Gerdau’s special-bar-quality (SBQ) steel mill in Monroe, Mich., will transition to a 240-mm square bloom this September as part of an overall initiative to enhance the steel cleanliness necessary for evolving critical applications in the automotive market and other industries. This project is an expansion of the capability of the mill’s continuous-casting machine, which was originally installed in 2012. The switch to a larger section size will result in a greater reduction ratio, improved surface quality and cleaner steel with fewer inclusions.

“The global push for energy efficiency and stricter CO₂ emission regulations have significantly increased the importance of clean steels in the automotive industry,” said Luis Colembergue, vice president of sales and technology at Gerdau’s North American special steel division. “The need for high-strength steel parts with lightweight design, increased fatigue life and performance is more important than ever.”