Since March 2026, the alloy optimization project on the high-speed bar mill at the rolling steel plant has achieved significant milestone results. Through multiple rounds of testing and process optimization, the alloy cost for Ф16mm HRB400E rebar has been reduced by RMB 8.26 per ton, and that for Ф18mm HRB400E rebar by RMB 13.61 per ton—demonstrating notable cost-saving outcomes and providing strong momentum for production line efficiency and quality improvement.
The high-speed bar mill primarily produces rebars in the size range of Ф12mm to Ф18mm. For the HRB400E grade, three distinct alloy compositions are used: one for Ф12mm–Ф14mm, another for Ф16mm, and a third for Ф18mm. To continuously reduce the production cost of straight-length rebars and lay a technological foundation for unified alloy composition in preparation for the upcoming direct-rolling transformation of the high-speed bar mill, the rolling steel plant proactively led the development of rolling trial plans and collaborated closely with the Manufacturing Management Department and the steelmaking plant on this joint initiative.
After achieving the initial trial objectives, the project team systematically advanced subsequent trials. They meticulously refined key aspects including trial volume, temperature control at critical points, and performance testing and analysis. Multiple comparative trials were conducted, establishing a closed-loop optimization process of “sampling and testing – data analysis – performance verification.”
Par conséquent, the project successfully enabled shared alloy compositions: Ф16mm HRB400E now uses the same composition as Ф12mm–Ф14mm HRB400E, and Ф18mm HRB400E shares its composition with Ф20mm–Ф25mm HRB400E produced on Bar Mill Line No. 2. All products fully comply with national standards and have entered mass production.
This alloy optimization effort not only delivers tangible cost reductions but also establishes a technical pathway for cross-size alloy composition standardization, laying a solid process foundation for the direct-rolling transformation of the high-speed bar mill.
