[ferro-alloys.com]Argentina's largest flats steelmaker Ternium Siderar inaugurated its new vacuum degasser at its San Nicola's mill in Buenos Aires, the company said in a statement.

Part of the Italian-Argentinian Techint group, Siderar had been planning the $63 million degasser since December 2011.

Argentina president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner officially inaugurated the equipment with Buenos Aires governor Daniel Scioli, Techint president Paolo Rocca, Ternium CEO Daniel Novegil and Siderar director Martin Berardi.

 

"The new facility allows the production of higher value-added steels, expanding the range of products for the automotive industry," Siderar said in a statement. "Also, it enables Siderar to improve the quality of steel for the white goods sector, tinplate and steel containers for conduction of fluids at high pressure."

The project includes a liquid steel vacuum degassing station, cooled oxygen injection equipment and a new system to add ferroalloys. The station was part of a larger $570 million investment program for the 2012-2013 period.

"Investments were made in order to increase crude steel production, match the growth of the domestic market, expand the range of products to meet new market requirements, improve environmental and product quality, and export steel slabs, once the new continuous caster is operating," the Ternium subsidiary said.

Siderar's new 500,000 mt/year caster -- expected to come online in Q1 2014 -- will eliminate the company's need to purchase slabs from third parties, for an estimated savings of $60 million annually.

Siderar produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, hot-dip galvanized, electrogalvanized, prepainted and tinplated sheet steel.