German plant SMS Group announced that Chinese steel manufacturer Jingye Medium Plate Co. Ltd. selected the company to upgrade the No. 1 high-speed wire rod line at its Yingkou, China plant. According to SMS Group, the project aims to expand the line's product diameter range while improving production capacity and product quality for high-grade specialty steels.
The plant's manufacturer said the upgrade will help Jingye respond to growing demand in the Chinese market, especially from the automotive and specialty steels segments. Commissioning of the modernized line is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
According to SMS Group, after completion of the modernization, the line will be able to produce smooth circles with a diameter of 5 mm to 25 mm, and the production of fittings will cover diameters from 6 mm to 16 mm. SMS Group said this expanded portfolio aims to strengthen Jingye's capabilities to serve higher value downstream industries.
The upgraded wire rod line is designed to achieve a benchmark maximum rolling speed of 115 meters per second. SMS Group said the upgrade will allow the manufacturer to increase productivity while meeting the requirements of demanding steel mills.
