Nucor commissions new galvanizing line at South Carolina plant

US steelmaker Nucor has commissioned a new continuous galvanizing line at its Berkeley County sheet steel plant in South Carolina, producing its first prime coil following the completion of commissioning.

The new line has an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 tons and will expand Nucor's production of value-added flat steel products for the automotive sector.

The facility is designed to produce exposed automotive-quality steel and advanced high-strength steels for structural and safety-critical vehicle components. It can produce galvanized, galvanneal and zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated products.

Primetals Technologies, together with consortium partner Clecim, supplied and engineered the line, including a vertical furnace with galvanneal capability, automation systems and other process technologies.

The project forms part of Nucor's strategy to increase its supply of higher-margin, value-added steel products to automotive manufacturers in the US market.

Nucor is a major North American steel producer with operations across the United States, Canada and Mexico, manufacturing carbon and alloy steel in bars, beams, sheet and plate, along with a wide range of downstream steel products. Its portfolio includes structural products, steel joists and decking, rebar, wire and mesh, steel grating, metal building systems and insulated panels. Through its affiliates, Nucor also processes and brokers ferrous and non-ferrous metals and is North America's largest recycler.