest steel producer in Europe. Its main steel mills are in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Tata Steel Europe supplies steel and related services to the construction, automotive, packaging, lifting & excavating, energy, aerospace and other Markets with stringent requirements around the world. Tata Steel is one of the top ten steel producers in the world. The Group's total crude steel capacity, which employs approximately 80,000 people on four continents, exceeds 28 million tonnes.